El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-12-14

muddy, SO much SO that passage is al
ways almost impossible, the oxen sink
ing to their knees and the wagons t,
their axles. This renders the transporta
ton of tire products of the island from
the interior to the seaports very diff
cult and expensive undertaking anf
hampers to great extent the commerce.
of the island. Coffee is brought from
the plantations in the interior on the
heads of the men and women or on pack
animals, at cost of 50 per hundred
weight. This cost binders the success
full cultivation of the large coffee plan
tations. It is equally detrimental to the
interests of the sugar planters, many OF
whom have plantations in the valleys
of the interior. Tobacco is more easily
handled, SO that its production is not sc
much affected. General Stone said:
II am convinced that Porto Rico will
never have a complete system of wagon
roads such as some of the states have.
Roads are enormously expensive in that
island, the celebrated military road cost
ing in the neighborhood of 500, 600 per
mile. The enormous rainfall distributed
| throughout all seasons is ruinous to any
road unless thoroughly well drained and
| constructed on hard foundation. 1 be-
lieve, however, that the place of the
wagon roads will be more than filed by
electric roads, of which 1 am certain
there will soon be a network over tie
island. Steam railways would be too
| expensive to construct or to operate,
| there being no coal on the island, while
there is an abundance of water power.
The rivers rise in the mountains in the
interior and have an average fall of
2, 500 feet in their short race to the sea,
and there is always abundance of water
pouring over high falls. Power for cleo
trio roads could be obtained from these
falls at little expense, the roads could
be easily graded and the rain would not
affect an electric road as it does a wagon
road. These roads would open communi-
cation between the interior and the coast
and place the coffee, sugar and tobacco
Of the plantations within easy access of
the sea board.
81 regard the possibilities for the in
vestment of American capital in Porto
Rico as something immense. Porto Rico
is destined to outstrip Cuba in the next
few years. In addition to having a more
stable government its climate is letter.
its people more peaceable ard letter
workmen and its soil fully as fertile
The Porto Rican laborer resembles the
Italian CT the Same class. He is cheer
full. industrious and ecCuCnlical and his
labor IS very cheap, ab0uG ere! Ourti.
that OF al American labOrer. THIS is
explained by the fact that food and
clothing cost bat very little on the is
land. The labOrer lives on the fruit OF
the banana tree, which also furnishes
partly his clothing and housing He
needs little furniture and little clothes.
1.-The educated natives are high
class OF people, cultivated, polite and
compare favorably with the higher class
es in the States. The lower classes are
capable and willing to learn. They are |
all very friendly, and almost every one /
on the island is attempting to learn 1
English. They are especially DESTROYS of |
having American schools established or
having the English language taught in |
the schools. With cheap labor and free
access to American markets, railroad |
facilities and plantations owned and
operated by Americans, I fail to see
but brilliant future for the
island. The sugar, coffee and tobacco.
the banana and cocoanut plantations,
electric railroads and paper making are
all good enterprises in which capital can
be profitably invested. There is little
doubt that in few years Porto Rico
Will be the winter resort of America.
Its climate is equal to that of Florida |
Oh Cuba in the winter time; it's atmos-
phere more healthful and it's scenery far
more varied and interesting. In addi-
ton to all the tropical luxury of vege-
tat1on Porto Rico has high mountains,
beautiful valleys, splendid waterfalls |
and beautiful views. AS the electric
roads open up communication with the |
interior 1T will be possible for the tour
lst to visit all the show places of the
Island at his ease, and with American
hotels or boarding houses scattered over
the island he can always get good &C
commodatlons.- Within a year there
will be number of fine hotels at San
Juan and Ponce, and preparations made
Tor the influx of winter tourists
In conclusion General Stone said that |
owing to the density of the population
IT Porto Rico and the cheapness of living
t would be long time before wages
reached the American scale, but rs the |
for Porto Rican products in
'reased the demand for labor there would |
ADVANCE the price of it, and gradually,
Is the Iaborer became accustomed to the |
comforts of the American Iabcrar, lie
would need more and receive more He |
believes that matters in Cuba will be |
Unsettled for several years at least
Turing which time he thinks the con
ervative American capitalists will in
est their money in Porto Rico rather
han in Cuba. General Stone will make / =
report on the result of his inquiry tc
be secretary of war.-New York Sun