THE historic entry of many enterprising groups in Negros stimulated the growth of many towns and the subsequent appearance of large agricultural fields known as haciendas, which developed apart from encomiendas following various migrations, particularly during three different periods and under different social groups. The first of these were lands acquired by Españoles Peninsulares who came to Negros due to their disenchantment with the political problems in Spain and their search in the 1830s for material opportunities. Secondly, the mestizos of Chinese and Spanish descent and Indios mostly from Panay grew rapidly in the 1860s. Lands were acquired by a few generally well off Europeans, largely French and English in the 1870s. While some haciendas were acquired through the process of homesteading, others were bought or leased through various other arrangements.
Haciendas generally consisted of various sizes ranging from 30, 50, 100 or even 400 hectares. Each farm acquired self-sufficiency within enclosures similar to European feudal estates. Within the areas were nipa or bamboo huts scattered about for laborers but several major structures of stone, bricks or galvanized iron were set off from the owner’s residences who also lived in the towns. A few warehouses stored the sugar mill and fuel supplies and there were stables for farm animals or carriages. Open areas were used to dry palay, sugar cane, fibers and coconut husk. Play areas for children and communal meeting places for social gatherings were also set up in the evenings. Several iron bells were rung to signal the start and end of work and meals for laborers. Among the religious minded owners, the bells also announced in the afternoons for masses or religious gatherings on Sundays in small chapels.
Early hacienderos also experienced some problems with the limited financial support of the initial commercial houses. The Negros hacienderos were provided with the first crop loans to finance expenses to hire laborers, acquire work animals, cane points and various machineries, clearing the fields and planting and harvesting the cane. The practice of credit advances or crop loans though risky was beneficial to the creditors as long as the world price of sugar was high. The Loney and Ker, the biggest company also managed their own farms and the Matab-ang estate in Talisay established the largest steam sugar mill in the Philippines at that time. The need for financing and high interest rates were basic problems but signs of social and economic prosperity expanded the sugar industry in Negros. Various farmers reported to their home offices complaints with the Spanish government restricted policy and other government regulations. The growing sugar trade with the production from Negros required various expensive equipment. Despite the problems however, agricultural productions and increased populations in Negros grew steadily. With the population of 30 thousands in 1850, this increased to 320, 606 thousands in 1893. With a sugar production of 3,000 metric tons raw sugar in 1850, the Negros production increased to 1 million, 800 thousand piculs. Facilities for sugar production increased also from 7 mills in 1850 to 1,000 mills in 1893. Hydraulics, various other sugar transport and other equipment likewise increased to 90 mills in 1893. Other commercial activities also grew between Negros and other provinces in the country and even abroad.