EXHIBIT D. REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ARCHIVES, BUREAU OF PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND TRADE-MARKS, 1903. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, Manila, September 14, 1903. Hon. JAMES F. SMITH, Secretary of Public Instruction. SIR: The nature of the work being carried on in this bureau was described in last year's report. The examination and classification of the great number of documents pertaining to the different branches of the Spanish administration is an arduous work, difficult to accomplish because of the condition in which they were found when the United States Government took possession of them upon the termination of Spanish sovereignty in these islands, as I had the honor to state in my former reports. Owing to the concentration in these archives of all the protocols formerly in the custody of the different notaries of these islands, the work mentioned in the preceding paragraph was necessarily suspended for some time, as the entire office force was required to receive and verify the protocols, which was a delicate and laborious matter, on account of the great importance of these documents, which constitute, one may say, the warranty of property in these islands. These protocols comprise 2,251 bound volumes, which, one by one, have had to be verified by the statements attached to each of them. Subsequently, nearly all the clerks of this office have been engaged in the preparation of certified copies, and such is the number of applications therefor that it has been necessary to detail as additional typewriter operators two clerks of this office. However, the arrangement and classification of the archives has not been wholly neglected. In order to carry on both lines of work effectively, I arranged to alternate them by taking advantage of every moment not demanded for work on the copies and keeping the bureau open and the entire force at work seven hours daily, instead of six hours, as fixed by law. In this manner the additional work furnished by the protocols has been kept up simultaneously with reasonable progress in the original work of the bureau, thus avoiding an increase in the clerical force, which would have caused an additional expenditure of public funds. Since the receipt of the protocols up to the 31st of last August, 298 copies have been furnished to private individuals, comprising 1,739 sheets, and 490,244 words, fees for which amount to $246.17 United States currency; searching fees, on account of the antiquity of documents referred to, amount to $120.05; and certification fees on 292 copies, $73, making a total of $439.22, which has been deposited in the treasury. Thirty-eight copies have also been furnished to different officials, comprising 191 sheets and 19,791 words, for which, according to law, no charge is made. The classified royal cedulas and orders amount to 245 volumes, and there are 5,000 volumes of records of different matters dispatched by the various departments and offices of the government in these islands during Spanish domination. Besides this labor, which itself represents a considerable effort worthy of consideration, there is to be taken into account a most important task pressing upon this office, which is the duty of furnishing exact and important information in memoranda and special reports upon matters pertaining to the period of Spanish sovereignty here, importance of which may be seen by the data set forth in the statement placed at the end of this report, which does not include the numerous reports verbally made daily to different civil and military officials. The business of this office has suffered a new interruption, as, on account of the recent removal to this building (the Ayuntamiento), the greater part of the archives, already arranged and classified, having been to a degree thrown again into disorder, owing to such removal, this inconvenience being unavoidable, notwithstanding the greatest care being taken, in view of the vast number of documents and bundles of loose papers, transportation of which was necessarily intrusted to inexpert people, as otherwise the task would have been slow and interminable in completion. This is the fourth removal of this bureau, and this fact will give an idea of the great difficulties encountered in its organization, these recurring, unavoidable alterations requiring valuable time for rearrangement, which is unfortunately lost afterwards. Assuming this removal to be the last, I anticipate, in view of the excellent location now occupied, that the business of this office may continue hereafter without interruption until the final termination of its organization. There is inclosed a special report that is the product of long and painstaking study, which under this date I submit to the civil commission through your office in order to clear up definitively all doubts which may exist in respect of the ownership of the "Arroceros" and the "Aguadas" grounds. I thought it necessary to compile this information on account of the frequent consultations and inquiries made by the municipality, not only about the properties mentioned, but also regarding other properties with no known owners, of which the city assumes possession, to the detriment of the interests of the insular government. Before concluding I deem it a matter of justice to mention the services certain employees of this office are rendering with such intelligence and zeal as to merit greater compensation than that now received by them. These employees are Manuel M. Miranda, Rosauro de Guzman, Simeon Magpantay, Domingo Aguirre, and Catalino Tuason. Mr. Miranda, who was for many years an employee of the Spanish Government, is in charge of the issue of copies of notarial documents, the