Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-01-11
IN PORTO RICO.
Wealth in Iron, Marble, Coal, and
Phosphates.

Hitherto Porto Rico has been con-
sidered by the outside world to be a
phenomenally fertile island, whose
commercial value was wholly due to
its agricultural resources. That vege-
tation of nearly every description
grows spontaneously in every part OF
the island cannot be denied that its
rich alluvial soil between the foot
hills and the sea, nearly skirting the
entire island, is capable of producing
the largest crops of cane and tobacco
of any soil on earth has never been
disputed and that it's mountain soil is
peculiarly adapted to the luxuriant
growth of tropical fruits, coffee, and a
thousand and one other products,
natural to a semi-equatorial climate,
goes without saying.
For centuries the island has been de-
voted to agriculture, in a way, and
poor and slipshod way at that. The
crops that have been planted
have thrived simply for the reason
that the conditions of climate and soil
are such that crops are bound to grow
sof their own accord, without the slim
ulating effects of cultivation.
people that insists on adhering to
the crooked stick for a pillow, drawn
by a lazy oxen and followed by still
lazier poem, cannot be expected to de-
yelop the capabilities of Porto Rican
soil. Something must be done to shake
off the lethargy that for generations
has weighed down and dulled the en-
ergies of the Porto Rican people, and
awaken them from their Rip Van
Wrinkle slumbers, if agriculture is to
reach it's highest development here.
But agriculture is not the only re-
source of this beautiful and historic
island by any manner of means. IL Is
rich-exceedingly rich-in mineral
wealth, and it only requires intelligent
investment of capital to develop these
mineral resources.
The island is of volcanic origin,
although there exists nowhere any evil
denee of craters or lava beds. me
mountains are composed, according to
Professor Robert T. Hill OF the united
states Geological Survey, who has
made careful study of the ISLANDS,
largely of black and other dark-coi-
ored basic igneous rocks, occurring as
tufts. conglomerates, and sills OF norm
hlende-andesite, cut by dikes OF do
rite"
The volcanic rock which forms the
base or core of the whole islands is
practically coated for several miles
from it's margin with limestone, or par
tally metamorphosed coral rock, bear
ing sea shells and other fossil remains
proving beyond question that in some
mast age the island was partially sub
me--s1 and subsequently upheaved
eaveral hundred feet above the sea
level by some subterranean force. In
deed. biologists assert that the noun
rain peaks .vf Porto Rico are the high
est in the world, If measured from
their SUBMITS to their bases, far De-
low the surface of the ocean.
Throughout the island, at frequent
intervals, may be found genuine VOL
canic dikes which have been shot W
from the interior through rents in the
everything limestone crust that enclr-
eles Il. These dikes indicate the pres
ence Of rich mineral deposits, copper
and silver appearing to predominant.
Several rich deposits of these metals
have been discovered recently in th'
interior OF the island, the assays show
ing from so to 20 per cent. of cope
and from 80 ounces to so ounces of sill
yer to ton.
The presence of gold on the islam
was discovered in the days Of Ponce d
Leon, and since there have been un
numbered efforts to locate the paren
Exeins Of this metal. but thus far with