The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-06

money is his fair prey. There viii surely
be encounters between employer and en-
ploye before this impression is removed
Excellent Tobacco.
Porto Rican tobacco is said by many 10
be Of excellent quality. Tt seems TO be
badly harvested and cured. however. and
if improvements We're made in this direc-
ton It's value would be increased. Much
has of late years been sent TO Cuba, where
it has fetched good prices. fhe best to-
bacco lands here require a certain forna-
ton, location and mixture Of soil. ~hey
require expert examination TO determine
their value, and it is very easy for an anna
teur 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 900 for cultivation and general eN-
penses. Good tobacco lands are eonse-
quently held at high prices; $lJe per
cuerda is asked. ana lands suitable for the
production of the best tobacco are scarce.
The market for Porto Rican tobacco IS
one capable of development, and the pop
ularity and demand for the article VAL ne
increased by the perfection resulting rom
better methods Of handling and curlhg'
Porto Rico's status.
Before Porto Rico can enter upon the
steady march OF development education
and improvement which constitute her ~
ture prosperity several conditions Whlcn az
this hour hang heavily over the lsIauu
will have to be removed. Porto R4co
status Will have TO be determlneu' she
must be legally admitted as a territory VI
colony of the United States and she VIII
have to enjoy free trade with our coOn-
try. The question of her present depre-
10 hn - IA
ed out and the business uncertainty ma
confusion resulting from whatever meas
ures are taken to this end must nave SUI
sided The islanders themselves must
bury past political discords and enter upon
a new era of good fellowship ana unlty oI
purpose.
The exceedingly high state of taxation
on property in force to-day must De GU
down to a reasona bic assessment ne
American military authorities are now
collecting the taxes assessed by SPAN
during the first months OF this year
which taxes are intended to provide lof
all insular expenses. including the main
teuance of the Spanish army OF occupa-
ton. the Spanish navy and the Church
of Rome three features OF lnsuIaf pom
tics that are now eXistant since Oct. 10
last. This taxation on farming lahds Ill
the majority of cases amounts TO 80 per
cent of the lands net earnings per year
The United States received from SPAN
the title to various government ialus III
Porto Rico. Where these lands were
available for farming purposes they have
been to a great extent already taken up
and while many of them may not now be
under actual cultivation, their titles are
apt to have been compromised under
Spain, and they are to-day subject to va
rious claims resulting 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 labors whlch
should lead her to that degree of prosper
itv. peace and pleasure which rightly is
her due. and which her past political rela-
lions have thus far prevented her from
enjoying.