English: Shortly after the Philippine commissioners reached Manila it was learned that a series of maps, covering the more important islands of the archipelago, was being prepared at the Jesuit Observatory under the supervision of the director, Rev. José Algue, S. J.

An inspection of such of the maps as already had been completed satisfied the commission that they were superior to anything hitherto published. It was learned that the Jesuit Fathers planned to make the series quite complete, but that they had no very definite ideas as to when the work would be completed or how the maps would be published eventually.

The commission conceived the idea of securing their cooperation in the preparation of a comprehensive atlas of the archipelago, and with this end in view asked them to submit a tentative list of maps. The request was promptly complied with. After some discussion the series here published was decided upon, and an arrangement was entered into whereby it should be completed and become the property of the commission by August 15. 1899.