The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-17

THE LABOR QUESTION.
Another interesting question In THIS
connection is whether or not the planta-
ton labor. which has in the past been
satisfied with fifty TO sixty cents per day
in Porto Rican money, will be content 70
accept twenty-five 10 thirty cents per
day in our coins in its stead. The silver
money coined and sent TO the island
BY Spain amounted to s6.0o0.0O0 or pesos.
and there has been added about one mil
lion in paper by certain OF the five banks
OF the island. some of which stands at
par with the silver and some al dis
count. but il is seldom seen in ordinary
business transactions. The fact that our
own Government has just sent in ship
ment 70 the island sum equal IN value
to one tenth of the entire currency, ana
that II will be Immediately put into cir
culation through its payment TO the
troops scattered over the island furnishes
a suggestion as to the probable increase
OF the currency and increased disparity
in value. Statistlcaly. the productions
and commerce Of Porto Rico have been
already discussed.
EXPORTS.
"The exports amount 10 about sl5.0OO'OOO
a year. gold value, and the imports about
100000. Coffee forms about 50 per cent
Of the value Of the exports, sugar 20 per
cent. tobacco per cent, and the re-
mainder made up OF cocoa, rum, hides,
sponges. cabinet woods, etc. Practically
all the coffee goes 20 Europe, the gro
GERS and dealers asserting that they can
obtain higher prices. especially for the
fine grades which rank with Java and
Mocha. in France and Spain than in the
United States. while the fact that the
export duty on coffee. tobacco and cattle
was only one-tenth as much on articles
sent 10 Spain as on those sent TO otheI
countries encouraged exporters TO SEND
their goods 10 Spanish ports. OF the I'M
portations about 30 per cent are manu-
featured articles, largely cotton CLOTHS
shoes fancy goods and articles or mousse
hold use. IS per cent rice. ID per cent
FISH. 10 per cent meats and lard, and
per cent -four Naturally. most OF this
came from Spain, because the duty col
lected on articles from that country was
only one-tenth OF that on articles from
other countries. While considerable sums
are collected from the tariff, the Spanish
Government also collected a large
amount by other methods, dealers ana
property owners being required 10 pay
10 the Spanish Government one-halt as
much tax as was collected for the local
government whose expenses were high.
thus making the tax burden very heaVy'
INVESTMENTS.
much interest is already being evinced
by people from the United States IN the
matter OF investments in Porto Rico ana
on this subject there is variety or
ion. Coffee plantations are first con-
ed. as they have a reputation or
having paid from Is 20 Is per cent profit
annually upon their cost They are held
al high prices however from $15 to 500
per acre in Porto Rican money accord
lnE 20 location. quality OF coffee pro-
duced. age Of trees. etc. The western
part Of the island is considered the best
for coffee. and produces the celebrated
cafe CaracOilla, which is all sent 20
Europe az the export price OF 81 cents
per mound I'm Porto Rican money. Sugar
plsnrations are considered next IN i'm
portance and are relatively higher IN
price because Of the more expensive
machinery required. while their atTac-
/ tivencss as investments Is reduced Dy the
| fact that many plantations have OF late
| been abandoned as much and turned into
cattle ranges. Tobacco has been very
profitable of late. because Of the short
axe In Cuban tobacco, FOR which II has
been substituted. though whether II viii
continue its popularity when the Cuban
article resumes its normal position In the
market is uncertain Tropical fruits have
had little attention. either among local
exporters or American investors, but
might prove more profitable than the
other interests more discussed, as they
are ready for shipment at a time Of the
year when the markets Of the United
States have not begun receiving the
Florida or California fruits.
AMERICAN ENERGY.
"As 20 the increase which may be ex-
| pectod I'm the production and consumption
of the island. it will depend somewhat
upon the Improvements made IN haroors.
roads, transportation facilities, ETC., and
the energy with which the Americans
may push the work OF its development.
! The land in the valleys is extremely rich
and that Of the mountain sides even 20
the very top is Of good color, and pro-
| ductive especially for coffee and some
OF the fruits With the opening OF roads
TO the interior. IL IS probable that con-
siderable land not now TILED would be
| brought under cultivation. and the gem
eral consensus Of opinion among intelli-
gent residents OF the island is that the
products can be increased so per cent, or
perhaps more and the profit greatly in
creased in about the some proportion.
Even should this happen, however. the
island could furnish about 10 per cent.
OF our annual consumption OF tropical
products. and consume but about per
cent. Of our annual exports.
? The business enterprise most likely 10
be successful in Puerto Rico are those
related 10 the tropical productions which
| flourish there and cannot flourish In the
United states. while 20 our own tenn
perate climate and well tablished in
dustries should be left the task OF sup
plying the general food products and
manufactures required by the people
there. sending them the products OF our
grain fields and factories by the vessels
which return laden with their tropical
growths. An acre OF land In Puerto Rico
can produce more value IN sugar or coz
fee and tobacco or fruit than II planted
IN corn or potatoes or used as pasture.
while there are single counties ia the
United States larger than all Puerto
Rico which are only suitable Tor the Dro-
duction Of these general food supplies
While there is general demand Tor
! manufactures in Puerto Rico, they can
be more cheaply supplied by our great
factories az home than 70 attempt their
manufacture there esDecially as no coal
has yet been developed In the island and
fuel is high and water power not 10 be
relied upOn Ice factories and brewerlrs
would probably DO well there. and II IS
believed that the production OF grapes
and the manufacture Of wine would be
successful while the cigar industry would
be profitable with the plentiful native
labor and high grade tobacco especially
II all tariff restrictions upon trade be-
tween the Islands and the United States
shall be removed
Among the most important needs for
the development OF the island are a
thorough survey and reimbursement OF
property lines and titles. construction Of
roads and harbor facilities and the es-
taH lfrn of