The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-06
Erie Medical Co. buffalo, MY.

erage rate of exchange during this period
has been $40 per cent.
Porto Rico exported in 1897 coffee 10 the
value OF p, Do, $50 pesos, tobacco 20 the val
ne of 1194,3lS pesos, sugar to the value of
about 100000 pesos, black holasses valued
al 403, 519 pesos, cocoanuts worth HSS
pesos, sugar cane rum valued at 3lGO0
pesos and corn to the value of 81 POP.
There can be added to this list z, $50 pesos
worth OF hides and 220,6S0 worth of cattle,
all of which latter was shipped to the
West Indian islands. There were of course
various other products exported, but the
total value of no single one amounts to
5000 pesos for the year.
Competition With Cuba.
When estimates are made to-day as TO
what Porto Rican crops will prove profit
able in the future, it is at once seen that
much depends upon the development of
the island such as transportation and the
growth of the islands products in the
American market. In this latter respect
it must be remembered that Cuba will be
Porto Rico's most active rival. 1t can gen
orally be stated that Cuba will produce
everything that does Porto Rico, and the
former island, if eventually accorded equal
privileges with the latter on the Ameri-
can markets holds geographically more
Rico, and is capable of a much larger and
consequently cheaper production.
Land is expensive in Porto Rico, this
because the population is dense. To-day,
in the face of the expected influx of Amer
leans eager to buy, prices on lands are ad-
var ling unduly. The measures of land
surface here is a cuerda, equal to sixty
nine yards square. Lands are divided into
four classes. First-class lands are those
fIaxr in IL no
belt of low fiat and running around the
island between the foothills of the noun
tains and the sea. In good prosperous
times in the past, f1rst-class sugar lands
have brought as high as $500 cuerda; to-
day they can be had for about $3.50 cuer-
da, at which price they should be drained
and ditched and ready for planting. Such
lands also produce good cattle fodder.
Islands Sugar Lands.
These are the most expensive lands in
Porto Rico to-day, and the cultivation Of
sugar because of the expensive machn-
cry required to treat the cane, calls for
more captal than any other industry on
the island. Second-class lands are those
in the valleys and on the hillsides in the
interior. They are largely suitable to the
production of coffee, and their prices vary.
If they are already planted with good bear
ing trees they are considered to be worth
$50 a cuerda. Young coffee trees need
shade and lands already wooded are some
times preferable for their planting.
Land suitable for coffee planting, though
not already planted, could be bought to-
day for from 10 to % pesos a cuerda l
know of a good farm offered for sale at
5000 pesos. Il contains in all 500 cuerdas,
forty of which are already set out with
promising coffee trees and 100 more cuer-
das are suitable for the immediate plant
ing of others. The balance of 800 cuerdas
are woodland and pasture, part of which
would grow fruits and vegetables. Work
this out, and we get forty cuerdas al 80
pesos each equal to 5000 pesos; 100 cuar-
das at 10 pesos makes 1000 pesos, and the
balance of 800 cuerdas for 1900 pesos. This
is a very fair criterion of the values that
for such lands pertain to-day.
The black sandy loan lying adjacent
to the sugar lands is called third class.
Their values vary SOME they are well
adapted for tobacco culture and are ex-
pensive; others can be bought for from
10 to 20 pesos a cuerda. The value of these
lands for the cultivation of fruits and
vegetables for local consumption is in
creased if they are located near seaports
or large towns. The fourth class com
prises the sandy beach lands. This is
where cocoanuts are planted. Certain
fruits grow well on them, and their prices
viii vary according to location and adapt
ability, from 10 % pesos cuerda.
Profits in Fruit Culture.
There is said TO be a profitable future
in the production of minor fruits and veg
etables in Porto Rico. The oranges of the
island are of fine flavor and juicy. and
The pineapples and bananas are excellent
The exports of oranges amounted in 1897
to $50 pesos. and that of p.neappes to
$40 pesos. Here is a field that needs de-
velOpment, and the advantages of free
trade with the United States. If in a few
years enough of such fruit is produced
to warrant a line of fruit steamers from
here to the United States, thus insuring
quick and cheap transit, the industry
might give good returns Here, as in other
cases. Cuba will be Porto Rico's rival.
The growing Of Vege ables for the off sea-.
sons of the American market could also
be developed This will, likewise, require
rapid transportation, and there must be
a considerable amount to be thus trans
ported before freight rates that admit of
profit can be obtained We have no data
as TO how this climate and soil viii pro-
duce certain Northern vegetables that to-
day do not grow here. We are told that
the soil is wonderfully rich. and VIII pro-
duce anything" Experiment only will
show in how far this asserted ability has
a commercial Ndlue ana me pfOutdble tu-
ture of such industries Is largely a ques-
ton of development and study.
The sugar Industry.
The profits in sugar raising depend
largely on duties, upon whether sugar can
be placed upon the market without taxa
ton. The profitable growing Of sugar IN
the West Indies has for long been a ques-
lion for Statesmen 10 ponder; England has
for some years been attempting TO bring
This industry in the colonies back to the
profits Of former time In The profitable
production of sugar the Cuban crop will
be this islands greatest danger.
Labor here has been cheap. and until to-
day fairly plentiful. 1t s already begin
ming 10 Damper itself and ask higher
wages. every American who comes in
here to operate with native labor Will
probably encounter difficulties in this d.
rection. The average Porto Rico laborer
docs not know much, but he has one firm
belief, and this is that the American with