The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-09-26

'lsla de Puerto Rico and on the other
the face of the boy king and an elaborate
inscription in Spanish. .rhe largest Of these
is the peso. of 100 centavoS corresponding
in appearance with our silver dollars.
weighing 3S5.5 grains, and generally spoken
Of as Il dollar There are also smaller
silver coins of s. 10, 20 and 40 centavos.
the 20 centavo piece being known as the
'peseta,' also copper CONS of ] and CEN
tavos. The Spanish government makes no
attempt to maintain the standing of these
silver coins and they represent httle more
than their bullion value. the banks and
merchants gladly exchanging SLID in TINS
coin for 81 in our silver or paper, and eX-
changes being sometimes made at two
for one and even higher. The native
drivers. boatmen and vendors have al
ready learned the superior value of our
coins, and a Is cent piece in United States
coin is readily accepted al from 40 to %
cents in payment for their services. That
It Will be necessary to take UP this fuc-
tuating coin when our permanent measure
OF value pcrmeateS this island is generally
conceded, but just what plan should be
adopted In fixing the rate at which obli-
cations made i'll Porto Rican cola shall
be paid in that of the United States Is a
matter for statesmen to determine, An
other interesting question in this "OnncC-
ton is whether or not the plantation labor
~ to to cents p"T day in Porto Ri"1n
money will be content to accept q to so
cents per day In our coins in its stead.
The silver money coined and sent to the
island BY Spain amounted to six
million dollars or pesos. and
tEcrc has recn added about one
m Hon in money by certain OF the five
banks of the island. some OF which stands
at par with the silver and some a q dis
count, but it is seldom seen in ordinary
business transactions. The fact that our
mfnt to the island n sum equal in value
to one-tenth of the entire currency and
mat 1t VIII be immediately put into circu-
Ia1on through its payment to the troops
scattered over the island furnishes a sug-
gestion as to the probable increase of the
currency and increased disparity in value.
Investments in Porto Rico.
Much interest is already being evincad
ny people from the United States in the
matter of investments in Porto Rico and
on TINS subject there is variety of opin-
ions. Coffee plantations are first cnnsid-
cred, as they have a reputation Of having
paid from 10 to % per cent profit annually
upon their cost. They are led at high
prices, however. from $75 - $500 per s,lre
IN Porto Rdcan money according to loca-
ton, quality Of coffee produced. age Of
trees, etc. The western part Of the island
is considered the best 70. coffee ara pro-
duCes the celebrated cafe CaracoIilla.
which is all sent to Europe at the e1Lort
price of 20 cents per pound in Porto RCan
money. Sugar plantations are considered
next in Importance, and are relatively
higher in price because Of ne mCrc CX-
pensive machinery required While their
attraCtiveneSs as Investments is reduced
by the fact that many plantations
have OF late been abandoned as
such and turned into cattle ranges. Tobac-
60 has been very profitable OF lac ecanse
Of the shortage in cuban tOUa 20 for which