The times., 1899-02-05
Our New Pos.essions.


writer is familiar with the island having
visited every port Of importance and trav-
e!ed in the interior some twenty years ago:
and as West Iuiian Commissioner for the
Columbian Exposition he revisited its
shores. He has written books on the life
of Mexico and Central America, but until
the war with Spain excited new interest
in Porto Rico il apparently did not seem
10 him worth while 10 publish anything on
that subject.
In the IoETse OF few years there will
be innumeIable hoo!s on Cuba and he
West Indies in general, gotten up by peo-
pie who VIII make 4 thorough study Of
these islands, but the sources Of iniorma-
tion at present are remarkably few, and
Mr.. Obers book is ali the more valuable
and interesting on that account. Even II
il were OF very Indifferent workmanship
it would be almost sure of q public just
at this time.
However. the book needs no excuses. 1t
is full of information, and the facts are
told in a way both pleasing and conven-
isn't. The author evidently understands
what is needed in book of reference. Not
only is the work thoroughly indtXed-a
matter sometimes neglected in writings
of this kind-but each subject is treated
by itself. and kindred topics are grouped
together. Thus. the first chapter deals
with the commercial and strategic value of
the island, and to the citizen who Is at
all hazy about the reason for our taking
and keeping Porto Rico. it will be crafty
ing 10 have this matter cleared up at the
beginning. Then comes some geogrdphi-
cal information about the coastal fea-
lures, rivers. haTbors, etc. Then the eli
mate is discussed, with special regard 10
those features which would affect the
American resident. Then follow chapters
on the products of the island, its CONNER
cal possibilities, its principal towns. and
The character and customs of the people.
At the end of the book comes the history
OF the island under Spanish rule, and
brief account Of the way in which it came
into the possession Of the United States. In
short, the book is small encyclopaedia on
Porto Rico; and while. like all encyclo-
paedIas, it contains many facts familiar
10 everybody. ii also gives an immense
amount of valuable information II is a
book of reference. and should be purchas-
cd and set on the shelf along with Mr. Ste
Fens Yesterdays in the Philippines for
the two are almost the only books dealing
with our new possessions which are worth
much TO the average student Of current
history. OF the two. Mr.. Ober's book,
while less amusing in lis style. contains
the greater amount of useful facts.
Introductory chapter in which the com
me-cial and strategic value of Porto Rio
Is explained. Unlike Mr. Stevens. Mr.
cber believes mcst emphatically in the
policy Of expansion. He says:
The acquisition # ,hcse tropical Islands j. rots
ble. not alone indicating . departure from an.
cssiTal iradIilors. tut .lYn.- that the pcopir
oi the United Statra are aliyC 10 tie need. II fhg
iu'Hre; for Wlthult an tN,cntiYn. these Islands
proanue naturally all the articles 50 essential in
oag domestic economy. raised ia tropical com
iIics. IN which our owr continental territory Is
Griyitut.
Although We have Z restricted area cafsabIc of
producing sugar cane. vet we eNpcnd abroad for
sugar about enc hunducd millions annually; We
have no soil and climate favorable, for coffee with
IN the coi.tncs ui the United State. set we send
10 fo.cisu paris another hundred million: and
without going into detail. il may b. stated that
We "Spord annually at least so u110O for pure
Is tropical products which cannot raise our
helve>- What Is more, while they pro-
due the things lack and need, tie people a:
these Islands Insnufacture next to nothing and
viii look to u for all TIA machinery. -four. cot
ton and woOlel goods-iu fact, for everything
Necessary 10 civilized communities. While Eng
iand j. talking about an open door in the
OTieiI for her commerce and the eNIansiOn Of
trade, have, though almost iortuitou-ly. op-
eIied dpur Through the Nalor uf ouT soldiers and
selIncu) which will ultimately lead to the com
mcrcih conquest OF these 4G0JO.G01 people south
of ~. in the West Indies and South Amcrsa. and
the cOuss qucnt enrichment Of millions OF our
Tie trouble with US certain Senator once
said, Is that afraid Of leing great. -
The acquisition Of Puerto Rico viii be in the
nature Of an experiment On the face of IT, but
IN reality We have been preparing iur Just such
q contingency for many years past .
AWAY hack during Linc0is administration Sec
reiary Seward had in mind The purchase Of the
Danish islands OF 81 Thomas -. John and Santa
Cruz, ard later negotiated treat. ty which, for
tt-sF nsfsrlr Ffffrf
unexpected opposition Of certain Senator's. when
The tredtv was np Tor revision, We should have
bought them. Yet the sole object in
view was the single har1r OF -. Thomas.
ferc j. island. our merely ~ ;le cost oi
conquest. which combines all the advantages pos
sessCd ly 81. Thomas in q marked degree, for II
has 81 least six good lari'ors and a vast extent
a fertile TERRITORY. against the one lIarbOr d
tllc Danish isle and It's cluster q barren rocks
Strategiosiiy. then, possessing commanding
situation in the Caribbean, with numerous excel
lent harbOrs for the assembling and roitiing OF
our hctts, with unlimited supply Of naval stores
u.ter fruits ana vegetables, Puerto Rico Is d
sIrTassing importance
or course. all of these arguments have
substantially been published before. in
newspapers and magazines, but II is worth
something to have them in concise form,
ready for reference. and supported BY de-
tailed and elaborate statements and de-
scriptons.
One Of the features Of this book which
IS particularly convenient 10 the reader Is
the plan of beginning each chapter with a
sort of summary of its most important
points, printed in type slightly larger then
that OF the following pages. For example
the chapter on climate begins with this:
Tie climate i bot and moist. vet IN the rnaiI
les Injurious TO the health Of white people thar
that Of adjacent islands. The heat. rains, and The
sr.sons are with very triting variations, thi
an FgHI fF
tAif.s and running streams. which cyeTywheT'
in Wow IN Puerto Rico, and tic general cultivation
al Tie land, may powerfully contribute to purify
the atmosphere, and render II sSlnbrIOu- 10 man
Tie only difference Of Temperature 10 bc observe,
throughout tie island s due 20 altitude. chang
which l. common 10 every cOuntr! under the in
fucDce u TIE tropics.
Then the author goes on 10 enlarge or
these subjects. describing the conditions
which prevail at different seasons of the
year and the precautions taken in The
hurricane season. He notes, among Other
things, that the word hurricane comes
from a native word, "ouragan," through
the Spanish ''huracan." He acknowledges
that there are some decided faults in Tho
climate OF the country, but asserts that II
spite Of these the conditions are fairly
favorable to the health OF Americans anG
that Porto Rico is better fitted for theil
residence than any other island Of The
West Indian group.
One Of the chapters deals with tropical
products, and gives some facts which viii
be Of interest TO anyone concerned in ag.
ricultural ventures in the West Indies
The cocoanut and the banana receive es,
pecial attention, and II Is evident that
both, under American management, might
be cultivated with great profit.
Another interesting chapter has to dc
with the animal life OF the island. Mr.
ober believes IL 10 be comparatively FREE
from snakes, although the tarantula tht