The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-12

sh ports of the importations about 30 per
cent are manufactured articles. largely
cotton cloths, shoes, fancy goods and aTti-
cles of household use. Is per cent. rice. 10
per cent. fish, 10 per cent. meats and lard.
and per cent. flour. Naturally most OF
this came from Spain. because the duty
collected on articles from that country was
only ons-tenth OF that on articles hss from
are collected from the tariff. the Spanish
government also collected a large amount
by other methods, dealers and property
owners being required TO pay to the Spanish
government one-half much tax was
collected for the local government, whose
expenses were high thus making the tax
burden very heavy.
Much interest is already being evinced
oy people from the United States in the
this subject there is a variety of opinion.
Coffee plantations first considered. as
10 10 % per cent profit annually upon their
cost. They are. held at high prices, how
ever from $50 to 500 per acre in Porto
Rican money, according to location, quail
ity of coffee produced, age of trees, etc.
The western part of the island is considered
the best for coffee and produces the cele-
brated cafe caracolila,' which is all sent
to Europe at the export price of 80 cents
per pound in Porto Rican money. Sugar
plantations considered next in inn
portance and are relatively higher in price
because OF the more expensive machinery
required, while their attractiveness as in
vestments is reduced by the fact that many
plantations have of late been abandoned as
such and turned into cattle ranges. To-
| bacco has been very profitable of late be-
cause. of the shortage in Cuban tobacco, for
which 1t has been substituted though
whether 1t will continue its popularity
when the Cuban article resumes l. nor
NAL position in the market is unceEt tain.
Tropical fruits have had little attention
either among local exporters or American
investors but might prove more prohtaele
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 Flor
ida or California fruits. AS to the increase
which may be expected in the production
and consumption of the island 1t will depend
somewhat upon the improvements made in
harbors, roads, transportation facilities,
etc., and the energy with which the Ameri-
cans may push the work or its develop
ment. The land in the valleys Is extremely
rich and that of the mountalnsides even 10
me very top IS OF eo6d colO d amG n3 the
fruits. With the opening of roads to the
interior it is probable that considerable
land not now titled would be brought under
cultivation and the general consensus OF
opinion among intelligent residents of the
island is that the products can be increased
SO per cent. or perhaps more. and the profit
greatly increased by modern methods of
cultivation and transportation, and the con-
Stunning power of the island Increased IN
about the same proportion. Even should
this happen however the island could fur
nish but about 10 per cent of our annual
consumption of tropical products and con-
sumo but about per cent. of our annual
1.-THE business enterprises most likely to be
successful in Porto Rico are those related
to the tropical productions which flourish
there and cannot flourish in the United
States, while to our own temperate cnmate
and well-esta blshed industries should be
left the task of supplying the general food
products and manufactures required by the
our grain fields and factories by the vessels
which return laden with their tropicaI
growths, An acre of land in Porto Rico
can produce more of value in sugar or conee
or tobacco or fruit than if planted In corn
or potatoes or used pasture while there
are single counties in the United States
| larger than all Porto Rico which are only
suitable for the production of these general
| food supplies.
| NO PLACE FOR MANUFACTURES.
| While there is a general demand for
| manufactures in Porto Rico, they can be
more cheaply supplied by our great facto-
res at home than to attempt their manu-
| facture there. especially as no coal has yet
| been developed in the island and fuel is
| high and water power not to be relied upon.
Ice factories and breweries would probably
| do well there, and it is believed that the
production of grapes and the manufacture
| of vino would be successful. while the cigar
industry would be profitable with the plen-
| tiful native labor and high grade tobacco,
| especially if all tariff restrictions upon
| trade between the island and the United
| States shall be removed. Among the most
| important needs for the development OF the
| island are thorough survey and readJust-
| ment of property lines and titles, conStruc-
| ton of roads and harbor facilities and the
establishment of such hotel enterprises as
will make practicable leisurely and care re-
| full study of it's conditions, conditions which
| have never been carefully studied or devel-
| oped by the Spanish government, which has
| controlled the island since 1909.
! ''As a resort for peasure-seekers or those
! desiring a delightful winter climate Porto
Rico VIII be very at5Tactv tive as soon ais an
! hotels supply some of the comforts TO
which the people of the United States have
become accustomed The constant breeze
| from the sea by day and the land at night
| renders the climate a fairly comfortable
| one, even IN August and the opportunity
| coupled with the mineral springs, which are
| said to abound, will make the island attrac-
| tive to those seeking health as well as rec
| reation.
I'm the cities and towns the succession of
/ strange sights and sounds presents kalei-
! descopic and always interesting spectacle.
! The street vendors, carrying their stores
| upon their heads or in huge panniers upon
| diminutiYe ponies, announce their wares III
strange and not unmuSical cries, long lines
| of rude carts drawn by broad-horned bull
| locks crowd the streets, native women
| smoking black cigars fit hither and thither
nude children of all colors and ages below
eight disport themselves unconcernedly on
the sidewalks and streets, while soldiers
| and officers are everywhere, busy with their
| duties establishing order and new condi-
| tons On the country roads the succession
| of mountains and valleys covered with trop-
ical growth, dashing mountain streams and
overhanging cliffs and the large sugar and
/ coffee plantations dotted with the tiny
! houses of their native wOrkmen present a
panorama of constant interest
| Porto Rico now resumes, politically, the
| relations with this continent which long ago
| existed physically. Torn by great natural
| movements from the mainland of which this
| chain of islands doubtless formed part,
| she is now restored by another great nat
ural movement which is reuniting the con-
| tinents and countries and islands in a sys-
tenn of republics having one great purpose
| of cooperation and mutual advancement
| Alone she can furnish but small part of
the tropical supplies for which we have
| been accustomed to send $3.50 900 abroad
| each year, but with the cooperation of I'M
developed Cuba, Hawaii, and the Philip
| pines. should they fall within our borders,
people practically all of that vast sum
| which we have heretofore been compelled to
| send to foreign lands and foreign people"