The times., 1898-08-08
TO SEEK PORTO RIcAN GOLD.
Representatives of Syndicate Sail
On the Silvia

New York, Aug THE first business
enterprise to leave this city for Porto
Rico sailed yesterday afternoon on the
steamer SILVIA, a steamer belonging 10
Miller; Bull & Knowlton. Of this city.
The vessel carried a heavy cargo of pro-
visions and her destination is Ponce.
which port she expects to reach by next
Friday. The successes of the american
army in Porto Rico have led to the or
ganization of a syndicate, which is under
the direction of the firm of Miller, Bull &;
Knowlton, and which has for fits object
the securing of valuable concessions Of
land in the island OF Porto Rico.
The Silvia, loaded with supplies Of all
kinds, sailed at two O'Clock yesterday al
ternoon, having on board forty represen-
tatives Of the syndicate, consisting of
civil engineers, surveyors and mining ex-
perts. who Will make a thorough inves-
tigation of the resources of the island,
with the ultimate otoject of organizing a
company to establish various business
enterprises in the southern island. Mr..
Kncwts,on was on the pier to wish the
party godspeed.
Among the passengers were Supreme
Court Justice William D. Dickey and his
son, who are enthusiastic about the posi-
bilities of the island which is about to
come under the United States flag.
The Silvia has been laid up since April
q. owing to the hostilities in Porto Rico,
but Miller, Bull & Knowlton, who have
been quietly organizing their syndicate,
are the first to take advantage of the
prospects of an early peace 1t Is said
that the firm represents an investment of
a large amount of New York capital
which they are authorized to invest in
property and business enterprises. and
that the work of locating desirable
plants vii be commenced as soon as the
party is landed.
The ship has sailed today with forty
investors who are anxious to look over
the ground" said representative of Mil
Ter, Bull & Knowlton yesterday after
noon. Il cannot say anything about the
syndicate which is behind the enterprise
as that is entirely in the hands of Mr..
Knowlton, who has left town.
Il do not know where he has gone or
when he will return, but presume he will
be gone over Sunday. We are satisfied
that there is vast fj for the invest
ment of capital in Portt Rico, and will be
about the first on the scene to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity. l cannot say
much more about the matter except that
those who went on the ship were pros
pectors civil engineers, mining engineers
and others who went simply as passen-
gers.
There win be no lack of money to de-
velop the valuable territory which will
become a part of the United States when
the treaty of peace is signed, and those
early on the field will reap the benefit
The representative of the syndicate
will obtain large areas of land in Por-
to Ricos intending to purchase II from the
present holders. Being first on the
ground they will have an opportunity to
obtain the best land at the most reasona-
bic figure, and would establish plants for
the manufacture OF various articles most
needed by the natives and now imported
from this country. A large supply of
general stores and provisions mad been
loaded on the Silvia and would be dis
posed of in one of the seaport towns of
Porto Rico in a general store which
would be established Immediately the
passengers were landed.