permit. It is hoped that such a glossary, of somewhat modest value perhaps, may be produced by the engineer for the use of this bureau. Notwithstanding natural and expected difficulties, translations have been made of the "Geological study of Panay," by Abella, and of a "Brief review of mining in the Philippines," by the same author. Work has been begun upon the translation of "Data for a geological study of Luzon," by Dr. R. Von Drasche, and several articles of less importance and length have been translated, among them a description of copper in Mancayan, by Ceteno, and certain manuscripts pertaining to copper, these last for the preparation of the report upon copper mentioned above For the drafting and map work there was such an utter absence of drawing material that the first attempts at accomplishment were slow and laborious. A small set of instruments were borrowed from private sources, however, and some material was purchased, or obtained through the disbursing quartermaster for the civil bureaus. In addition to these supplies the first requisition, made in October, for others from the United States is beginning to show material results, and there are now in the bureau a fine set of instruments, scales, vernier protractor, T-square drawing board, paper, and a printing frame and bath tray for color printing. Illustrations for certain reports of the officer in charge, and tracings of various mines and mineral lands, have been made. There is a great amount of work of this character to be done in this office, far more than can be done by the engineer himself, in consideration of his various other duties. There is in fact quite enough in tracing, mapping, and printing to take the entire time of a native draftsman working at ordinary speed. The last topic to be taken up is the meeting and conversing with prospectors and mining men generally, and the collection, largely through them, of mineral samples and of information more or less valuable. The prime object of these conversations has been of course that of accumulating data that would be of service to the bureau; it is modestly hoped, however, that some small return may have been made in the information rendered concerning samples brought in, and in the efforts made, in some cases, to clear away uncertainties and misconceptions regarding the elementary principles of ore deposits, mining, and metallurgy. Such information as seemed likely to be of service to the mining men who have called at the office of the engineer has always been gladly given. It is hoped in this connection that the department may find time and opportunity in the near future to prepare and issue a brief bulletin or circular containing such elementary and practical information as the mining community may reasonably ask from a government bureau. Although the engineer has been generally struck with the sincerity of purpose, with the veritable pluck and determination of the prospectors and they have certainly been working under the most discouraging conditions and although he has marked with equal pride. in these sturdy pioneers of the profession the intelligence shown, he has frequently deemed it wise to impress upon some of them the value of "fair" sampling, and the utter absence of value, or worse, the thorough unfairness of a hasty or imperfect sample. The insight of a seer and the wisdom of a sage would be imperative in the prospector who seeks to represent a "lode," "vein," or other deposit in place by the exhibition of a single small sample, or by a pocket full of them. To imagine for an instant that such a sample is an average or "fair sample" of the lode, one by which its value may be judged, is to tax human imagination indeed. Very naturally, where the mountain trails are so difficult as to prohibit the carriage of a great weight upon the person, and where transportation of the ordinary character is not to be had-and these conditions obtain in the average mining district of the Philippines-the prospectors do not bring to Manila large samples of their finds; indeed this would not be necessary if fair samples were taken at the point of discovery and these large samples were properly cut down; but this last is seldom done, so far as reports made to this bureau by mining men would indicate. The result is that the richest "samples" are the ones generally presented in Manila, and this of course invariably tends toward the overestimate of the value of the find. Important as it is to the investors in mining property, it is even more important to the prospectors, and far more to the future of mining in this or any other country that overestimation be invariably discouraged. The fact that there are no mining laws at present in force in the Philippines has but small bearing upon this general principle; hundreds of prospectors are now in the field, samples are constantly being brought in, many of them to be sent to the United States; inquiries are constantly being made and opinions, however valuable at this time, are being formed. It would seem that much disastrous loss of faith in the mining outlook for these islands might be avoided in the future by fair or conservative estimation of whatever be found here of mineral value. It is this last idea that the engineer has sought to impress upon those who have come in from the field with specimens rather than with samples, and with evident exaggeration rather than with facts. CONCLUSION. Notwithstanding the present absence of mining laws in these Islands, and the possible absence of them for many months to come, there has been much to be done in these departments of the bureau, and the future seems full of possible service along the lines suggested. It is hoped that with the wide field for mineralogical and geological work, for studies of the present mining and metallurgical methods and of the mineral industries and resources of these Islands, and for the preparation of papers and reports upon these subjects, the departments may make some contribution to the welfare and progress of mining in this archipelago. It would be a great injustice to omit, even from so brief a report as this, mention of the young Filipino Teodoro Celis, who has been serving as engineer's helper for the greater part of the past ten months. This young man has been faithful, zealous, and capable to such a degree that he is deserving of every commendation. His work, varied, and all of it new to him, has ever been well done. His successful efforts to learn English and the "helper's" work in the laboratory and office have made him a most valued employee of the bureau. This boy has since died. His work up to the last was so faithful and conscientious that it may well stand as his most fitting memorial. Very respectfully, HIRAM D. MCCASKEY, B. S., Mining Engineer for the Mining Bureau. APPENDIX L. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE PHILIPPINE WEATHER BUREAU, TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, FOR THE PERIOD FROM JUNE 1, 1901, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1901. PHILIPPINE WEATHER BUREAU, MANILA OBSERVATORY, Hon. