Any person of legal age may purchase not to exceed 39 acres of the "Friar Lands" estate. A corporation duly registered in the Philippine Islands may purchase as much as 2,530 acres. Payment for the land may be made in full at the time of the purchase or in annual installments. If purchased on the installment plan the purchaser is allowed 12 years in which to pay the purchase price, beginning January first of the year following the purchase, plus interest of four per cent per annum on the unpaid balance. After the purchaser has paid for the land applied for by him in full a deed is issued in his favor. XI. THE TRADE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Background] The Philippines are practically alone among tropical countries in having, through a fortunate chain of historical circumstances, a population advanced in civilization and able to become a part of the complicated organization which modern commerce demands. The business machinery of collecting the products from the plantations and getting them to Manila has long been in the hands of Filipinos and in this they are rarely assisted financially by Americans or foreigners. In connection with man power, however, there is a problem very difficult to solve--the scarcity of manual labor--the population of the Islands being insufficient to till their fertile acres and get their products ready for commerce. Probably only time can remedy this. The stability of the Government of the Islands during a time of growing Filipino participation is a proof to the world that when the time comes for the government to be entirely in the hands of the Island's inhabitants, both as to internal and external affairs, foreign commerce need not fear for loss of credit or trade, due to any of the great political upheavals which have been so common in other countries which were once colonies but are now independent. [Trade Routes]