Practically 5 miles of road rebuilt and repaired. The roads of this province are very important because of the large hemp business, and excellent results have been accomplished for the money expended. The usual statement is made as to the roads having been in excellent condition at one time, but through neglect they have fallen into a very bad state and need extensive repairs. The great demand for labor in the hemp fields has made it necessary to pay $1.50 local currency per day for ordinary labor, but this condition has changed slightly for the better, the rate of wages being in some parts of the province 75 cents local currency per day. Surigao. Supervisor: Amount expended on roads was $264 local currency. This was spent in the repair of about 3 miles of road leading from the town of Surigao. The amount expended on buildings was $3,496.73 local currency. Aside from a few minor surveys, nothing was done in this province during the year. Tarlac. Supervisor: The expenditure on road work was $6,346.25 local currency, and 29 miles of road was repaired. Amount expended on bridges was $2,667.80 local currency. Report of the supervisor of this province covers a period of six months. The roads repaired are in fairly good condition for dry weather, but it is thought that the narrow-tired carabao carts will damage them considerably during the rainy season. Ordinary laborers are paid 50 cents local currency per day and are satisfactory. In fact, the supervisor speaks highly of the native labor. Additional to American foremen nothing but native labor is needed or desired. The transportation question is difficult and unsatisfactory on account of the scarcity of carabao. Twelve bridges have been rebuilt or repaired, and for the funds available satisfactory results have been accomplished. Tayabas. Supervisor: Expenditure on roads has been $7,529.63 local currency, and for bridges $2,342.86. The length of road repaired was 15 miles, and 21 bridges or culverts were built or repaired. The repairs of roads in this province will be heavy for years to come. As in other provinces, the roads are in bad condition through failure to make ordinary repairs. The supervisor calls attention to the increase in transportation over an improved road that immediately takes place, and to the necessity of building certain roads, for surveys of which the insular government now has parties in the field. As an instance showing the advantage of improved roads, he cites a case where formerly the hemp or copra was carried out by pack pony, 1 picul to a pony, whereas now a single carabao hauls 12 piculs. Native labor is paid 75 cents local currency per day and is satisfactory. Carpenters and masons are scarce and not to be had at $2 local currency per day. Zambales.-Supervisor-treasurer: This report shows that the roads of the province are in fair condition. The only work now being done is the repair of one bridge 132 feet long, which will cost $1,500 local currency. The province has suffered severely from locusts and cattle disease, and the outlook is discouraging. The supervisors practically unite in recommending a system of road maintenance similar to that adopted almost universally in the United States, to wit, that each able-bodied inhabitant shall furnish two or three days' labor annually upon the roads. If this labor is called out by the presidentes of the municipalities and worked under the direc tion of the supervisor, lasting good will result therefrom. They also call attention to the unwillingness or indifference of the municipal officials in enforcing reasonable regulations for the maintenance of those roads that have already been repaired by the province. Since the organization of this bureau the supervisors have been directed to fill out promptly monthly report blanks which have been devised and distributed. This system has not been followed sufficiently long to permit formulating complete statistical tabulations for the fiscal year. However, these reports show a great deal of faithful work on the part of the supervisors. They also show the various works which are being carried out in the province, the appropriation and expenditures, class and quantity of labor, materials, number of inspection trips, distance traveled, and time consumed. This system has made it possible for supervisors to render returns in a systematic and orderly manner. The supervisors are almost a unit in the belief that native labor can be trained properly to furnish good, valuable services on the roads, the difficulty being to get satisfactory foremen to handle the same. It is recommended that provisions be made in accordance with civilservice regulations for the appointment of overseers and foremen, both Americans and Filipinos, by noncompetitive examinations, based on recommendations of the provincial officers, who must have definite knowledge of the experience and reliability of the applicant. It is believed that such provisions would give a permanency to these positions and would insure the organization of efficient repair and maintenance gangs. Needs for an increase in force.