The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-27
PORTO RICO PROSPECTS.
Gen. GuyV. Henry's Estimate of the Pos
sibilities of the Island.

Maj. Gen. Guy V. Henry in Golfers Weekly.
The possibilities of raising sugar. tobacco and
coffee in Porto Rico great The hrst two crops
have been the main products OF the island IN the
past. and the trade in these between the inhabi-
tants and Spain large. Although the taxes and
system Of extortions reduced the profits on these
products to a minimum the farmers could in spite
Of all, make fair living Sugar can be raised in
Porto Rico with ease. We hear good deal ot the
possibilities Of sugar raising In the Philippines but
right here at door have fertile a territory
Tor raising this product as any land found the
other side Of the globe The sugar product Of the
island could be doubled in a few years by the in
PRODUCTION Of new machinery and modern methods OF
culture The Porto Ricans accept the 5ognties OF
nature without much thought o, the future. and
they naturally rob the rich sell to raise ther crops
and rarely think of returning anything to it, The
future generations must consequently suffer for the
present lack OF foresight. Good sugar land scien-
tihcally treated could be made to yield abundance
OF crops forever
The tobacco Of Porto Rico may not have the rcpu-
tation Of that raised around Havana but It is an
article that is not by any inferior to three
fourths OF the socaled Havana tobacco It IS raised
with comparative ease. land that Is naturally
adapted to it, and farms it has been culti-
waited for years without any attempt 10 renew the
fertility Of the soil The climate Of the island Is
we'll adapted to the curing Of the native tobacco
and also for keeping the leaf for considerable time
without suffering desenerating. Thus, tobacco
stored in warehouses for months has been taken out
in Just good condition when 1t was first put
in. The trade in Porto Rico tobacco must eVentu-
ally prove very profitable.
The island should in the near future supply the
United States with most Of its coffee and the Bra
lillian product should be entirely sUpplaned by H.
The native coffee is superior grade TO any that
comes TO US from South America 1t is raised on
the farms. where many Of the plants have been
growing for years. Cultivation OF this crop on a
large scale and by improved methods Offers an op-
portunity for the American capitalist that will bring
its own reward In time. While the native Ameri-
tobacco. and the sugar made from beet roots.
will enter iato formidable competition with these
two Porto RicaB crops, the coffee grown On the
island will meet no opposition in the United States
There will he rather sympathetic movement to
encourage its growth.
Capital is needed the island more than any
thing else, and without 1t there will be few op-
portunites for new settlers from the United States
There was a large Influx Of Americans to the ISL
and during my administration but they came there
with the avowed purpose Of picking up easy Jobs
and lucrative berths. But such settlers are not
needed nor viii they find what they are seeking
Intelligent farmers and settlers with some means
TO carry tAem the first fex years in the cuti-
vatiOn Of their crops will find abundant opportdnI
ues 70 secure q peasant ana satisfactory home.
The delightful climate will attract many whose con
stitutioHs viii not permit them to remain In cur
rigorous North American winters.
The fact should be made plain, however that Porto
Rico Is distinctly a farming country and more
over, most Of its products Of tropical o-igin
The methods are consequently somewhat different
from those which prevail in the United states They
do not diner materially from the farming IN Fiorda
or Southern California. A little capital is e.gen-
tial to successful beginning on the island and
without II settlers would ind themselves greatly
handicapped. for native labor is cheap. There ere
plenty OF Idle lsborers on the Island who are will
Ing 20 work for much less than dollar a GAY
EnteFprising farmers or capitalists could fnd in
this material cheap vOrknen for cuitVating UIsa-
tationE Of coffee. tobacco sugar or tropical fruits
OF the latter any can be raised OF the finest Kind
The uhcultyated oranges and pineapple nov OF
the best by proper culture challenge the void
and, there never being any frost. Porto Rico will
become the fruit garden of the United States Al
most any vegetable can be raised and the !atLse
o the island for the asriegltusst Is most .ayoraole