The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-05-04
Domestic and international
Money Orders to Be ! sued
at All offices.
HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE
Porto RIcanS Are Rapidly Becoming
Amsri:anlzed Postmaster General
Enlhuslastle over Ehe Outlook.

| NbN JlAF III i'phlD hl'0t NPi't 80
Porto RlcO will soon BE- enjoying a
nrsl class postal service. First Assist
lant Postmaster General Perry Heath.
who arrived here fortnight ago ard
who IL leaving today by the cara 49,
has visited every nook and corner of the
island accompanied by Captain W. II.
Elliott. director general Of posts IN Porto
| Rico ana Inspector Moore. TO get an
! intelligent notion u the needs of the
! island IN this respect
Under the new system domestic and IN
| iernAilonal money orders will be- Issued
~ all ofices. San Juan Ponce and Man
ganeso viii have free delivery. the mails
/ wrl be- transported across the island
[ by new and up-to.date equipment and
1 me entire management Of the postal ser
vice wiI be- ccntered IN the director gen.
erals Office here.
The new system will be miniature
Of that Ia vogue IN the United SAGE.
Captain Elliott viii have The exclusive
control 4 the more than 20 minor Of
iccr. will employ his own men, make
the mail contracts and audit the ac-
counts ~ the various branches There
Will also be a dead letter ofice IN San
Juan
Il h expected that the postal ssrvice
viii be- self sustaining. 4 considerable
sum has Of noccvsiiy been spent IN con-
ycrting the unslghtly and unheal,hful
"corrorers" Of the Spanish administra-
ton into the attractive and sanitary
post offices with which all Americans
are familiar. Nor has this s'been small
undertaking.
The new post Offices OF the director gen
crai are the delight ot Americans trav-
cling In Porto Rico over the door Will
always be found the flag Of the repub-
Dc. while within and without new paint
ana attention TO cleanliness have made a
mos, inviting S,ppirg place Tor The
Traveller
Mr. Heath speaks IN the highest terms
q the Porto R!cans and Is enthusiastc
over the future Of tho island. lie favors
l,s rapid Amcrlcanizatlun and he in
PRODUCTION of American laws and Amer
lean methods, advocating the employ
mcnt Of intelligent Porto Ricans IN the F,
various postcfiices under the direction OF
experienced American postal ciiic. ais. /
lie has en;lrc confidence In Captain e. /
llott's ability.
Like every American who travels !
through the interior Of the Island. Mr. |
Heath has been emphatic In expressing |
his admiration at the great Improvement /
In the roads since General Henry es-
iabllshed the policy OF employing Porto /
Rican laborers for road making This I
branch II the work OF the military ad-
mlnistra,lon has been In charge OF Ma !
inr Hills. assisted by Senors Demonch |
and Rodriguez capable native engineers.
Where there were impossible roads last
year. the traveller can now speed his
coach and the peon drive his OK cart.
heavily laden with the products OF the
Held. to the posts and towns near by.
The possibility OF distress has bten
avoided by the employees Of the native
alb rers. who might have suffered on sc-
'ouns Of the had condition OF the planta-
lions after the var At no time has
here been any actual distress on the
on,rary. Porto Ricans need never SUI
cr for want OF food, for nature supplies
bountfully. The Porto Rican is an
INDUSTRIOUS man. quite unlike many OF
rs nelghhors en- adjacent sands. The
cons and workmen employed upon the
Dads receive 80 cents day, Porto Ri
an money. which Is about equivalent TO
0 cents In American, and with this daily
,ave they are content. Indeed. the road
making work has proved one Of the wis
st acts Of statcsmanship and will soon
emnnstrate It's bcnencent effect In help p
X to solve the problem OF government
nd trade betterment IN Porto Rico.
The business men have suffered since
he war In having no organization
trough which they could act Jointly to
,cure favorable legislation and to pro- |
tote their common interests. Formerly I
nev had a board OF trade, or chamber
commerce. but this has not been re- I
lvcd since the war, '
To promote harmonious action between (
,e Americans and Porto Rican mer-
hants. and to contribute to the advance
lent of nsular business interests Gem
raj Henry has called convention OF
i the business men OF the island, with 7
view OF establishing a new chamber y
commerce. The convention viii b. :
eld here during the next fortnight ;