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. SIR: In accordance with your request, I beg to submit the following brief statement of the work of the weather bureau from June 1, 1901, to the end of the third quarter, September 30, 1901: This bureau was established on May 22, 1901, by Act No. 131, United States Commission in the Philippine Islands. WORK OF THE BUREAU. WORK AT THE CENTRAL STATION IN THE MANILA OBSERVATORY. The equipment of the Manila Observatory, its different departments, condition of grounds and other particulars are described in the Paper No. 21, in the fourth volume of the Report of the first United States Commission in the Philippines. 1. Since the establishment of the bureau the Manila Observatory has published the monthly reports or reviews corresponding to August, September, October, November and December of 1899, and to January, February, March, April, May and June, 1900. 2. The monthly bulletin in English and Spanish has been published regularly at the beginning of each month. 3. Crop service is in the way of organization and the first report appears in the bulletin for September, 1901. 4. More than 60,000 blanks of different kinds have been printed for the meteorological, seismical, and crop service. 5. A system of ciphered telegrams has been arranged in the archipelago for the economic transmission of meteorological and seismic observations. 6. Special instructions have been printed for the use of chiefs of stations and private observers throughout the archipelago. 7. A detailed account of meteorological observations for each month has been forwarded to the board of health regularly. 8. Since June last 17 aneroid barometers have been cleaned, composed and rated for volunteer observers and sailors. 9. Chronometers rated, 18. 10. A class of practical meteorology and seismology for an hour every day is open to all in the observatory, to prepare observers to pass competitive examinations for appointment to the stations of the bureau and to encourage volunteer observers. 11. An additional work has been accepted at the request of the German ambassador in Washington, through the honorable Secretaries of State and of War, to make special meteorological observations every day at Greenwich noon from October 1, 1901, to March 13, 1903, and magnetic observations from January, 1902, to February, 1903, for the purpose of cooperating with the antarctic expedition. Same request received through the Chief of United States Weather Bureau, honorable Secretaries of Agriculture and of War, on September 27, 1901. All first-class stations of the bureau will participate in this work. ERECTION, EQUIPMENT AND WORK IN OTHER STATIONS. Immediately after the establishment of the bureau the director proceeded to the erection of first-class stations, as prescribed in section 12 of Act No. 131. A small number of observers made application for competitive examination. The examination under the civil service board was held in the observatory on June 10 and June 25. The result has been made public that there were five eligibles for first-class stations and five for the second class. There was already one first-class observer at Dagupan and another at Baguio Station who had been at work since August, 1900, by act of the commission. The observer at Dagupan was ordered to establish the stations of Baguio and Dagupan with all first-class requirements. He proceeded to Baguio on June 18, and in July both stations in Baguio and Dagupan were equipped and at work as first-class stations. At the end of July Rev. Fr. Baltasar Ferrer, with one of the mechanics of the observatory, sailed from Manila to establish the station at Cebu. There serious difficulties were encountered in finding a suitable building for the station. Finally the captain of the port of Cebu offered one of the small buildings in the old captain of the port's grounds. Considerable expense was incurred in preparing the place. Fr. Ferrer then sailed for Surigao (Mindanao) to establish a thirdclass station. A very suitable building was offered and prepared by the council of the town. The station has been in working order since the end of August. From Surigao Fr. Ferrer went by sea to Maasin, where a second-class station was established in a building ceded by the council of the town under onerous conditions, which were necessarily accepted by the bureau. A first-class station was established in Ormoc (Leyte) in a building ceded by the parish priest. Ali the expenses of preparing the station were generously paid by the town council, which is well satisfied with the erection. A second-class station has been established in San Isidro and was opened for work in September. Instruments and observers have been sent to Iloilo and Zamboanga, but owing to lack of suitable buildings it has not been possible to establish stations in these important ports. Instruments and observers were also sent to Tacloban and Butuan about the beginning of September. At the end of August Fr. Marcial Solá, with one observer, sailed north to establish a station at Aparri, where many days were spent in securing a building for the station. If it had not been for Col. Charles C. Hood this could not have been done, the local authorities being entirely indifferent to the matter. The station is rented at a cost of $30 per month, and began to work, to the great satisfaction of the educated classes, on September 20. Observations are regularly forwarded to military authorities and the inspector of customs every day. Experience in the establishment of the above stations shows: First, great difficulty in securing suitable buildings and quarters for stations, owing partly to the effects of the war and also to the fact that the observer, who has to pay the rent of the station and office, can not take much out of his salary for this purpose, as living is very expensive. Second, if local authorities take an interest in the establishment of the stations, the erection is both economical and profitable to the observer. Tuesday, October 8, Fr. Miguel Saderra, assistant director, with Fr. Marcial Solá, will sail to establish meteorological stations at Legaspi, Daet and Atimonan. EQUIPMENT OF FIRST-CLASS STATIONS. One mercurial barometer "observatory," United States Weather Bureau pattern, made by Mr. Green, of Brooklyn. One Richard barograph. One barocyclonometer, Philippine weather bureau pattern, made by Luffof, Stuttgart, Germany. One anemometer register, United States Weather Bureau pattern. One anemometer United States Weather Bureau pattern. One whirling apparatus with dry and wet bulb thermometers, United States Weather Bureau pattern. One wind vane with support. One nephoscope, Philippine weather bureau pattern. One set of maximum and minimum thermometers, by Green. One Piche's evaporimeter. One complete shelter for thermometers, United States Weather Bureau pattern. Two cells No. 1 Gordon battery for anemometer register. One seismograph, Philippine weather bureau pattern. One rain gauge, United States Weather Bureau pattern. |