collection of fees therefor, the preparation of accounts, and in addition performs the duties of property clerk of this bureau. By reason of his special experience gained in offices of the Spanish Government he is able to assist greatly in the preparation of memoranda and special reports required from these archives, and during the absence of the chief of the bureau acts in his stead. His salary is $1,200 per annum. Mr. de Guzman, who also receives $1,200 per annum, is in charge of the classification and organization of the archives. He is the only person available who is competent for this work, and therefore he should be classified as an expert. He was an employee for more than thirty years of the Spanish Government in these islands, during which time he established a record of most creditable service, holding confidential positions such as that of private secretary to the secretaries of finance. In addition to his other duties in this bureau, and because of his previous experience just mentioned, he is charged with the preparation of special reports on important subjects of record. Because of the peculiar services rendered by the two employees just mentioned, positions at $1,400 per annum were provided by Act No. 682, March 14 last. However, they have been unable to receive the promotion contemplated because of their not having taken the civilservice examination. In my report for the year 1902 I mentioned that, upon the organization of this bureau, my first care was to select a competent personnel from among those who had served the Spanish Government in these islands with special merit. This personnel comprises the two employees in question, whose intelligence and industry have contributed in great degree to merit such approval as the work of this office may have received from superior authority. Simeon Magpantay receives a salary of $600 per annum as typewriter operator in this office. The consolidation of the notarial protocols in the bureau has augmented greatly the duties of this employee by reason of the large number of copies continually required. Notwithstanding the assistance of two other employees, it has been necessary for him to work continuously from 8 o'clock a. m. until 5 o'clock p. m., with but one-half hour intermission for lunch, or at least eight and one-half hours daily. The last two-named employees, Aguirre and Tuason, receive $240 per annum each. These men have demonstrated their ability as assistant typewriter operators, notwithstanding the fact that their appointments are but those of mere "escribientes" of class J. However, due to their proficiency in typewriting and their diligence in the performance of their duties, it is a pleasure to state that the work of furnishing official copies of documents has been kept up to date and performed to the satisfaction of the public. Very respectfully, MANILA, September 15, 1903. M. DE IRIARTE, Relation of informations and data furnished by this bureau during the year ending August 31, 1903. 1. To the general attorney, information about the ownership, extension, and boundaries of the ground where the Cañacao skid is situated. 2. To the custom-house, historical notice of customs in these islands. 3. To the board of health, information about the ownership of the leprous hospital at Palestina, province of Nueva Caceres. 4. To the executive secretary, two informations about the property of the primary instruction college of Bacolor at Pampanga, now converted into an agricultural school. 5. To the municipal president of San José de Buenavista, at Antique, information about the "tribunal" of such town. 6. To the city attorney, information about the incorporation of the towns of Binondo, San José, Tondo, Santa Cruz, Quiapo, San Miguel, and Sampaloc to the city of Manila. 7. To General Davis, information relative to the ownership of the ground occupied by the cavalry quarters in Baliuag, at Bulacan, and afterwards by the market of such town. 8. To Maj. Gen. A. R. Chaffee, report about the Talim and Malahi islands. 9. To the executive secretary, information about the ownership of the farm called "Nuestra Señora de Guia," at the Tondo district. 10. To same, information and copies of the royal order and royal cedule, conferring a shield of arms to the city of Manila. 11. To the secretary of public instruction, information about the ownership of certain grounds at Mariveles, with two plans of the lazaret. 12. To the general attorney, information about the wharves constructed at Sorsogon by Messrs. Inchausty & Co. 13. To the executive secretary, information referring to the ownership of the property possessed at Molo by the Agustino friars. 14. To the civil commission secretary, Mr. C. W. Calvin, informing about the ownership of the tribunal house at the capital of Pampanga. 15. To the custom-house, report and copies of the custom ordinances at these islands. 16. To the chief of the constabulary, information referring to the civil guard's quarters at Maasin. 17. To the executive secretary, information about the ownership of the military buildings at Iloilo. 18. To the provincial supervisor of Dumaguete, informing about the state properties at such province. 19. To the chief of constabulary, information about the ownership of the house used as audience chamber at Vigan, Ilocos Sur. 20. To the secretary of public instruction, informing that the school buildings of San Francisco, Naic, and Corregidor at Cavite were constructed by local funds. 21. To the executive secretary, informing that the school building at Santa Cruz (Laguna) was constructed by local funds. 22. To same, informing about some grounds restored to the government at Pangasinan. 