New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-07

- to y pesos cuerda- The value Of these lands
ror the cultivation Of fruits and vegetables for local
seaports or large towns.
The fourth class comprises the sandy beach
Iaiu lns is where cocoanuts are planted. Ger
tain fruits grow well on IL. and the price Will
. 10 - pesos a cuerda
FRUIT PRODUCTION PROFITABLE
There is said to be profitable future In the pro-
ducon OF minor fruits and vegetables In Porto
Rico. The oranges OF the Island OF fine flavor
and juicy. and the pineapples and bananas are
excellent. The exports Of orange. amounted in 1897
10 $50 pesos. and that OF plneappes to $40 pesos
Here is "A field tina; needs development and the adj
vantages Of free trade with the United States II
in a few years enough OF such fruit H. produced to
warrant a line OF fruit steamers from here the
United States. thus insuring quick and cheap tran
sit the industry might give good returns Here. as
I'm other cases. Cuba will he Porto Rico's rival
The growing OF vegetables for the of seasons OF
the American market could also be developed This
Will likewise require rapid transportation and
there must be n considerable amount TO he thus
transported before freight rates that admit Of
this climate and soil will produce certain northern
vegetables that to-day do not grow here. We are
lold tnat me SOIL - wonderfully rich ana VIII pro
duce ANYTHING Experiment only will show how
far this ASSERTED ability has a commercial yalue
largely question of development and study.
The profits in sugar-raisng depend largely on
duties. whether sugar can be placed upon the
market without taxation. The profitable growing
been ae a or mas s Sr an
land has for some years been attempting TO bring
former times. In the profitable production OF sugar
the Cuban crop will be this Islands greatest danger.
Labor ha. been cheap. ard until to-day fairly
plentiful 1t is already beginning to pamper Itself
and ask hIshe wages Every American who comes me-:
In here to operate with native Dor Will probably
encounter difficulties in this direction. The aver
age Porto Ricsn Ia borer does not know much but
be encounters between employer and ernploye before
this impression Is removed.
QUALITY OF TOBACCO.
Porto Rican tobacco IS said by many be Of
excellent quality. 1t seems TO be badly harvested
and cured. however and II Improvements were
made In this direction It's value would be Increased
Much has of late years been sent TO Cuba. where
(, has fetched good prices. The best tobacco lands
here require certain formation. location and
mixture of soil. They require expert examination
to determine their value, and 1t Is easy for an
amateur to err in their selection. Tobacco has
be,n in some cases profitable. farm Of a hun
dred cuerdas produced in one year SEQ" In goid
and the owner only 1900 for cultivation ana
general expenses. Good tobacco lands are con
sequenty held at high prices; fl5O per cuer1a ~
asked and lands suitable FOR the prodnc',o Oh IN,
best tobacco are scarce. ne marx, ~, o' nI
Rican toba GO Is one capable OF development; anu
the popularity and demand for the article VIII pe
in ,-iased by the perfection resulting from better
methods OF handling and curing l.,
Before Porto Rico can enter upon ina, s,eau'
march of development. education and improve
ment which constitutes her future prosperity seV-
over the island Will have to be removed forlp
Riro's status will have to he determined, she mus
be legally admitted territory or - coIohH, u
IN. United States and she will have 10 ENJOY lrte
trade with America. The question or her prrsei ,
deprecated currency will have TO be siIaightene.l
out and the business uncertainty ana CONFUSION
resulting from whatever measures mat are dken
10 this end must have subsidized Inc lsiahn.Is
themselves must bury political discoids ana it sx'e ~
upon new 81 gOod-fellowship ana unity Oh
p,Irpo-e The exceedingly high rate OF TAXATION
on property in force today must be cur uoWn . ="
., reasonable assessment. The American mlHtarN
authorities are now collecting the taxes assessor
hv Spain in the first months OF last ear. IheSe
tixes are Intended TO provide for al insuiar eN
penses Including the maintenance 81 the opsa'i y
army Of Occupation the spanish, Nanf "n u,tr.
Church OF Rome three features or lnsuiar POM
that are non-existent since October ~ "S';s I'M
AVIATION on farming lands In the majority OF cases
amounts 10 30 per cent year OF the lahu : "e
rnings. ., -, o,,,n tho title
to various government lands in Porto RICO Mherc
these lands were availabl. for farming purposes
they have been TO "A great extent already ldkth ~.
and while many OF them may not now he uhuer
an,,aI cultivation their titles apt to have been
taken out under Spanish rule. and they are 'ouns
subject 10 various claims resulting from inc '"'
rnni system of Spanish land registration.