| Show cArl CAPITAL carlyal TAL OF THE PHILIPPIN the town of manila over which very soon the american flag will float perhaps it has been hoisted there by this time Is ie beautifully situated on the hanks of the basig river it fronts front a a large bay and in the background are forest clad mountains declining gently toward the shore the older part of the city dates back to 1630 but reconstruction has changed the streets and given them a modern appearance they are laid out in straight lines are macadam iced and provided with granite walks there are excellent shops in the business streets kept mostly by chinese merchants the houses are chiefly tile covered and built with projecting upper stories while the sidewalks are shaded by canopies cano pies soldiers and priests are aire met at every turn indicating the predominance of the military and ecclesiastical elements on the river are many pretentious residences and extensive suburbs stretch along the banks there are about inhabitants notwithstanding the fact that thousands have been killed in earthquakes which are frequent in those regions and notwithstanding aether another tact fact that the sanitary regulations are very imperfect the drinking water to la supplied by the river and it Is frequently charged with refuse floating up and down with the tides numerous canals divide the city these are dry a large part of the year and from the fetid deposits the atmosphere is filled with poisonous gazes gases with some attention paid to these conditions manila ought to become one of the delightful spots of the earth and american enterprise would speedily transform it into a paradise |
