The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-09
NATIVES OF PUERTO RICO.
..Ary.Y UNDERsTAND AND CARE
LITTLE FOR TARIFF LAWS.
vsshinGton boy Now In the Island
writes an Interesting Letter of
he Habits and Capacities of the
People, Who Are Mainly Ignorant.

s..c;aI Dispa.ch to the Post-Intelligencer.
wAsHINGTON, June S.-One OF the
.,,sser boys. OF whom Washington is Just
= n,otd, who went TO San Juan, Puerto
p,co. as private Less than two months
80. and was recently promoted to the
,snt of corporal. has written a letter 10
representative Jones. The letter Is quite
interesting, as 1t shows the condition OF
III people there and how truthfully Mr..
tones spoke IN his speech in the house
a. the conditions in Puerto Rico a short
,,ms axo The letter also shows how the
puerto Picans. never having had any
,hsnr before, now cannot get enough from
,he United states, and the more they get
he less satisfied they are. Mr.. Jones'
correspondent, whose name. for obvious
rsssons IL withheld, says the principal
nswspaper in the island printed in English
|, the San Juan News. which is a very
influential Newspaper. and has an extern
live circulation. Following is the letter:
1T is daily calling for free trade, ana
says Of the bill that II f. an excellent
measure, but does not go far enough.
40 not know the views OF any prominent
business men at present writing. but viii
try and obtain them In the News by lit
IL diplomacy. | was here before the In
easurai nearly a month, and from out
dds Appearances I cannot notice any
change In the people or their affairs
yether has the tariff bin caused any
change that Is noticeable to me, but no
doubt would were in close touch with
tho business world. Before I came here
read a large number of scare heads in
the newspapers OF the critical condition
OF s6airs In Puerto Rico, and expected to
zee great excitement, but found things
ytfy quiet indeed--no excitement what
ever. 1 believe that 30 per cent OF the
Puerto Ricans do not interest themselves
euauRh bother whPfhar thu Ut q.
per cent. or treble that much, as fully
that number In this vicinity are poor. ig-
ncrant. unhealthy and, OF course, constl-
vsssal motto Is to get all possible from
The United States and never be satisfied.
AT present 'hs principal work going on
- government improvements, and for the
millions already circulated here by our
country venture to say that not one In
ton OF the natives would give us credit
for H. Government wagons you meet ev-
nabls going 70 all parts OF the sianf.
but loaded wagons OF the natives are n
raftfy. / am confident that these people
have more money now than they ever had
GUS sources, the majority of the people
have always been existing In a miserable
state. You know that a large percentage
Of the natives are jet black. kinky-headed
negroes and hnlf-breeds. The color line
10 not drawn here.
What the island wants IL c1pltal to
thoroughly work these plantations and
open up the island by electric roads A
there are ZONE advocates OF government
ownership of railroads and other large en-
,erprtscs, would suggest that the sys-
tenn be tried here.
Since have been here have Travelled
miles. and was sreatly surprised to see
that no land r. being cultivated for this
yssr--that is, boirg ploNved--and II looked
~ though il had not been for years. What
little | aid see had been done by hand,
and have not seen a horse or plow since
my advent on the island. The land Is won
dsrfulIy fertile.
II read extrects of the tariff rates In
the san Juan News. and I find that tho
neceasities arc not taxed nor anything
else that would tend to develop the island
IN any way. IL " practically free trade
but. AZ ! have said. the Puerto Rlcan
vii always nave kick in stock From
a general ohserva lion there appears to be
a large numbef OF ofiiocholders here, AMI
the fact that they are principally Amer
icans would probably cause a good ma
tive TO think. were their Falaries. etc.
charged up againnt the revenues OF the
iSand."
Representative Jones has been Informed
by Director Walcott. OF tho geological
survey. that an examination OF the geo
logic structure of tho areas shown on
the Ellenshurg Topographic atlas has been
begun the field work being in the hands
Of Mr. George O Smith. who will In
vsstigate, among other things. the arte-
star conditions In parts of this country,
And presumably prepare map showing
the depths OF the water-heaTfng strata.
Tho following postmasters for Wash
ington state have been appointed.
Clark. lincoln county-Offica removed
eae-half mile north. and agnes A Cline
Appointed postmistress.
Fredonia. Skastt county--Frederick Eyre
vice Patrick Callahan removed.
Kanoka. Lincoln county, n. Girls
well vice John ", Hopkins resigned
IAthow, CowiliE county William n
Cism. vice I, II Madden resigned.
seuthslde, Douglas county-AIlton NJ
Fuenger.
Tsmpico. Yakima county--Harvey Ran
delphi. vice c. NJ Bartlett resigned
Frank payids has been recommended for
postmaster at Home Valley, skamania
ceGnty
TIE postofnee of Quec;s which wa.
formerly In Chehalis county. has been