The Lamar register., 1900-10-17


year.
Then when trouble in Cuba came,
Porto Rico, as the penalty for being
good, was compelled TO advance large
sums Of money for the suppression of
the rebellion. The accounting of this
matter shows II balance. mostly ac-
crued since 1895. of Lob ,51G.55, for
which amount II claim Is now pending.
The one thing plentiful was taxes, the
ever-present guest, the gatherer of
tithes. Aptitude in making appropria-
tions and skill in manipulating them
for the benefit of the favored few
We're marked features of Spanish ad-
minstration. There We're appropria-
tions for schools. but not IL school
house; the budgets provided for roads,
but only one road worthy of the name;
there We're so-cnlled charitable funds,
but hospitals only in name. Beggars
OF every degree extended emaclated
hands Oh every side, and evidence OF
diseases produced long continuance of
deprivation of wholesome food was
painfully apparent.
The sugar industry of the island had
materially declined, due in part to the
exhaustion of lnnds never fcrtilized,
but particularly to the employment of
ancient methods. The low price of
coffee had materially reduced the prof
its. One market only. Cuba. was open
for the tobacco crops. The people
We're prohibited from establishing
trade with the United States, hence
AS fine fruit lands us exist in the world
lay waiting. AS IL rule, the planta-
tions We're heavily mortgaged, and the
mortgages We're disposed to foreclose.
With the foregoing conditions ex-
istinS, American occupation began. y
military government was established.
1t ruled with mildness and justice,
holding steadily in view the succession
of II civil government and undertake
ing to prepare the way. Harsh laws
We're modified as rapidly as possible
and the people We're gradually given
control of local affairs. Mortgage fore
closures were suspended. Work was
provided for the poor on the roads and
trails, II plan of roads covering the
island was prepared and in due time
numerous contracts for the construc-
tion of iirst-clnss macadamiZcd high
ways We're let and they are being
pushed to completion.
On August $, 1899, II terrible hurri-
cane swept over the island. leaving Il
trail OF destruction. death and suffer
Ing. Relief wns promptly extended
and cncrgetically continued FOR nearly
d ) ciii, o-.oop,oVp lbbuitls Ol IItlbuS ne
ing distributed. Private charity like
wise poured in money and clothing;
the poor We're well fed and sufficiently
| clothed.
Meantime Congress provided II wise
and just measure for civil government,
| which, when its scope and libcrality
were understood by the people. caused
| general rejoicing and proved an in
| centivc to all classes. Then the mon
| ey current, forced upon the people orig
inally as speculative scheme, worth
only its bullion value. and not recog
nized as money outside of Porto Rico
WAS exchanged for United Statcs coin
of par value the world over. and the
commercial interests took courage.
Business is looking up. old firms
| have swept the cobwebs from the
| walls, many new firms are hanging out
| signs; Importation have increased enor-
mously and are holding up through the
dull season: long lines of carts. wagons
and pack horses move daily from the
ports TO the interior; thousands of
acres of land have been added to the
cane fields. and it is confidently pre-
| dlcted that next years sugar output
will be the largest in the history of
the island.
Meantime many new factories. sup
piled with modern machinery. are be-
Ing erected. Tobacco culture has in
creased immensely and the demand
from the United States is booming the
cigar trade. The coffee plantations
suffered from the hurricane and ma!:,
| of the planters We're too poor to imme-
| diatcly repair the damage. but nature
has helped. and in localities where II
few months ago 1t WAS estimated that
the yield would not exceed ten per
s.f IL. l...I
that favorable conditions give II pros
pect of forty, fifty or sixty per cent.
Planters are greatly encouraged The
fruit Industries, never large because
growers were not permitted TO open up
| trade with the United States. are
bounding. Thousands of acres of land
are planted in bananas and pineapples
and laid off for oranges. lemons, lines
and other fruits: every arriving steam
cr brings invoices of orange or lemon
trees from California and Florida and
several nurseries are being opened up.
In Il short time the fruit trade of
Porto Rico will be an item, and in Il.
few years it will be great.
Meantime the insulnr government is
giving particular attention to roads;
some fifteen contracts for first-class
highways are already under way. The
purpose Is to build good roads and to
build them now as an pncoura cement
TO the development of the islands re-
sources.
Proof of the confidence of the Porto
1ticans in the prospect and their ear
nest desire to have it continue is shown
in the political situation. The election
of n commissioner to Washington and
house of delegates will be held No
vember. Here. as in the states. there
are some DOliticianS and nIDny dpmu-
gogues. The municipal elections
year ago were hotly contested and one
party showed Il majority of about six
thousand votes on the island. Inspired
by feeling of supremacy its leaders
this year assumed the attitude of crit.
les of the government, nothing done
or proposed has suited them and they