The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1899-05-12
WINTER RESORT.
Gen. Robert p. kennedy, ofthe insu'ar
Commission. Makes "a Report.
Not Oue-Fourth of the Island 10 Under & al
ti,ation Opportunities for stock Rails
Ing 10 superior To Almost Any Part
of the United states.

WASHINGTON, May s-Owing to 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
r. Kennedy has prepared n statement
as to resources and conditions in Porte
Rico which he thinks will cover tn.
points upon which the greatest inter.
est has been manifested.
Concerning the people themselve.
Gen. Kennedy says:
There can scarcely be found upon
the globe more hospitablc and warm
hearted people than those OF Porte
Rico. They are in full sympathy with
American institutions. There is a
great deal OF poverty in the island. a.
IL is understood ia the United states
That is, the people live in fiimsily con.
structed huts have few clothes and
still less of ready money, but owing &c
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
starvation upon the island are fabrica
tionS
While the richer classes live well In
beautifully appointed homes and have
been for the mos, 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 90 the
fact that there are no schools worth
the name outside OF the largest towns.
or indeed one might say in the Who'll,
island.
As to agricultural opportunities. j
should say that not one-fourih Of the
lands in the islands are now under cul
tiyation, and thousands OF acres yet
remain to be given over to husbandry.
Lands are held AT n good price ewing
to the promise Of an influx of people
from the United States. Still there is
opportunity for many thousands OF
persons who really wish TO engage In
uFTA'uANhFC on the lhlaulh
That there are great opportunitie,
in Porto Rico is unques,i"nabie. To
young men desiring to seek permanent
homes and who have a good stock o!
energy and enterprise. Porto Rico OF.
fers great inducements hut would
discourage the simple adventurcr, who
expects to reap "a quick and unearned
reward
Sugar and coffee both require n large
Lou;lay in lands. material and improve
'ments. The promise OF both of these.
however, IS unequaled anywhere else
in the world. An old coffee planter
from Java, who has just bought a
plantation. assured me that the
climate and conditions were as favor
aole as he had ever seen. Tropical
fruits OF all sorts grow readily and are
OF the finest quality. | know OF nc
place which offers greater induce.
ments than does Porto Rico TO florida
orange growers who are seeking n 20
cation outside the frost belt.
The opportunities for stock raising,
ii appears TO me, are superior TO those
in almost any part Of the United States
and this without disparsgemen, to our
own cattle country.
The climate Of the island, in nv eI.
perience, and from what / can
gather OF IL from records
official and otherwise, is all that
could be desired. IL is warm in sum
mer and cool in winter, and even the
densely populated city of san Juan Is
a remarkably healthy place. ] look
forward to the time not far distant
when Porto Rico will be not only the
garden spo: Of the United States, but
one Of the most popular winter resorts.