The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-01-20
H.K narroII on Porto RIeo.


Carroll special commissioner for the
United states 70 H'rto Rico, under ap-
polntment by the president to Investigate
tho civil. Industrial. financial and social
conditions OF the island. has made his
report The report states that Porto Rico
has an area estimated at from 9i5O to
$500 square miles.
The climate ~ tropical but not torrid.
The thermometer rarely rises 10 100 de-
grees, highest monthly average on record
in nine years In san Juan being SO de-
grees. The mountains are generally COW
cred with ve-dure and even the peaks are
gardens of the husbandnian The death
rate Is moderate
The population In 1897, numbered 500 $40.
exclusive OF the Spanish military, then
occupying the island and the pena otion
A comparison Of the census Of 1887 ana
1897. shows that the coiored race Is de-
creasing, the whites now numbering GA
per cent OF the whole. The Catholic was
the state religion and at the time OF
American occupation there were only two
churches OF any other faith In the island.
The public charities are few and poor
supported. Crime is not excessive. The
statistics OF birth in 1897 shows that
abou, is per cent are illegltimate That
most OF the hearings held BY the COM
missoners persisted that the fees exacted
by the priests were too heavy for poor
people, who preferred living together un-
welded than 10 meet an ~ne coniltions
Of ecclesiastical marriage These pe sons,
81 was said. are rare.y untrue to eacn
other.
The Porto Ricans the repor, says are
a kindly hospitable. polite people cry
sociable and always ready 20 do Ameri-
cans friendly service. one OF the
greatest needs OF the island # is sal
is good roads
The common estimate of Porto Rlcans
is that only one-tenth OF the cultivated
lands are In cultivation at any one time.
The soil OF the plains and valleys are
generally very rich and have borne crops
for generations without the use OF fer
tfllzers.
The crops most generally raised are In
the order of areas occupied In 1880:
Coffee. i2i.i76 acres; cane 60ssi acres;
tobacco, 4222 acres. Coffee can not he
raised without shade as In Brazil The
coffee bushes need five years for full
development under the shade Of banana
or other trees and continue bearing 25
and even 30 years Bananas give both
shade and fruit the first year. Coffee
farms are exempt from taxes for the
first FIVE years. The grades of coffee are
among the finest. The fruits OF the ISL
and are such as are common to tropical
countries, the raising OF cattle Is an i'm
portant and lucrative Industry.
The daily wages OF the common field
aborers range from 35 to so cents native
money. Women are rarely seen in the
Feds. The people are industrious.
Commissioner Carroll recommends that
laws Of the United States be extended to
Porto Rico and that a territorial form OF
government similar TO that established in
Oklahoma be provided. that the legls-
lative power shan extend to All rightful
subjects Of legislation, including regula-
tions for the exercise OF the electric
franchise that the voters of the island be
permitted TO elect a delegate TO congress
that commission consisting OF three
men, who shall be natives OF the islands.
and two Of the United S.ates. appointed
by the president to revise the codes; that
jury system be adopted; THAT the banking
and patent laws Of the United states be
EXTENDED 70 the lslahu' that a court OF
claims be estab- shed TO adjust To meet
claims to property, secular and ecclesias-
nc, arising under the treaty OF Paris that
tho rule adopted by the military as to
civil marriages be continued In force. that
the Spanish SILVER coins be retired aud the
coins u the United States be substituted.
That the lottery be prohibited and that
tho governor ana Legislature be required
70 provide an universal and obligatory
education Ia a system OF free schools
where Eng sh shall be taught and that
an agent experiment station be establish
ed FOR the island