1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

the Islands in control of vast estates, butthe people were ignorant. These friarsstill own 95 per cent. of the property withinthe walled city of Manila, we weretold. The Government rents from themconsiderable property, paying $4,000 goldrent per year for one building alone.Nothing has been done by the UnitedStates Government against Catholicism;no Protestant denomination has beenfavored in any manner. Instead a thousandAmerican teachers were imported,of whom 800 still remain. These are now supplementedby 6,000 native teachers. The Filipino thirst for educationis rapidly increasing. The Legislature has recentlydetermined upon the erection of 400 new school housesand the addition of many teachers. Do you have compulsoryeducation? we inquired. The answer was, It isunnecessary; we cannot equip the schools rapidly enoughas it is; weare obligedto run twoshifts in orderto accommodatethosewho are anxiousto learn.An up-to-datehospitalhas beenerected; it isprobably ascomplete asany hospitalin the world,and its freedispensaryhas thedistinction ofbeing sixthin the world'srecord ofcases treatedin a year--80,000 caseslast year.Steamrailways,electric railways,etc., with modern buildings and a newly dredgedharbor are rapidly increasing the business interests andlifting the people from serfdom and peonage to intelligenceand good citizenship.R5012 : page 131