Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1899-04-06
They Create Collisions and Natives
Led to Believe They Must
Protect Themselves.
THE REAL TROUBLE
Is TRANSPORTATION.
Living II Higher aud the Productions
Of the Country Kept Away from
Foreign Markets by High
Rates.

Coryrightei iyg hv tbe Associated Pres.
San Juan de Porto Rico. April Il
Although there is not at present any
danger OF serious disturbances. there j.
much dissatisfaction among the lower
class Of natives throughout the island
and there has been deal Of violent talk
by the ignorant against the new regime
The cause of this nti-American feeling
Is the increase In the cost Of living since
the American occupation began and the
III treatment that many Of the natives
in the country districts have received at
the hands Of rough soldiers.
Dissatisfaction is also expressed AZ
the delay in making the island q part
or territory Of the United States
with the privileges and advantages that
would accrue to the island from such a
relation. especially in the matter Of
trade This the Porto Ricans were nm
doubtedly led 10 believe would be- the
result Of the acquisition Of Porto Rico
by the United States But ~ things
have turned out, the prices Of all kinds
Of commodities have advanced consider
ably. and the cost Of living is very much
higher now than Il was in the days Of
Spanish dominion. The merchant. more
over j. uncertain TO what custom duties
he will have 10 pay and he does not care
20 order more than is actually necessary.
Nor Is the aniculturist in mood 10 OK.
tend his cultivation until he can ba ~
sured Of u safe man ket FOR his pro lucts
Everybody is getting along with the
least possible expenditure, aud there i
undoubtedly much misery and discom-
fort Many who are without employ.
ment are lying hungry about the towns
and they constitute the material which
mischief makers use In working up irri-
tation against the Americans
The conduct Of the United States
troops In Ponce. Caguas and other
places. has aroused many Of the natives
10 defend themselves and In some in
stances the soldiers have come OIL second
best These collisions are probably the
basis Of statements made in the United
States. which report the Porto Ricans
a. strongly inclined 10 start reyolu-
ton. The fact Is. that little more
courtesy in dealing with them would
not only have a wonderfully quoting
influence, but would greatly facilitate
the settlement of other questions press
ing for solution
Give our commerce and agriculture
a chance said an influential Porto RI.
can merchant 10 the correspondent Of
the Associated Press open up the adj
vantages Of the country by establishing
good communication and transportation
the want OF whichis the chief stumbling
block In our pathway Of development.
give our people an opportunity Of APP
preciating the new conditions aud the
benefit Of little more consideration on
the part Of the Americans who are So
journing In the island and Porto Ricans
will be- found the easiest people in the
world 10 govern"
There Is an abundance Of fruit, or
angos. bananas hines and the like rot.
ting on the trees merely because the ex-
pense Of transportation would not leave
any profit on the picking Labor /.
abundant and fairly good, All that il
needed is capital and fair play