The record-union., 1899-01-06

been a question for statesmen to pon-
der England has for some years been
attempting to bring this industry in
the colonies back to the profits Of for
mer times. In the profitab BILE produc-
ton of sugar the Cuban crop will be
this islands greatest danger.
Labor here has been cheap, and un-
til to-day fairly plentiful. It is already
beginning to pamper itself and ask
higher wages. Every American who
comes in here to operate with native
labor will probably encounter difficult
ties in this direction. The average
Porto Rico laborer does not know much.
but he has one firm belief, and this is
that the American with money is his
tiers between employer and employee be-
fore this impression is removed.
Porto Rican tobacco is said by many
to be Of excellent quality. It seems to
be badly harvested and cured, however,
and If improvements were made in this
direction its value would be increa sed.
Much has of late years been sent to
Cuba, where it has brought good prices.
The best tobacco lands here require a
certain formation, location and mix
ture of soil. They require expert ex-
animation to determine their value, and
it is very easy for an amateur to err
in their selection. Tobacco has been
in some cases very profitable. A farm
of 100 cuerdas produced in one year
$4,000 gold, and cost the owner but
So, 600 for cultivation and general ex-
pense. Good tobacco lands are conse-
Quently held at high prices; $3.50 per
cuerda is asked, and lands suitable for
the production of the best tobacco are
scarce. The market for Porto Rican
tobacco is one capable of development
and the popularity and demand for the
article will be increased by the perfec-
ton resulting from better methods of
handling and curing.
Before Porto Rico can enter upon that
steady march of development, educa-
ton and Improvement which constitute
her future prosperity, several condi-
tons which at this hour hang heavily
over the island will have to be removed.
Porto Rico's status will have to be de-
termined; she must be legally admitted
as a Territory or colony of the United
States, and she will have to enjoy free
trade with our country. The question
of her present deprecated currency will
have to be Strengthened out, and the
business uncertainty and confusion re-
sulting from whatever measures are
taken to this end must have subsidized.
The islanders themselves must bury
past political discords, and enter upon
a new era Of good fellowship and unity
of purpose. The exceedingly high state
of taxation on property in force to-day
must be cut down to a reasonable as
sessment. The American military au-
thorities are now collecting the taxes
assessed by Spain during the first
months of this year, which taxes are
intended to provide for all insular cx-
penses, including the maintenance of
the Spanish army of occupation, the
Spanish navy and the Church of Rome,
three features of insular politics that
are now existant since October 18th
last. This taxation on farming lands
in the majority of cases amounts to
30 per cent. of the lands net earnings
per year.
The United States received from
Spain the title to various government
lands in Porto Rico Where these
lands were available for farming pur-
poses, they have been to a great ex-
tent already taken up, and while many
or them may not now be under actual
cultivation, their titles are apt to have
been comprised under Spain and they
are to-day subject to various claims re-
sulting from the corrupt system of
Spanish land registration
Only when these existing conditions
are righted will Porto Rico be ready
and able to take upon herself the la
bors which should lead her to that de-
gree of prosperity, peace and pleasure
which rightly is her due and which her
past political relations have thus far
prevented her from enjoying