The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-22
CUBAN AND PORTO RICAN CROPS.
Eject of Fruit and Tobacco Indus
tries There on This Country.


tries There on This Country.
Several Savannahians are directly inter
ested in the effect that the annexation OF
Porto Rico and the control of Cuba will
have upon some OF the Industries Of Flori.
da. They have money invested in that
state in orange groves, or Pineapple plan
tations, or in the later and seemingly
promising cultivation of tobacco On al
least two of these industries b is feared
that the war will have an effect that will
not be regarded with favor by those who
have put their capital in them. If the indus
tries are not cut off their development may
be shortened. Such is the fear that is ex-
pressed, and although it may be without
good basis 1t Is dreaded that time win re-
veal that there were good reasons for the
present uneasiness especially as regards
the growing of plneapples and tobacco.
Florida oranges are recognized the
world over as the finest in quality that
are grown. The crop the past few years
has been so small that it has been entire
ly inadequate to meet the demand in this
country. The outlook is, though, that
within a matter of three or four years it
VIII be up to its old proportions and moi
only meet domestic requirements, but al
low OF liberal exports to Europe
Orange culture can hardly be affected
by the addition of Porto Rico TO the do
mains of the United States, although it
is to be presumed that the cultivation of
the fruit will be undertaken there by
Americans on an extensive scale within
a short time Just as certain subtle local
conditions affect the quality of tobacco,
SO, 1t Is believed, oranges grown in the
Indian river section of Florida, and else
where in that state, cannot be equalled
in certain qualities that make them the
fnV 1rff E-raE 80 =
Is Inc opinion Of some of the fruit men
here who have given the matter thought.
But the growers are a little uneasy about
future developments, all the same
AT present there Is a tariff on fruits
but it is not believed 1t will be kept on
after American capital and American la
Dor take hold of Cuba and Porto Rico.
and proceed to develop their wonderful
possibilities as fruit growing sections.
Northern and Western capital is expected
to flow like water into the two islands
and back of it will be sufficient political
influence to get any and all concessions
that may be needed from Congress- The
vast expansion of the growing of pine
apples in Porto Rico and Cuba, and ex-
pecially In the former island, may cause
blow to that industry in Florida. Porto
Rico is the home of the finest pineapples
the world knows. Large, delicious, they
are the faVoriteS everywhere. In Porto
Rico there are no frosts and the grower
will have advantages, when the island is
formally made part of this country, that
may make 1t hard for growers in the
states to meet the competition. Fruit
men here look for a wonderful growth in
this business in Porto Rico.
As with pineapples, so it is feared it
will be with tobacco Florida Tobacco cui-
ture has grown to a considerable extent
as a result of the conditions of war that
have existed in Cuba for the past three
or four years. With the upbulding of the
tobacco growing industry in Cuba by
Americans, with American capital and
probably with considerable American la
Dor, Will come new conditions that may
affect the cultivation of the weed in this
country
The effect that the annexation of Porto
Rico and the control of Cuba will have
on Florida In this way is beginning to at
tract attention and there will no doubt be
considerable discussion of this phase of
the situation during the coming weeks be-
fore Congress convenes. 1t means much
to Florida and those outside of the state
who have money invested there. While the
state naturally looks for liberal share of
the great trade that is expected to spring
up between this country and the islands
now that Spanish misrule Is over, it would
be source Of regret throughout the South
II her peculiar local industries were to be
injuriously affected in this way