The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-19
PORTO RICO'S UHLUE.
Correspondence of the Associated Press

Correspondence OF the Associated Press
san Juan. Porto Rico, Dec. 12--The
value OF this island to the United states
should not be oVcrestimated. Varied
ana many Representations concerning
Porto Rico are being made daily; some
originate from men who have things to
sell, ho II land CT merchandise; others
from those whose interests are served by
the presence here OF Americans with
money In their pockets. and stu other
statements are made In an exaggeraton
that arises from ignorance ana careless
ness. In considering the Porto Rico of
today and the developed Porto Rico of
the future 1t would be well to set down
these facts. The island has an area
of $3.50 square miles; that OF the state
of Connecticut is 1850 square miles and
that of New Jersey Is $500 square miles.
The poulation of Porto Rico Is less than
100000; there are various estimates of
population ranging from 100000 to this
ngure. A spanish census of about ten
years ago puts the POI ulatiCn at $4,000,
which Is less than that of the city Fl
Brooklyn.
According to Bulletin 10 of the United
States department of agriculture entitled
Trade of Puerto Rico" the annual Hv-
erage imports of this island from 1S92-lS96
TO all countries amounted to B,ni5O2
pesos, which amount is calculated to equal
lG4SO,i9i American dollars, and the ai-
nual average of exports for the same five
years Is given at 1884, ,499 pesos, or 49,
3a0,Uil American dollars. The island is
densely populated and closely cultivated,
the population per square mile being 229.
Its commercial output can certainly be
increased and its consumption of foreign
merchandise will augment with the de-
Nelopment necessary to bring about this
fret a NTsN nVN1
imports ultimately Increase 90 per cent,
Porto Rico could then supply about 10
per cent Of what the United states year
ly consumes in tropical products, and.
she would be a market for about per
cent. OF our yearly exports. When these
facts are considered one reaches fair
idea of the commercial value OF this new
possession.
As a winter and heath resort Porto
Rico will have its attractions; there is
beautiful country to be seen, tropical
and strange. The climate is delightful
In winter and when we obtain the results
OF army statistics, concerning the health
OF our soldiers In barracks, we viii know
the dangers thereof. There is much evil
dence to indicate that this climate is a
healthy one but the life in cities is not
as yet. There are a few beautiful drives
on the island, though the greater MAORI
ty of the roads are wretched and there
are cool mountain locations well suited
for comfortable hotels. The advantage
of the island as n naval outpost is great.
To our country at large this is probably
its most valuable feature. and the es-
tablshment here Of a first-cass navy sta
tion and supply depot is a question of
time only. Porto Rico will also be q
training ground for the American soldier
who will find himself as policeman in
the land.
There are always a number of adven-
turous spirits to follow armies, ready to
grasp all advantages arising from the
economic changes that follow armed in
terventon. There has been no lack of
such men to follow the American army
into Porto Rico. Some of them were
experienced in their work and knew how
to direct their efforts through the confu-
sion resulting from the radical political
changes occurring here daily or threat
ened for the near future. There have
also been many who could not be content
with these conditions, whose small capt.
tai was soon exhausted by heavy travel
ling expenses and who were glad to get
home as best they might. Porto Rico has
not been an easy field for the amateur
adventurer. Newspaper reports have
been misleading and read up north
through rose colored glasses and with
few hundred dollars young men have
started down here in the everlasting hunt
for the golden opportunity which has
rot yet been found. Yet there are
opportunities for profitable investment
here. 1t requires a cool head and a
clear mind to seek them out and recog-
nize them when found, and then IL takes
capital to work them. This is no new
country where everything remains to be
done it is an old country where every
thing has been done.
%
When we speak of seventeen and half
million dollars worth OF imports into
Porto Rico il must be borne i'm mind that
that amount represents the Islands husi-
ness with all the world, and while it Is
a fact that under free trade with the
United States the larger proportion of
this money will be expended for Ameri-
can goods, yet a certain portion, which
is estimated at two and half millions
a year. will be spent in foreign markets,
notably in Spain, and for articles we do
not produce and which the islanders want
and will have. The foreign trade of
Porto Rico has teen in the past con-
Quoted chiefly with Spain, the United
States, Cuba, Germany, the United
Kingdom and France. Eighty-five per
cent. of the merchandise imported and
exported during the years lS93-lS96 was
exchanged with these countries. Spain
received the largest share OF this trade
her portion amounting annually to $9,SSS
014, or 20 per cent. of the total valuation.
The trade with the United States during
this period was second to that of Spain;
our share amounted to .252 annually,
or 20 per cent of the total. During these
same years Spain sent to Porto Rico n
yearly average of S5,7G5,3l7 worth OF
goods, equal to 80 per cent. of the
islands imports, and against this the
T.,ft Tod Gfpt toe f1nr hA1 % %
all that the islanders bought in foreign
markets. For the United States to enjoy
the best advantages from this new mar
ket commerce with our country must be
free and there must be prohibitive duties
on the productions Of other countries.
%
1t is interesting to consider what this
new possession offers TO the American
who wants to invest from five to fifteen
or twenty thousand dollars here. Agri-
culture Is the basis of wealth: the pros
perity OF the year is measured by the
success of the various crops. There fol-
low the amounts of agricultural exports
during the year 1897 set down In pesos
The peso is the silver dollar of the
island, its intrinsic or bullion value is
about 3S cents gold, and the rate of ex-
change Is today at l65. That is, you are
paid Sl65 in pesos for an American dol
lar. This Is a commercial valuation
which differs largely from the bullion
value and from the arbitrary rate of ex-
change of two for one established by the
American military authorities in Porto