New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-12


exports amount to about S1500OOO0 a year,
gold value. and the imports to about S16.O0O.0OO
Coffee forms about 60 per cent OF the value OF
the exports. sugar 20 per cent tobacco 3 per
cent. and the remainder is made up OF cocoa,
rum. hides sponges. cabinet woods. etc. Practi-
caliy all the coffee goes to Europe. the grOcers
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 cat
tie was only one-tenth as much articles sent
| TO Spain as on those sent to other countries en-
couraged exporters to send their goods 10 Span
/ ish ports.
Of the importations about 80 per cent are
| manufactured articles, largely cotton cloths.
shoes. fancy goods and articles OF household use.
! Ii per cent rice. 10 per cent Ash. 10 per cent
meats and lard and per cent -four. Naturally.
/ most OF these came from Spain. because the
DUTY collected on articles from that country was
! only one-tenth Of that on articles from other
/ countries. While considerable sums were coll
! lected from the tariff. the Spanish Government
/ also collected large amounts by other methods,
/ dealers and property-owners being required to
/ pay to TIE Government half as much tax as
| was collected for the local government, whose
expenses were high, thus making the tax burden
/ heavy.
AMERICANS ANXIOUS TO INVEST.
Much interest is already being shown by
people from the United States in investments in
! Porto Rico, and this subject there Is a va
riety Of opinion. Coffee plantations are first
! considered they have a reputation Of having
paid from Il TO % per cent profit annually upon
! their cost They held at high prices. how
! ever, from SO to 5000 In Porto Rican
money according to location. quality OF coffee
produced age OF trees, etc. The western part
Of the island is considered the best for coffee.
and produces the celebrated Cafe Caracoila,
which is all sent 10 Europe at the export price
OF 80 cents a pound In Porto Rcan money.
sugar plantations are considered next in i'm
portance. and are relatively more costly. be-
cause OF the more expensive machinery required.
while their attractiveness investments Ia re-
duced by the fact that many plantations have
OF late been abandoned and turned into cattle
ranges
Tobacco has been profitable lately because OF
the shortage in Cuba tobacco, for which IT has
been substituted though whether It will con-
tinue its popularity when the Cuban article re-
sumes its normal position in the market Is un-
certain.
Tropical fruits have had little attention. either
among local exporters or American investors
but might prove more profitable than other In
teresjs moro discussed. az they are ready for
shipment at n time Of the year when the mar
kets OF the United States have not begun TO re-
ceve the Florida California fruits
COUNTRY OPEN TO IMPROVEMENT.
"As TO the increase which may be expected in
the production and consumption OF the island. II
will depend somewhat upon the improvements
made in harbors roads. transportation facilities
etc and the energy with which tho Americans
may push the work OF development The land
in the valleys is extremely rich. and that OF the
mountain sides TO the tops. Is OF good color
and productive, especially for coffee and some or
the fruits With the opening OF roads TO the In
terror IL is probable that considerable land not
now titled would be brought under cultivation
The general consensus OF opinion among the IN
tellieent Inhabitants OF the island IL that me
product can be increased 30 per cent. or perhaps
more: the profit greatly increased by modern
methods of cultivation and transportation. ana
| the consuming power Of the island Increased IN
about the same proportion. Even should this
! bannen however the island could furnish only
| about 10 per cent OF our annual consumption OF
tropical products. and consume only about = per
cent Of our annual exports.
THE business enterprises most likely TO De
successful in Porto Rico are those related to the
tropical productions which flourish there ana
cannot flourish in the United States while 10
the United States own temperate climate ana
we'll sta hlished industries should be left the
task OF supplying the general food products ana
| manufactures required by the people there'
/ eondine 70 them the products Of our grain helds
| and factories by the vessels "hlch return i'uen
! with their tropical growths.
PAYING INDUSTRIES IN THE ISLAND.
AN acre OF land in Porto Rico can produce
more Of value IN sugar, or coffee, OF TOBACCO or
fruit than II planted in corn or potatoes or USED
&C rasture while there are single counties in
the United States larger than all Porto Rco
which arc only suitable for the production OF
these general food supplies. While there IL a
general demand for manufactures in Porto Rico
,b.v can be more cheaply supplied by the great
factories in this country than by attempting
tboir manufacture there. especially as no coal
has vot been developed in the island. Fuel is
high and water power is not TO he relied upon
Ice factories and breweries would probably DO
we'll and Il Is believed that the production Oh
cranes and the manufacture OF wine would be
successful while the cigar industry would DE
nro6table with the plentiful native labor ana the
bieb-prade tobacco especially If all tariff re-
etr,ctions upon trade between the island ana
the United States shall be removed
Among the most important needs for the de-
velopmen OF the island thorough survey |
and reimbursement Of property lines ana tltes |
construction OF roads and harbor faclltles' anu
tba establishment OF such hotel enterprises as
will make practicable n leisurely and careful
etudv Of its conditions conditions which nave |
never been carefully studied or developed by the
cranieh Government, which has controlled the |
island since 1903
"As a resort for pleasure-seekers or Tor those |
desiring delightful winter climate Porto Rico
will be attractive 50 soon as direct ana fast
steamship lines and American hotels supply |
o,a ~ the comforts to which the people Of the !