The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-05-09
WINTER RESORT.
Gen. Robert P. Kennedy, of the insular
Commission, Makes a Report.
Not One-Fourth of the Island is Under Gull
tion-Opportunities for Stock Rails
ing is Superior to Almost Any Part
of the United States.

WASHINGTON, May S.-OWlnS 10 the
large number of inquiries that have
been received by the members of the
insular commission since their recent
return from Porto Rico. Gen. Robert
P. Kennedy has prepared a statement
as to resources and conditions in Porto
Rico which he thinks will cover the
points upon which the greatest inter
est has been manifested.
Concerning the people themselves
Gen. Kennedy says:
There can scarcely be found upon
the globe more hospitable and warm
hearted people than those of Porto
Rico. They are in full sympathy with
American institutions. There is a
great deal of poverty in the island, as
it is understood in the United States.
That is, the people live in fiimsily con-
structed huts, have few clothes and
still less of ready money, but owing to
the bounty of nature around then
they can live with little work and few
worldly goods and still not suffer from
either cold or hunger. The stories OF
tons.
While the richer classes live we'll in
beautifully appointed homes and have
been for the most part educated
abroad so that they speak English, the
per cent. of illiteracy among the poorer
classes is very high, reaching 90 per
cent, but this is largely due to the
fact that there are no schools worth
the name outside of the largest towns,
or indeed one might say in the whole
island.
AS to agricultural opportunities,
should say that not one-fourth of the
lands in the islands are now under cul
tivation, and thousands of acres yet
remain to be given over to husbandry
Lands are held at a good price owing
to the promise of an influx of people
| from the United States. Still there is
opportunity for many thousands o.
persons who really wish to engage il
agrlcu lture on the Islands.
/ That there are great opportunitie.
in Porto Rico is unquestiAnable. II
young men desiring to seek permanent
homes and who have good stock o
energy and enterprise, Porto Rico of
fers great inducements. But l woulC
discourage the simple adventurer, whC
expects to reap quick and unearneC
reward
Sugar and coffee both require larg
outlay in lands, material and improve
ments. The promise of both of these
however. is unequaled anywhere els
in the world. An old coffee plante
from Java, who has just bought
plantation. assured me that TIL
climate and conditions were as favor
able as he had ever seen. Tropica
fruits of all sorts grow readily and ar
of the finest quality. l know of n
place which offers greater induce
lnents than does Porto Rico to Florid
orange growers who are seeking a lc
cation outside the frost belt.
The opportunities for stock raising
it appears to me, are superior to thos
in almost any part of the United State
and this without disparagement to GU
own cattle country.
The climate of the island, in my ex
perience, and from what l ca
gather of it from record
official and otherwise, is all tina
could be desired. 1t is warm in sum
mer and cool in winter, and even tn
densely populated city of San Juan
a remarkably healthy place. 1 loo
forward to the time not far distan
when Porto Rico will be not only tn
garden spot of the United States, bu
one of the most popular winter resorts
He May Come Home.
WASHINGTON, May S.-There is res
\ hi ho@