The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-22
BUSINESS IN OUR NEW POSSESSIONS.

There is some danger that the business
opportunities in our new possessions may
be overrated by Americans seeking new
fields for investment or employment there
by causing a rush of emigration that may
result disastrously. This has sometimes
happened in our history. Americans are an
enterprising and migratory people, ever on
the alert for new chances to make money.
For this they will go almost anywhere and
take almost any risks. The rush to Cali
fornia will always remain one of the most
remarkable episodes in our history. When
gold was discovered there California was
more difficult of access from the Eastern
States than Hawaii or the Philippines is
at present. The discovery of gold was made
in January, 1S4S, but authentic news of the
discovery did not reach 1.-The States till
the fall of 1S4S In 1S49 from thirty thousand
to forty thousand persons crossed the
plains and about twenty-five thousand went
by sea- In 1852 the State had a population of
264Co0, and in 1860 of $500 In 1913 the popu-
lation of San Francisco was one thousand:
in 1852 it was thirty-five thousand. This i'm
mense influx of population was sustained by
the increasing output of gold and the
boundless opportunities for investment and
enterprise. In the case of California there
was no great reaction, though in a few
years almost everything was overdone The
rush to Alaska, though not as great as that
to California, has been greater than the cir
cumstances justified, and already there is a
strong return tide of emigration. The set
Element of Kansas, of Oklahoma and other
Western States and Territories has been
accompanied by similar experiences ire
mendous rush to get in ION the ground
floor surplus of population, scarcity
of employment for poor men and unskiIled
labor and the return of many disappointed
Adventures.
Our new possessions will not justify any
rush of immigration. They do not offer an
inviting field for the employment of I'M
skilled labor, for investment by small capt.
talists or for any of the enterprises with
which Americans are chiefly familiar They
are tropical countries. and, therefore, not
favorable for the rapid development of new
enterprises. Moreover, they are not new or
unpopulated countries. Porto Rico is as
thickly populated as any one of the United
States. Hawaii is not so populous. but it is
by no means a new country. The knights
of Pythias lodge in Honolulu has issued a
circular on this subject, in which the stu
alton is so clearly and temporarily stated
that it is worth careful reading. 1t says:
The annexation Of these islands by the
United States has caused many of the
brethren to project attempts to better their
condition or to find employment in what
they consider a new country. Such we con-
slider 1t our duty to warn and TO speak in
plain terms. The social and business COM
munities of these islands were old and well
established before the rush to California
This is in no sense a new country. The only
opportunity here is for the man of large
capital There is no employment here for
mechanics or any kind or for unskilled la
Dor. Many men of ability, of good habits
and nrSt-claSs recommendations are now
here practically stranded. All lines of small
business are filled and, in most cases,
crowded. Do not come here unless you have
the assurance in advance of steady employ
ment or have the capital to engage in land
development enterprises requiring large
means We spread this positive advice be-
cause We wish TO save brethren disappoint-
ment and distress.
1t is probable this statement would fit
Porto Rico fully as well as it does Hawaii,
for Porto Rico is much the older country
and the more populous island of the two.
OF course, there are opportunities for in
vestment in both islands, but they are
chiefly in enterprises that require expensive
plants and large capital. such as sugar
planting or refining. coffee raising. etc.