The facilities for handling cargo are primitive and expensive, and constitute a serious check to the development of Cebu.

The project for the improvement of this port was completed and advertisement made May 1, 1903, under the provisions of Act No. 640. The authorized project includes the construction of a concrete masonry dock and bulkhead about 2,600 feet long, the reclaiming of about 13 acres of land adjacent to the already congested business portion of the city, and provides for vessels of 23 feet draft and for future extension of docking facilities when needed.

While local contractors exhibited considerable interest in this work, but one bid was received and that one was irregular. Its acceptance or rejection is now before the Commission for decision.

Appropriation was made for surveys and examinations by resolution of the Commission dated August 25, 1902, $2,000. Appropriation for construction, Act No. 640, $350,000. Expenses for surveys and examinations, $948.89 local currency. Expenses for printing and advertising are included in the general expenses of this office.

No funds have been paid out of the appropriation provided for in Act No. 640.

Iloilo Harbor improvement.-The city of Iloilo is located on the Iloilo River, which empties into the channel separating Guimaras Island from the mainland-Panay Island. The harbor has been ranking second among the ports of the islands. Vessels of about 12 feet draft can enter the river at high tide and handle cargoes at a poor dock. Deeper vessels necessarily anchor in the channel about 1 mile from the town and load and discharge cargoes by means of lighters. Improvements were provided for by Act No. 641, appropriating $150,000 for this purpose. The importance of this harbor as a port of entry has steadily increased.

The project involves fascine dikes, stone breakwater, and dredging. Provisions are made for future extension of dockage when needed. Advertisement for this work was made July 15, closing August 24, during which time no bids were received.

Whether or not this project, simultaneously with the Cebu project, shall be advertised in the United States, and readvertised in the Philippine Islands, or the work done by day labor, has been presented to the Commission for decision.

Pancipit River improvement, Batangas.-Surveys for improving the Pancipit River were authorized by the honorable the civil governor January 23, 1903. A survey party was organized and, under the immediate charge of Mr. A. H. Perkins, assistant engineer began field work the latter part of March, completing field work early in May. The proposed project was submitted to the Commission under date of July 22, 1903.

Pancipit River is the outlet of Lake Taal, or Bombon. Its length is 6 miles, and its width varies from 60 to 500 feet. During the dry season it has a moderate current, except at three slight rapids, and a discharge of about 20,000 cubic feet per minute.

Lake Taal has an area of 359 square kilometers. Located in the north-central portion of the lake is the Taal Volcano, still slightly active. Eruptions occurred in 1647, 1709, 1716, 1731, 1749, and 1754. Tributary to this region are the fertile plains easterly from this lake, containing about 200 square miles. Calamba, on Lake Laguna, and Batangas, on the coast, are the seaports for this region. The principal feature of the proposed project consists of a dike and jetty construction at the mouth of the river; the dredging of the river to a depth suitable for vessels of 6 feet draft up to a lock and dam site about 1 mile from its mouth; the construction of a lock, dam, and spillway, and the construction of necessary embankments above the lock site.

This improvement would lead to the development of a few of the lake harbors and involve an annual expenditure for maintenance and operating expenses. It would relieve the present heavy expenses for the marketing of agricultural products for a tributary area of about 200 square miles.

This project has been presented to the Commission, and is now under consideration.

The surveys and examinations for this project cost $1,460.98, which sum was paid out of the general appropriations for this bureau.

Culion (or Calamian) Island surveys. Surveys and examinations of Culion Island with special reference to the water supply for the leper colony, cattle range, and agricultural farm, were authorized by direction of the honorable the civil governor, March 9, 1903. A survey party in charge of Mr. W. H. Robinson, assistant engineer, was organized and equipped, leaving Manila, March 16. A committee was created, and additional instructions given by resolution of the Commission, dated March 30 and April 7. This special committee visited the island April 14 to 21, and submitted a preliminary report under date of April 22. The field work was continued up to the end of July. Mapping, estimates, and reports were submitted under date of August 15. The various reports on this subject are under consideration by the special committee, preparatory to forwarding with recommendations to the Commission.

General appropriations under "Public works" provided for this work. The total expenditure was $5,333.88.

Overflow of the Tarlac and Pampanga rivers.-A conference was held October 2 and 3, 1902, between the governors and supervisors of the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija, and the consulting engineer to the Commission. Several other civil officials and private citizens were present.

An inspection was made of the Tarlac and Pampanga rivers through the region subject to the most serious overflows, and a preliminary report was submitted under date of October 10. Since this date several reports have been received from the provincial officers, containing various and conflicting recommendations of a local nature.

The region affected comprises an area of some 1,500 square miles, one-fifth of which area is subject to serious damage. No reliable data exists on which plans and estimates for a comprehensive relief of this

condition can be based. No maps exist showing correctly the topographical features of this region. It is recommended that a full topographical survey, including high and low stages of water, and river slopes, be made, covering this region practically from Manila Bay to the gulf of Lingayen, and that expenditures for local improvements be reduced to a minimum, pending a comprehensive study of this subject.

Benguet road surveys, provinces of Pangasinan and Benguet.-Act No. 2, dated September 12, 1900, authorized a preliminary survey for a railroad. The construction of a highway was authorized and directed by Act No. 61, dated December 21, 1900. The following acts appropriated various sums of money for the continuation of the latter project: Nos. 311, 356, 379, 418, 490, 595.

From the date of authorization up to August, 1901, Capt. Charles W. Mead, Thirty-sixth Infantry, U. S. Vols., had inmediate direction of the work. Mr. N. M. Holmes was appointed engineer Benguet wagon road August 15, 1901. A survey for the purpose of locating the incompleted portions of the wagon road was authorized by resolution of the Commission under date of September 30, 1902. A party was organized for this purpose, leaving Manila October 22 and returning to Manila December 10, 1902. These surveys included a preliminary survey of the proposed town site at Baguio. A relocation of the roadway was made, changing it from an elevation midway along the mountain sides to the bottom of the valley, in order to avoid the impassable slides previously encountered. A full report, including estimates of cost, was made under date of December 15, 1902.

The engineer, Benguet wagon road, met with many difficulties in the prosecution of this work in connection with engineering problems, in the employment of labor, in securing material and supplies, and in properly providing shelter and medical attendance, mainly on account of the inaccessibility of this canyon and the distance from the base of supplies.

This project consists of the construction of a highway beginning at a point on the highway leading northerly from Pozorrubio and about 6 miles therefrom, thence in a northerly direction through the canyon of the Bued River to Baguio, the capital of the province of Benguet, a total distance of about 26 miles. Twin Peaks, the present headquarters, is about 13 miles from Pozorrubio, and 29 miles from Dagupan. The road has been completed from Baguio southeasterly to Lauacan, a distance of about 5 miles. From Twin Peaks to Lauacan is 14 miles. This approach to the sanitarium at Baguio, and the proposed site of the future summer capital of the Philippine Islands, is one of remarkable natural beauty. The road passes from the tropical vegetation of the lowlands, through the narrow canyon, with vistas of mountain peaks rapidly rising to elevations of 4,000 to 7,000 feet, up to the Benguet Plateau, which has an elevation of about 4,600 feet, and which is covered with gray mossed pines under which flourish the tree ferns.

By resolution of the Commission, dated June 1, 1903, this road, including the improvements of Benguet Province, was placed under the direction of a special committee, Maj. L. W. V. Kennon, U. S. Army, member of the committee, being placed in actual charge of all construction works appertaining thereto. By resolution of the Commission, under date of July 24, 1903, this committee was discharged