New-York tribune., 1900-09-02
PORTO RICO IN SUMNER.
THE TEMPERATURE NOT so HIGH AS
IN NEw-YoRK-TRADE PROSPECTS.

San Juan. Porto Rico, Aug n (speciaD-wben
the American in Porto Rico picks up a New-York
newspaper and reads: July 49, To-day's record.
seventy deaths. fifty heat prostrations he thanks
MS lucky stars that he is In q semi-tropic country
ana not In torrid New-York- With New-Yorx suf-
tering with the boiling mercury UP at "a degrees
For1o Rico has been complaining with the record
OF every day like this: Exposed thermometer-s
a m 81 degrees' p. m. s1.2 degrees; mean SIS
uesfees Humidity-S a. m, 73 degrees; D. m 70
degrees; mean, 7s5 degrees. The days maximum
temperature 81 degrees; minimum, Ts4 degrees;
range, lo7 degrees" Such has been the record for
the last four or five months. According to the
iocaI branch Of the Weather Bureau the highest
heat record for twenty years was reached last
Apr1l-aS degrees. Ninety degrees has not been
reached since Our nights are about 3 degrees
cooler than our days. Day and night the island is
always tempered by q continuous refreshing sea
breeze
It is with degree OF satisfaction that one awak-
ems in the morning with the knowledge that to-
day VIII be as pleasant yesterday coatess,
collar wtted. perspiring man is never seen IN Porto
Rlco- The Government clerks work at their desks
throughout the day coated and some with hats
with heavy paperweights their desks lest the
breezes blow their work into the sea-
OF President McKinley's appointees Of April last.
the Commission OF Education Mr.. Brumbaugh,
Judges Holt and Sulzbacher the Commission 10
Revise the Laws, and Marshal Wilson have not ar
rived at this writing. Porto Rico needs them
badly. It has been suggested that they are labor
IN the heat Of q tropical midsummer. Let the con-
trary be known; let them come TO Porto Rico
where IT is cool!
POOR BUSINESS QUALITIES
It is the early servant girl to market in this
country who gets the best food. The tardy one is
sure TO bring home tough meat and withered
vegetables 1t does seem strange in q tropical
country like this where everything Just grows
OF itself" that fresh fruit and vegetables SHOULD
De SO scarce Only three or four varieties of
vegetables are commonly to be had One Of the
causes for this scarcity of vegetables Is that the
ordinary planter. with TWO hundred three hun
dred acres OF almost virgin soil thinks X not
worth his while TO grow vegetables for sale. At
present the local markets are supplied by small
farmers with acre or Two, who believe that If
the supply is increased the present high prices will
go down.
Another cause for The scarcity that in
@ aLo are as q rule or inferior quality. In
cases where Northern seed has been introduced the
wonderful Porto Rico. agricu5uraIIy has been
running on for years without introducing foreign
6eterloraJion may also be observed in cane. coffee
What IS needed is the wholesale introduction oe
fresh seeds, as well as change of blood in I've
methods Of cultivation and the use of labor saving
Professor Seaman Knapp. OF Louisiana is here
from the Department Of Agriculture and is making
things which he is investigating is the establish
ment Of an experimental farm or botanical garden.
with all varieties Of seeds and plants and give
the results OF their labors 10 the island would be
vastly beneficial
OUTLOOK FOR FRUIT EXPORTS
There large number Of planters throughout
Porto Rico who have this year entered extensively
into fruit cultivation, with the intention Of sending
their product TO New-York, Boston Philadelphia
Extensive orange groves have been set out, and
many acres Of bananas and pineapples are under
cultivation The orange crop cannot be counted
on for another four years, but the others will be
ready this winter, and Nature will increase the
output each year. The island has never raised
fruit, because she has had market for II. Spain
fifteen days away and a high import tariff
kept her fruit from the United States. The only
doubt is the question Of shipping facilities. The
fast fruit steamer service between Philadelphia
and Boston and Jamaica IS almost daily. At pres
ent there are only four steamers month plying
between Porto Rico and the United States. Neither
OF the two lines controlling these ships is fitted
for fast fruit carrying Their vessels are all five
day boats. A combination of planters is necessary
show what be done and then to arrange
carrying to touch here.