The evening times., 1900-09-19
PORTO RICO'S PROGRESS.
Conditions i'm the Island Described
by Secretary Hunt.


by Secretary Hunt
Attorney General Griggs has received an
interesting private letter from Secretary
Hunt, of PoFto Rico on existing condi-
tions in that island Among other things
Judge Hunt. referring to the conditions
produced by the hurricane of 1899, says:
when civil government came in on
May il had to cope with unique situa-
ton, and a combination of circumstances
seemed te make the near outlook trouble
some. OF course, things ran along quite
smoothly until rations We're stopped-it
was easy to answer a cry of hunger with
a meal of Goldfish, beans, and rice. The
distribution of supplies was stopped on
July Is. The situation had to be met, and
If the people were ever to be taught the
necessity of seif-help it was high time to
give it.
Appeals for more rations were always
denied kindly, but firmly. Timely notice
was given. but nevertheless city councils
sent in resolutions of impending public
calamity and distress. But we were de-
teTmlned, and overcame the obstacles as
they presented themselves in various
ways. In a few instances we did some
road work, and this helped them, but it is
astonishing how few natives will pound
stones for two weeks in succession. a few
days and inertia seizes him and he stops.
When he has no money he subsists on
fruits, if in season. or sweet potatoes, or,
by begging. ekes out a miserable living,
or passiyely 6uccumb6 to die of intestinal
disease consequent upon impoyerishment,
or dysentery brought about by eating un-
ripe bananas.
In few weeks things began to improve
somewhat-the crisis seemed to have
passed, and it was understood to some ex-
tent at least. that labor was the only way
by which life could be supported. This
was something accomplished, and instead
OF a cry for free food we now met one for
work so to buy food. To this we have
therefore given our best attention; il de-
mands response. It is III the coffee dis
trictS that the acute poyerty~is, and as
nature alone can restore the coffee plants
to fruitful yields, recuperation IS post
poned- But with the denseness of the pop
ulation. thousands live in these coffee sec
tions. SO the problem is a large one
Road construction is the solution until
the crops can be gathered in October
Thirty per cent is a fair estimate of the
coffee crop, but to gather it laborers Will
have to be employed. This will do a great
deal to work out the perpleMties. and
when sugar is being harvested later in
| the season. We think the thing viii solve
itself. never again to be met in such try
| ing form. Then, too, example counts for
! much, and each month should help to
| demonstrate that it is those who help
| themselves who are getting along. and so
| the trouble viii lessen as practical edu-
| cation spreads.
The exchange OF money coming so close
| ~ upon the heels of the stoppage Of ra-
tions. added to our troubles for il was
| impossible for the people to understand
! now great big peso was only worth 90
| cents OF the big silver dollar. and even the
| best merchants and planters believed that
| Our GcvernmC1t was making 10 cents or
| every peso exchanged. The fTee-silyeT man
would raise the purchasing power Of a
| silver dollar. but the Porto Rican actually
/ did depreciate The purchasing power of a
| dollar of gold for about one week. during
/ which time a pesos worth OF charcoal cost
! 81; eggs that sold for 10 ceutavGs sold for
/ 10 cents, WasherWomen, hucksters, and
! others fixed prices on the same basis;
| bread and othe, articles were sold accord
! ingly. and things were topsy-turvy for a
/ short time A few Spanish merchants saw
! the error Of il all. and by force OF ex-
ample prices dropped to normal, and an
! other crisis '2sas over.
| THE one thing that strikes NE as most
noticeable in the Porto Ric8n is his in
! ability to help himself. man came IN
/ the other day and SAID men, women and
| children were starving in a particular mu-
| nicfpality-no work. no feed. I asked if
! there nc road construction going Oh
! there. He said not within eight miles. but
at that distance there was and labor was
| wanted I asked why the suffering men
! did not go and get work. Why. said he.
| how can they go so far and leave their
| families to starye?' I told him that If d
| man was on the verge of starving already
/ he had better go at once and earn few
! dollars TO save the family's life. But no:
| they preferred to die together he said
rather than work if it involved family sep
aration. Such is their sentimental inert
ness
( Turning for a moment from this side
| OF the ease TO the counterbaIaneing one
and find all the encouragement and
| progress that could have been expected
J The potentialities of Porto Rico are tre-
mendous. 1t is a yeritabIe garden spot
and Cor sugar, coffee tobacco, and fruits
! is a most inviting field. Investors will be
! handsomely rewarded. l think. With roads,
/ railroads. and steamship lines, all of which
i will surely come. market facilitits will be
| afforded and capital must come here II
| is a fresh field plenty of people, and no
| competition"