US Presidency
1906

There were 210,273 tons of sugar exported last year, of the value of $ 14,186,319; $ 3,555,163 of tobacco and 28,290,322 pounds of coffee of the value of $ 3,181,102. Unfortunately, what used to be Porto Rico's prime cup coffee has not shared this prosperity. It has never recovered from the disaster of the hurricane, and moreover, the benefit of throwing open our market to it has not compensated for the loss inflicted by the closing of the markets to it abroad. I call your attention to the accompanying memorial on this subject of the board of trade of San Juan, and I earnestly hope that some measure will be taken for the benefit of the excellent and high-grade Porto Rican coffee. In addition to delegations from the board of trade and chamber of commerce of San Juan, I also received delegations from the Porto Rican Federation of Labor and from the Coffee Growers ' Association.