The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-05-12
OUR NEW ISLAND POSSESSION.
Opportunities and Inducements Of
fercd to American brain,
Bruwn and Capital.

Washington, May Sowing to the
large number of inquiries that have
been received by the members of the
insClar commission since their recent
| return from Porto Rico, Gen. Robert
p. Kennedy, has prepared a statement
as to the resources and conditions in
Porto Rico, which he thinks will cover
the points upon which the greatest
interest has been manifested
Concerning the people themselves,
Gen. Kennedy says:
HOspitabIe and Warmhearted.
There can scarcely be found upon
tle globe more hospitable and
Vgarmhearted people than those of Por-
to- Rico. They are in full sympathy
with American institutions. There
is great deal of poverty in the island
as it is understood in the United
States. That is, the people live in
flimsily constructed huts, have few
comforts and less of ready money; but
owing to the bounty of nature around
them they can live with little work
and few worldly goods and still not
suffer from either cold or hunger. The
stories of starvation on the island are
baseless fabrications.
How the Rich Classes Live.
''While the richer classes live well in
beautifully appointed homes and have
been for the most part educated abroad
so that they speak English, the percent
age of illiteracy among poorer classes
is very high, reaching 90 per cent;
but this is largely due to the fact that
there are no schools worth the name
outside of the largest towns.
Agricultural Opportunities.
''As to agricultural opportunities,
should say that not one-fourth of the
lands in the islands are under cultiva-
ton, and thousands of acres yet re-
main to be given over to husbandry.
Lands are held at good prices owing to
the promise of aninfux of people from
the United States. Still there is op-
portunity for many thousands of peo-
PIE who really wish to engage in agri
culture on the islands. That there are
great oppuntities in Porto Rico is un-
questionable. To young men desiring
to seek permanent homes and who
have a good stock of energy and en-
terprise, Porto Rico offers great in
ducements.
Sugar and Coffee Culture.
Sugar and coffee both require
large outlay in lands, material and i'm
prOvements. The promise of both of
these, however, is unequalled any
where else in the world. An old coffee
planter from Java, who has just bought
a plantation, assured me that the
climate and conditions were as favor
able as he had ever seen. Tropical
fruits of all sorts grow readily, and
are of fine quality. l know of no
place which offers greater induce
ments than does Porto Rico to Florida
orange growers who are seeking a To-
CO ton outside the frost belt.
Stock Raising.
''The opportunities for stock rails
ing, it appears to me, are superior to
those in almost any part of the United
States.
SaIubriOus Climate.
THE climate of the island, in my ex-
perience and from what / can gather
from records official and otherwise, is
all that could be desired. 1t is warm
in summer and cool in winter, and
even the densely populated city of San
Juan is a remarkably healthy place. l
look forward to the time, not far dis
tant. when Porto Rico will not only be
the tropical garden spot of the United
States, but one of the most popular
winter resorts"