-The number of technical men available for civil-service positions is small. Requisitions made on the Civil Service Commission of the United States are filled with difficulty, and with the heavy demand for such men now existing in the States it frequently happens that the most efficient men can not be secured for insular service. Some effort has been made by this bureau to place a knowledge of present conditions before the recent graduates of the technical schools, and to secure if possible educated but inexperienced men who could be trained in the special duties required. Among the different departments and bureaus there exists a tendency to duplicate certain works and investigations, and not to work in cooperation with each other. This is especially true of those subjects requiring surveys, mapping, correct determination of proper names, etc. It has been the tendency of the government to require a broad variety of investigations and reports from this bureau. It is respectfully recommended that such technical work be consolidated under one bureau and that all duplication of work be avoided as fully as possible. Indica The present office force, both in clerical and in record work and in drafting, has been overworked throughout the entire year. tions are that no small amount of construction work will be required in the near future, and that the scope of this bureau must be materially increased if it properly discharges the duties and obligations placed upon it. To meet these needs a considerable increase in the personnel of this bureau is needed. A discussion of this subject, together with a proposed act, was submitted to the Commission under date of August 21, 1903. The following is a tabulation of expenditures from the date of the creation of the office of the consulting engineer to the Commission up to August 31, 1903: Mexican currency reduced to United States currency (mean rate of exchange assumed as $2.45): $42,494.30 local currency equals....... Total expenditures ..... January 13, 1903, appropriation act No. 595 June 30, 1903, expended during fiscal year 1903. July 1, 1903, balance unexpended July 27, 1903, appropriation act No. 807, fiscal year 1904 The following appendices are attached hereto: $159.45 3,530.69 1,538. 20 $34, 499.02 772.63 4,673.96 8.00 1,237.12 525,76 5,228.34 41, 716.49 3,909.68 777.81 298.25 664.98 297.20 6,865.60 777.81 41, 716. 49 12, 193. 94 42, 494.30 17,344.61 29,538.55 27,440.00 5, 184.52 21, 316.93 (A) Plans for the improvement of Cebu Harbor (3 sheets). (B) Plans for the improvement of Iloilo Harbor (1 sheet). For the purpose of showing in detail the provincial work under prosecution by the supervisors and typical conditions existing in the provinces, the following annual reports have been selected and attached hereto: (C) Annual report of the supervisor, province of Cebu, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. (D) Annual report of the supervisor, province of Leyte, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. (E) Annual report of the supervisor, province of Negros Occidental, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. (F) Annual report of the supervisor, province of Sorsogon, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. (G) Annual report of the chief engineer, Benguet road, for the fiscal year 1903. Respectfully submitted. J. W. BEARDSLEY, Consulting Engineer to the Commission and Chief of Bureau. C. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF CEBU. CEBU, CEBU, P. I., July 25, 1903. SIR: In accordance with your instructions I have the honor to submit the following report of this office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903: It is proper to state that the former supervisor of Cebu was in charge until January 21, and that, in general, the line of work and policies inaugurated by him had been followed. The table given below represents the money spent during the fiscal year by the province of Cebu on public works. From July to September, inclusive, the work of ditching and regrading, with the spoil from the ditches, the road between Cebu and Carcar was completed. The original appropriation for this work was $20,000 Mexican, and of this $9,399.27 Mexican was expended in the present fiscal year. From October to January, inclusive, the road between Cebu and Danao was ditched and the culverts were repaired. The original appropriation for this work was $15,000 Mexican, and the amount expended was $14,614.15. From February to March 14 the road from Danao to Carmen was ditched, regraded, and extended to a point about 1 mile beyond Carmen. The original appropriation for this work was $5,000 Mexican and the amount expended was $5,217 Mexican. The shortage was covered by a supplementary appropriation. From March 15 to June 30 inclusive, the road between Cebu and Mandaue was remetaled with about 6 inches of gravel and rolled with a 5,000-pound roller. The cost of this work was $6,665.47 and the appropriations were made in amounts of $1,000 Mexican each, as the revenues of the province were uncertain owing to the drouth. A repair gang is maintained on the road between Cebu and Argao at a cost of about $2,100 Mexican for the past year. And another repair gang is in charge of the road · from Cebu to Carmen at a cost of $1,346 Mexican. There had been expended upon the government building in Cebu for repairs $501.45 Mexican and on the provincial jail $359.43 Mexican. THE CEBU ROAD SYSTEM. roadway that will These roads almost There is a total of Cebu is equipped with a complete system, and while it is true that in some places the roads are mere bridle paths there are a great many miles of compare favorably with good country roads in the United States. without exception are well located and were once well bridged. 