During the last week of July we finally sailed from Manila on a naval vessel for San Fernando in the province of Union.

From this place we expected to go by road as far as Naguilian, in the same province, and thence on horseback to Trinidad and Baguio, in Benguet.
In order to expedite investigations as much as possible we took with us Mr.Horace L.Higgins, president of the Manila and Dagupan Railway Company, who was an engineer of experience, to report on the practicability of constructing a railway to Baguio.

We also took Major L.M.Maus, of the army medical corps, and Dr.Frank S.Bourns, who then held the volunteer rank of major in the same corps, to report on the possibilities of the place as a health resort.

Two young naval officers went along just for the trip.
Major Maus accompanied us only because requested to do so.

Taking the latitude and altitude as a basis for his calculations, he had already determined with a lead pencil and piece of paper just what the climate of Baguio must be, and had demonstrated to his own complete satisfaction that the statements of the members of the Spanish committee above referred to were necessarily false.
His first rude shock came when we were met at San Fernando by a young aide to Colonel [506] Duval, who was in command of the local garrison at that place.