The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-04-27

A representative OF
G. W. ENNIS. the Chronicle the
other day dropped in to see Charles
W. Ennis who recently returned from
fortnight's stay on the island. Mr..
Ennis as usual was busy but he talked
for some time very interestingly of
his trip to one of Uncle Sans new
possessions.
Mr.. Ennis was fortunate in meeting
soon after his arrival in San Juan,
John A. Wilson, president of the
San Juan and Rio-Piedias Railroad.
the principal railroad in the island,
which has many branches leading to
the interior and along the coast Like
others, Mr.. Ennis was agreeably sur
prised in what he saw: the scenery
of the island, which is about one
hundred miles long and some thirty
wide is very beautiful and grand al
most beyond description. There are
hundreds of acres of level grazing and
farm lands, while numerous hills rise
on every side; the vegetation on the
lowlands and we'll up ON the hills is
wholly tropical, while the ridges are
also richly clothed. The soil is Won
derfully fertile, and, with the excep-
tion of the apple, all the fruits raised
in this country grow there luxuriant-
ly.
The first matter that Mr.. Ennis
looked into was naturally the
tariff bill, which he learned from
conversation with business men
throughout the island, was enacted
at their request, because they knew
full well there would otherwise be a
heavy deficiency which would have to
be made up by them. Owing to the
former wretched Spanish rule and the
recent war and, lastly, the terrible
hurricane, affairs are in chaotic
state. The enactment of the small
tariff, amounting to only 15 per cent.
of the Dingley bill and the knowledge
that it would be expended upon the
island has given wonderful impetus
to business, manufacturing, establish
ment of factories and real estate for
agricultural purposes.
San Juan, Mr.. Ennis said, was the
cleanest city he ever saw Although
some of the streets are narrow they
are well paved with vitrifed brick
and the United States authorities
have insisted upon Ethe strict enforce
ment of sanitary code.
The new school system when first
introduced, met with considerable
opposition; the teachers found that
it was with the greatest difficulty that
they could induce their scholars to
acquire the habit of study, such
think being formerly unknown
throughout the island. Inasmuch as
about so per cent of the natives can
not read or write and the children
abound almost as thickly as rabbits
it will be seen that the educational
problem is one of the most important
that we will have to contend with.
However, Mr.. Ennis said that the
scholars are making rapid progress
and seem to have already acquired the
habits of Thought and study" as
teacher expressed it and the parents
are learning that the Yankee" ideas
after all, are solely for the benefit of
their little ones.
After careful observation, Mr.. Ennis
was of the opinion that the children
on the island thrive like the vegeta-
tion. An aged native, who helped
to unload freight from the ship at
San Juan told the party that he was
the father of ty-eight children.
We're he to try for seat in Congress
at some future time, it would for
obvious reasons be as hard for him to
obtain recognition as it was for
Utah. Roberts.
The agricultural industries of Porto
Rico are simply marvellous. On the
grazing lands the quality of grass is
rank and although nutritious it is
productive of flesh rather than milk
six pints day of fair quality being a
large amount for COW to give. The
beef cattle are shipped mostly to
Spain.
Tourists are taken about the island
in two-wheeled phaetons, the ponies
going at gallop. During a long
journey frequent relays are made.
The horses are small but capable of
great endurance.
Sugar cane is grown as it was
hundred years ago. The facilities
for grinding are antiquated. In the
States SO per cent of the product of
Continued on Faith Page.