164 miles of roadway and 274 miles of bridle trails on this island. The roadways were built on the Telford system, and must have been well built since I am informed that up to the American occupation they had not been repaired for over twelve years. At the present time, on the roads not repaired, the ditches are filled in and the metaling is worn, but if remetaled at once they will be as good as ever. It is possible to obtain gravel or coral rock within 1 or 14 miles of almost any part of the coastal roads, and with good draft animals the roads could be remetaled at a cost of about $1,200 Mexican per mile. DESCRIPTION OF ROADS. The road from Cebu to El Pardo, about 3 miles long, is in good condition in dry weather but becomes very muddy in the wet season. There is a mile and one-half of this road which would require 12 inches of good gravel to put it into condition. The road from El Pardo to Talisay, 3 miles long, is in good condition. The road from El Pardo to Dalaguete, a distance of 48 for a country road, excepting that it needs about six new The road from Dalaguete to Boljoon, a distance of 10 but it is rather rough roadway for carriages. miles, is in good condition bridges of a short span. miles, is in fair condition, The road from Boljoon to Oslob, a distance of 8 miles, would be a fair roadway but for the landslide which has cut out about 300 yards. A natural road has been formed over this slide, but it is very rough, and while carts can and do pass over it it is with difficulty. From Oslob to Santander, about 10 miles, there is only a good bridle path, although the greater part of the road would accommodate carts. With the bowlders blasted out, this road could be traversed by the native carts and flechas. From Santander to Samboan, a distance of 91⁄2 miles, there is a good bridle trail and if the bridges were put in it would permit the passage of carts. From Sanboan to Ginitilan, 3 miles, there is a fair cart road but it needs one bridge. From Ginitilan to Malaboyoc, 54 miles, there is a fair wagon road, but three short span bridges are needed. This road also needs ditches. The farmers along the way had encroached upon the right of way with their corn fields. From Malaboyoc to Alegria, a distance of 5 miles, there is a good bridle path. It is quite hilly and in the wet season muddy. From Alegria to Mapalinao, a distance of 6 miles, there is a good bridle trail. There is about one-half mile of muddy road, which in the wet season makes this trail impassable for carabao carts. From Matalinao to Badian, a distance of 5 miles, there is a very bad bridle path. It is very steep, hilly, and in many parts muddy. From Badian to Maulbual, 5 miles, there is a good wagon road except that it needs one short-span bridge. From Maulbual to Barili, a distance of 15 miles, there was once a good Telford road. Its metalling is now worn through, and it is too rough for comfortable traveling in a carriage, although one could pass over it. It also needs ditches. From Barili to Aloguinsan, 9 miles, there is nothing but a bad mountain trail, and no urgent demand for anything better. From Aloguinsan to Toledo, a distance of 12 miles, there is a good dirt road, which needs ditching, and several new short span bridges. From Toledo to a barrio called Caravalo, there is a good dirt road, but beyond that to Balamban there is only a bridle path. The distance is 10 miles. From Balamban to Tuburan there is a goot dirt road, with the exception of the the stretch between the barrios of Santa Lucia and Carmelo, which are connected by a hilly bridle trail. The road is sometimes muddy in the wet season. The distance is 17 miles. From Tuburan to a barrio called Olivo, a distance of 12 miles, there is a good bridle path along the coast. It is, however, necessary to swim two rivers in passing over this trail. From this point to San Remigio there is no communication by land. At San Remigio there is a trail to Medellin and a dirt road to Bogo, a distance of 5 miles. This road is sometimes muddy in the rainy season, but is passable for all two-wheeled vehicles. From Medellin to Bogo, a distance of 9 miles, there is a good dirt road, although it is somewhat muddy in the rainy season. From Bogo to Tabogon, a distance of 9 miles, the road for 4 miles is on a tableland and is level; the remaining 5 miles are hilly and stony. From Tabogon to Sogod, a distance of 15 miles, there is nothing but a bridle path, which is hilly and rough. From Sogod to Carmen River there is a good bridle path, which becomes muddy in the wet season. The distance is 11 miles. A bridge of about a 50-foot span is needed at the Carmen River, but from this point to Cebu there is a good dirt road. The distance is 25 miles. Beside the coastal roads mentioned Cebu has no less than 13 bridle trails, reaching across the island, namely: Bogo to San Remigio, 5 miles; Borbon to the coast between Putad and San Remegio, 13 miles; Sogod to Putad, 15 miles; Carmen to Tuburan, 13 miles, overgrown and disused; Danao to Balamban, 27 miles, along river beds; Mabolo to Balamban, 30 miles, 13 miles good trail, the balance river beds; Cebu to |