23. To same, report and copies of some sections of the treaty made by Spain with England and Germany referring to Sulu. 24. To same, information about the ownership of the house occupied by the government at Cavite. 25. To the secretary of public instruction, report and copy of the royal order authorizing the opium consumption here and declaring it monopolized at these islands. 26. To same, suggesting the fees that should be charged for copies furnished by these archives. 27. To the general attorney, information relative to some dispositions about Chinese, dictated after 1892. 28. To the secretary of public instruction, information about the ownership of the building called Santa Potenciana College. 29. To the city attorney, information referring to the institution of the Carriedo funds. 30. To the Manila and Dagupan Railway Company, information about their subvention agreements during the Spanish government. 31. To the executive secretary, report and copy of the royal order authorizing Messrs. Smith, Bell & Co. to construct a timber wharf. 32. To same, information relative to the Episcopal Palace of Nueva Caceres. 33. To same, information about the origin and meaning of the name "Jolo" and the true name "Paragua" island. 34. To same, informing about the restitution of the room occupied by the coast survey office. 35. To the secretary of public instruction, information about fees collected for furnishing copies of plans. 36. To the executive secretary, information about the ownership of the ground occupied by the water supply office, between the new bridge and the government cold stores. 37. To the city attorney, information and copy of the royal cedule granting some grounds to the neighbors of San Fernando de Dilao. 38. To the executive secretary, information relative to the city fortifications. 39. To the civil governor, information about the grounds designated for the Benguet sanitary station. 40. To the executive secretary, information and copy of the royal decree fixing the extension of common land that should be allowed to the towns. 41. To the secretary of public instruction, proposing a circular to be addressed to the provincial treasurers ordering the remission of the protocols not yet remitted. 42. To General Sanger, detailed report of native uprisings in this country. 43. To same, report and list of newspapers published in these islands. 44. To the executive secretary, information about the situation of San Bernardino Island. 45. To the provincial secretary of Cavite, information about the engineers commander office of that province. 46. To the provincial government of Bulacan, information about the building occupied by the constabulary at the town of Norzagaray. 47. To the architecture office, information about the ownership of a ground situated at Nozaleda street. 48. To the treasurer of Capiz, instructions about furnishing copies from protocols and other public documents. 49. To the provincial treasurer of Pampanga, information about the ownership of the building occupied by the provincial offices. 50. To the headquarters of Mindanao, information about the limits of the Zulu Archipelago. 51. To the provincial secretary of Abra, information about the ownership of the quarter at the town of San Juan in that province. 52. To the navy commander, report about the limits of the naval station at Olongapo. 53. To the coasts and transportation office, information about the grounds occupied by the light-house at Isla de Cabras. 54. To same, information about the ownership of the grounds occupied by the light-house station at the Philippine Islands, according to the list remitted by the superintendent of same. 55. To the chief of the constabulary, information about the buildings occupied by such corps at Surigao, known as "Casa-Cuarteles." 56. To the cable station office, information about the ownership of a ground at Malate district. 57. To the notary of Bacolod (Negros Occidental) instructions about the remission of that province protocols. 58. To the executive secretary, information about the ownership of Bagumbayan camp. 59. To the attorney-general, information about the ownership of the Palace Convent of Cebu. 60. To the board of health, information and plan of the grounds pertaining to the government at Malabon. 61. To the headquarters of Luzon, information about the ownership of the ground where the Jesuits' church was located at calle de Victoria. 62. To the insular purchasing agent, information about a ground situated at Tacloban (Leyte). 63. To the executive secretary, informing whether the municipality of Baganga belongs to Davao or Surigao. 64. To same, information about the correct pronunciation of certain geographical names of these localities. 65. To same, information about the Santiago fort. 66. To the attorney-general, information about certain grounds and buildings pertaining to the province of Masbate. 67. To the executive secretary, information about the commonable leagues of the towns of Paete, San Antonio, and Pakil, at La Laguna. 68. To the secretary of public instruction, information about a suitable ground for stable purposes. 69. To the executive secretary, information about the ownership of the ground where the old market of Cavite was situated. 70. To same, information about the ownership of a ground close to the military hospital. 71. To the custom-house, information about the boundaries of such property. 72. To the executive secretary, information about the Mariveles commonable league. 73. To the attorney-general, information about the commonable league, granted by the Spanish Government to the municipality of Surigao. 74. To the agriculture office, information about the ownership of the Sagpon ground at Albay for the establishment of the agronomical station. 75. To the executive secretary, information about the ownership of certain public lands at Iloilo. |