Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-12
SUPERB RESORT.
OF MAKING PORTO
RICO PARADISE OF AMERICA.
PLACE FOR AMERICAN COTTAGERS
with the Stars and Stripes Over the
Island, IL VIII He a Commercial
bonanza and an Ideal Resting
Place.
Correspondents OF the Dispatch,

Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
| NEW YORK, June 1o-"TalSe YOU
| choice of the most attractive summer re
sort in America" said Charles Rabadan
| In answer to the writer's questions re-
garding the value OF Porto Rico to the
United States. when you have decided
which one possesses the most delightful
features as a holiday resort, multiply Its
advantages by two and you may have
a resort the equal Of Porto Rico.
'If the armed forces OF the United
States gain possession Of the island
predict that Porto Rico will be the most
popular summer resort in the western
Hemisphere, and its mountain SIDES VIII
sneedily be covered with hotels and cot
tages.
"sThe notion that It Is an unhealthy
Mace Is erroneous. The scenery III su-
perb. the climate all that could be Wlshen'
and the position Of the Island an ioeai
one for an idHng place for the people
of this country who wish to restore 10
healthy condition nerves oyertaxeo ny
the strain OF the busy life OF the united
States. Porto Rico is not so FAR away
az TO render a long ocean voyage neces-
sarv. and vet is sufficient removed from
the United States to necessitate a tenn
norary forgetfulness OF home worries.
"YeIIov-feyer is known only in the
coast towns. and then comes by way OF
Habapa. from which point IL can easily
he guarded against. Spanish carelessness
ia mainly responsible for its existence.
American sanitary precautions Woulu
easily shut out this pest. with yeIlo"-
lack at a. safe distance from Porto hlco'
the island would be a paradise resioeilu-
allv. and a mine of wealth commercially
The scenery is magnificent, the mountain
ranges. lofty peaks, and tropical VeIuuIe
combining to make it the most peaulliui
i'm the West. Porto Rico Is justly en-
titled to be called the SWlIzerlahu VI
the western Hemisphere
at IS safe to predict, that once our
Gag floats over Porto Rico there VIII DE
no opposition in the United States 10 its
staving there permanently, for its ad-
vantages TO this country will be very
GREAT Besides making a convenient coal-
ing station, it possesses soil unsurpasse"
for fertility. and very little developed.
"The population, according TO the last
census taken in 1887, was Sl4OOo. OF whlch
number 10000 were whites. Spanlarus
control the commerce entirely. rev TOT -
eien houses being engaged in the export
ing of coffee and sugar Eleven fnliiioh
dollars worth of coffee was exported III
1902. France, Germany, and other EURO
moan countries take most of the cohee'
and hut little of it comes to America, as
they outbld our merchants abroad. Inc
coffee is of exceptionally good value. su-
oar exports I'm 1892 amounted to SOVo'VVV'
and tobacco, 100000. The tobacco grown
in Porto Rico is of good quality but does
not equal the Cuban leaf grown III tue
Vuelta de Abajo district.
porto Rico imports $4,000 worth OF
goods annually, chiefly rice, cotton, wool
linen. silk textures. and hardware. Eng
land and Germany are the countries
chiefly engaged in this trade. Spanish
merchants reaping harvest on account
Of the discriminating duty on four arti-
cles and reduced port charges TO spanish
ebips There is one good road running
from northeast 10 northwest of the Island
II Is used chiefly for the transportation
of merchandise. There are no railroad
lines of any Importance.
"IJnder American government the lsiahu
would speedily be overrun with networK
of rails. and the commerce become OF I'M
mense value. ro,,r-,,
HARRY d. JONES"