Admiral Dewey has forwarded to the navy department a memorandum on mineral resources of the Philippines prepared at the admiral’s request by Professor George W. Becker of the United States geological survey.  Only about a score of the several hundred islands, he says, are known to contain deposits of valuable minerals.  He includes a table showing the mineral bearing islands and their resources.  This table follows: 

“Luzon, coal, gold, copper, lead, iron, sulphur, marble, kaolin; Sataanduanes, Sibuyan, Bohol and Panaoan, gold only; Marimduque, lead and silver; Mindoro, coal, gold and copper; Carraray, Batan, Rapu Rapu, Semarara, Negros, coal only; Masbete, coal and copper; Romblon, marble; Samar, coal and gold; Panay, coal, oil, gas, gold, copper, iron and perhaps mercury; Biliram, sulphur only; Leyte, coal, oil and perhaps mercury; Cebu, coal, oil, gas, gold, lead, silver and iron; Mindanao, coal, gold, copper and platinum; Sulu archipelago, pearls.”

The coal, Mr. Becker says, is analogous to the Japanese coal and that of Washington, but not to that of the Welsh or Pennsylvania coals.  It might better be characterized as a highly carbonized lignite, likely to contain much sulphur as iron pyrites, rendering them apt to spontaneous combustion and injurious to boiler plates.  Nevertheless, he says, when pyrites seams are avoided and the lignite is properly handled, it forms a valuable fuel, especially for local consumption.

Not least among the promising resources of the Philippines is a curious natural product.  Several vegetable growths appear to possess the faculty of secreting mineral concretions, in all respects resembling certain familiar precious stones.  The famous James Smithson was the first to give any real attention to these curious plant gems, but, though there can be no doubt of their authenticity, neither scientist nor merchant has followed this lead.  One of the jewels, the bamboo opal, rivals the best stones in its delicate tints of red and green, but it is among the rarest, and 1,000 stems may be cut up before a single specimen be found.

CHAPTER XIX

Specifications of Grievances of the Filipinos.

An Official Copy of the Manifesto of the Junta Showing the Bad Faith of Spain in the Making and Evasion of a Treaty—­The Declaration of the Renewal of the War of Rebellion—­Complaints Against the Priests Defined—­The Most Important Document the Filipinos Have Issued—­Official Reports of Cases of Persecution of Men and Women in Manila by the Spanish Authorities—­Memoranda of the Proceedings in Several Cases in the Court of Inquiry of the United States Officers.