The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-06
PORTO RICO WIDE OPEN.
Great Chances for American Capital
and CHARACTERIZATION Of Coffee.

porto Rico Is already open-wide open
n American enterprise and capital said
General Nelson A. Miles. THE last Of the
Spanish troops will soon nave taken their
departure. and we shall be in full posses
sion of all parts Of the island | should
say that the best prospects for Yankee
energy on the island are offered BY the
OPPORTUNITIES Of supplying a very notable
deficiency IN transportation facilities. Al
most no railroads are 10 be found there,
and Of electric roads ! saw none.
Porto Rico has no manufactures that
amount To anything, and the lack OF
them suggests a great opening Tor Amer
lean money and ideas. They make PAN
anna hats on a very considerable scare
and particularly fine ones. but that can
not be regarded as an industry or much
importance. Hitherto labor there has beeh
quite cheap. but the price Of II Is apt 10
20 up rapidly under the inspiration OF
Yankee methods. Naturally. the raising
of sugar. coffee and tobacco all Of when
are produced in immense quantities py
the fertile soil. Will attract capital from
this country. Also, | might add the grow
ing Of tropical fruits
Said Col. Michler. aid TO Gen. Miles:
There are fine opportunities for Amer
leans I'm Porto Rico. and they are READY
TO be grasped right now. Already capital
lists from this country are going in there
and are obtaining all sorts OF concessions.
They are buying up hot springs, which on
the island are used FOR baths and are
investing in transportation enterprises.
Five miles from Coamo, which Is on the
military road that connects Ponce win
San Juan. are mineral hot springs whlch
compare fav0rably with those OF AK les
Bains in France The baths there are
delightful and are taken In hot or cola
water. the water as II comes from the
springs being sometimes cooled and re-
heated to please the fastidious.
II should say that most promising
opening was available in the culture oil
coffee. This appeals 10 me particularly
because 1 am fond Of coffee, ana the
Porto Rican berry Is Of wonderfully me
flavor. The grades OF coffee considered IN
Paris TO be the highest ana Whlch pring
the best price in that metropolis or sour-
NETS are from Porto Rico. II seems as
toDiShiDS 10 learn. what l assure you Is
the fact, that SO.OO0.OO0 pounds OF coffee
were exported last year from Porto Klco.
Said Col. Allen. who was on the Island
with Gen. Miles recently:
Porto Rico to-day is full OF Americans
who have millions behind them. One
finds them browsing about over most OF
the island looking for concessions and
for profitable schemes to promote. Now
is the time to go there. II you are going
with any speculative or industrial idea.
few days from now all the Spanish troops
will have been sent away. Transportation
is the business into which most OF the en-
terprising Yankees seem inclined to go.
1t represents the problem or the immed-
tate future OF Porto Rico. AT present.
there is only one railway on the island.
running from Ponce to Yauco. and 1t Is
in French hands"
Said Gen. Gilmore:
1.-THE island of Porto Rico Is as open
now as # ever Will be. I should say that
railroads and sugar growing Afforded the
best opportunities for Americans ana
American money. Under the new regime
Porto Rico gives promise OF suostan-
tial future. and 1t may be recognized as
the winter Newport of this country-the
favored resort OF rich people VINO desire