The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-30
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Forte Rico Furnishes . Flne Oppersz
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washington Post-)
The Philadelphia Commercial Mus
cum has just issued q pamphlet o,
American trade with Porto Rico. Ii
which the present business conditions
of the island and the methods OF con
Quoting commercial transactions ar
fully described. The information which
the pamphlet contains was secured
by a special representative Of the mus
cum, who recently returned from
tour Of the island, and through CORE
spondence with native merchants ant
importers OF the best standing. TIL.
pamphlet has been sem to the subscrib
ers of the institution and to CONNER.
cial organizations who are connected
with the museum in the capacity OF
members of its advisory board.
The pamphlet states in the very be.
ginning that "tthe most potent way tC
extend trade with the island is by com
ing In contact with the Porto Rican as
well as the Spanish merchant. 1t may
be noticed that England, Germany, and
France have observed this kind OF
policy in order to successfully capture
the trade which previous to the war
was almost controlled by them, and
now that America will control the lar.
ger part Of the trade in the island, it is
worth while for the manufacturer in
fhic rn.,rfrx 80 he ryschao - ovDanl ~
promote his business in the island, to
be very particular in the way of con-
Quoting his business at the beginning,
for the business people of Porto Rico
have not been accustomed to rush, the
majority of them having been spoiled
by the European merchants, who, in
order to captivate the trade, would al
low them all sorts of conveniences.
For the present all business trans
actions should be made in Spanish, for,
although there is already a great de-
mand for the English language, and
many have already started to acquire
in some way or other some English
education, the business people of the
country will not be trained to do bust
ness in a general American way for
some time to come"
PREFERENCE FOR AMERICAN
PRODUCTS.
1T goes without saying" the pamph-
let says, that the Porto Rican and a
large number of Americanized Spanish
merchants as well will prefer anything
American, proof of this being shown
before and during the war. The love
and sentiment for America have been
shown at every opportunity, and if
more business relations with the Unit
ed States were not established previous
to the war it was because the mer-
chants of the island found no encour-
agement from American capitalists,
and when financially pressed, the mer-
chants had to fall back on European
capitalists, who stood ready to facilitate
any convenience or accommodation
asked of them. This is the way foreign
capital, especially German, has found
so much profitable investment.
"The demand for American raw ma
terials and manufactured goods is al
ready increasing. Engineers and rep
resentatives of capital are to be seen
ill all parts Of the island surveying and
overlooking the ground with a view to
building railroads and electric lines,
and drummers for machinery and agri-
cultural Implements, firearms, bicycles,
and soap and candle houses are an
vassing the local business establish
ments for orders. Agencies have al
ready been established for lumber
firms, glass manufactures, and brewer
les in the principle cities. Opportuni-
ties for the investment of capital in
manufacturing OF farming exist on
every side"
SOIL IS WONDERFULLY RICH.
Two pages are devoted to the agri-
cultural interests of the island. 1t
would not be an exaggeration, the re-
port says, to say that the soil all over
the island is wonderfully rich. Ferti-
lizers are quite unknown, because they
are unnecessary, the soil seemingly
having a recuperative power within
itself. Pineapples and oranges grow
almost wild, the oranges being more de-
liciOus and tender than even those
from Florida. Sugar cane is grown on
the plains, and level ground along the
coast and the other portions of the is
land are devoted to coffee and tobacco
raising. These three comprise the
principal industries of the island, every
portion Of which is settled and very
much under cultivation. Modern care
and skill are not practiced in the line
Of agriculture and are almost unknown.
Farm laborers receive from 12a to
81 cents a day, and work from 5 o'clock
in the morning until 6 o'clock at night.
Very rarely more than &c cents a day
is paid to laborers, and many only work
for a living, being supplied with the
poorest food of the country, and only
occasionally being given a little money.
Coffee pickers receive about IL cents a
day. and laborers in the cities 81 cents
a day.
The prices of land in the plantations
are YER much unsettled. There is a
deep and bitter spirit of vengeance
amOnp the Porto Rjcaus for tho Cnan-