The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-18
In PRIMITIVE PORTO RICO
The Undeveloped Condition Of
Americas New Island Colony.
Evidences of Devastation wrought
ny the Hesr,canc stu In Existence.
crude Farming Devices of the Ma
HNe>-AEricuituraII Industries Par
"iy<cd by the Mortgage burdens.

L
aly<cd by the Mortgage burdens.
| An investigation OF the agricultural in
dustries Of Porto Rico with view to the
future development OF these interests has
been completed by DIR. O. F. Cook. under
the auspices of the Department Of Agri-
culture. DR.. Cook during his Porto Rieag.
tour obtained many interesting facts and
devoted himself especially to the study OF
the islands natural products with view
to preparing an accurate description OF
them.
Or. Cook says that he found in Porto
Rico splendid possibilities for American
capital. With energetic development tho
unemployed could readily be taken care OF.
especially in the building of railroad lines
there being no connected transportation
system. This is only one OF the fields for
the laborer. Even the coffee trade which
Is by far the greatest industry, has been
languishing for the last five years, owing
largely to the fact that the plantations are
in almost every instance heavily mort
gagged and are now In danger OF foreclos-
ure. Many OF these mortgages fell due last
August, at which time an order was issued
extending the time six months. II is hoped
| by the planters that similar order mar
soon be issued. as the bankers fear that
they will not be able to realize on their
loans. and hence will not advance money IN
those who might otherwise secure credit.
The cultivation Of the sugar cane ranks
next to the coffee Industry In Porto Rico.
and perhaps no other country has such ex-
\ cellent natural facilities for its develop
ment. Nevertheless. there are vast fields
lying under water which only require PROM
er drainage to become abun6antIy proiuc-
| tive.
Porto Riean tobacco. while excellent in
quaiity, will. DIR. Cook states never COM
| pete with the product OF Cuba, and will
doubtless be- used principally as a mixture.
| The Tobacco Area.
| The entire tobacco-producing area OF tho
island covers only about 1900 acres. being
about equal to that OF Connecticut one OF
! our smallest tobacco producing States,
Much of the Porto Rican tobacco is ship
ped to Cuba and is made into the third or
| fourth rate Havana cigar.
The fruit of the mango tree. which tho
during the late war. owing to its sup
posed poisonous nature. Or. Cook found to
be excellent and luscious and perfectly
harmless. except in its green state. when
taken under certain conditions it might
possibly produce the same results as I'M
ripe apples or any other species of unsea-
soned fruit. DIR. Cook hopes that the man
go fruit, together with several other new
species, will speedily be introduced in this
country. The oranges of the island are OF
variable quality, and may almost De said
TO grow wild, as no proper system OF cui-
tivation, such as prevails in Florida and
Jamaica, has yet been introduced. Were
this done the orange crop would he says,
be inferior in quality to none in the world,
and the proximity of the island. both to
Florida and Jamaica, would render tho
introduction OF proper stock for grating
comparatively easy matter.
There Is a pitiful lack of proper means
OF transportation in the island. DIR. Cook
says. The great storm last April almost
destroyed the few crude facilities for prop
er transit which had existed up to that
time. Thus the projected railroad. which
had been begun by company of French
engineers. with the design of encircling
the island. and which existed in three
widely disconnected sections. was found.
after the hurricane, to have been broken
up into many new sections. Today 1t is in
fragmentary condition. Plans for rail-
road lines have been proposed. but wheth-
er the Government will take any steps in
the matter of furnishing appropriations OF
will offer encouragement TO corporations
willing to handle such enterprises is still
a matter of doubt.
The bridges over the various rivers have.
in many gases. been left in ruined state
since the storms. and much damage in
other directions still remains unrepaired.
Conservatism and Antiquity.
Porto Rico is largely populated consid-
ering its extent, but its people. who are
extremely conservative, have adopted the
most primitive means to supply their me-
chanical needs. Their farming implements
are of the crudest description. and there
are said to be no properly built roads In
the island. \ common form of lanterns
among the peasants is & calabash filed
with frefies which emits a ghostly light
through innumerable little holes pierced
in the shell.
The gibaros. or small landowners and
day laborers of the agricultural districts.
are a curious old Spanish stock. largely
modified by Indian blood. There are found
throughout the island many traces Of tho
original inhabitants. These relics include
stone axes, spearheads, and knives. stone
and clay images. and fragments of earth
enware, all OF which are usually sent to the
Smithsonian Museum as soon as found.
1t is, however. in CONNER
cal rather than in an historic
way that Porto Rico promises the
greatest interest to this country and.
cording to DR.. Cooks forthcoming report.
the development OF the rich agricultural
interests of the island will lead TO the
most satisfactory and profitable results.