The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-19
ISLAND OF PUERTO RICO
INTERESTING REPORT FROM sPE-
CIAL COMMISSIONER CARROLL.
Statistics Covering Resources, Popu-
concentrations Submitted.

WASHINGTON, Jan. B.-Henry K. Car
roll, special commissioner for the United
States to Puerto Rico. under appointment
by the President, to investigate the civil, in
dustrial, financial and social conditions of
the island. has made his report. The report
states that Puerto Rico has an area esti-
mated from $3.50 to 1850 square miles. The
climate is tropical, but not torrid. The
thermometer rarely rises to 100 degrees,
the highest monthly average on record in
nine years in San Juan being Sc degrees.
The mountains are generally covered with
verdure, and even the peaks are gardens
of the husbandman. The death rate Is
moderate. Yellow fever is now indigenous,
but smallpox sometimes becomes epidemic.
The health bill of Puerto Rico. however.
will compare favorably with that Of coun-
tries in the temperate zone.
The population in 1897 numbered $4,000.
exclusive of the Spanish military then
occupying the island and the penal popula-
ton. comparison Of the census of 1887
and 1897 shows that the colored race is
decreasing. the whites now numbering "a
per cent. of the whole. The Catholic was
the state religion. and at the time of the
american occupation there were Ouly tWO
churches of any other faith in the island.
There was one Protestant Episcopal Church
In Ponce and another at Isabella, in the
island Of vieques. The public charities are
few and poorly supported. Crime is not
excessive.
The statistics of births in 1897 show that
about As per cent. are illegitimate. At most
of the hearings held by the commissioner
persons insisted that the fees exacted by
who preferred living together unwedded
than to meet all the conditions of ecclesias-
teal marriage. These persons, 1t was said,
are rarely untrue to each other.
The Puerto Ricans, the report says, are
kindly. hospitable, polite people, very
sociable and always ready to do Americans
a friendly service. One of the greatest
needs of the island, ii is said, is good roads.
This is Of the highest Importance and af-
fects all human interests-social. educa-
tional, industrial, commercial and political.
The common estimate of Puerto Rfcans is
that only one-tenth of the cultivable lands
are in actual cultivation at any one time
The soils of the plains and valleys are
generally very rich and have borne crops
for generations without the use of fertiliz-
ers. The crops most generally raised are
in the order of areas occupied in 1896: Cof-
fee, 121, 126 acres; cane, &C, SS4 acres; tobacco
4222 acres. Coffee cannot be raised without
shade. as in Brazil. The coffee bushes
need five years for full development under
continue bearing twenty-five and even to
fifty years. Bananas give both shade and
fruit the first year. Coffee farms are ex-
empt from taxes for the first five years
The grades of coffee among the finest.
The fruits of the island are such as are
common to tropical countries. The raising
of cattle is the most important and lucra-
tive industry. The daily wages of the COM
mon field laborer range from IS to so cents,
native money. Women are rarely seen In
the fields. The people are Industrious.
Commissioner Carroll recommends that
the Constitution and laws Of the United
States be extended to Puerto Rico, and that
a territorial form of government, similar
to that established in Oklahoma, be pro-
vided; that the legislative power shall ex-
tend to all rightful subjects of legislation,
including regulations for the exercise OF
the elective franchise; that the legal voters
of the island be permitted to elect a dele
gate to Congress; that commission con-
sisting of three persons, who shall be ma
tives of the island and two of the United
States, be appointed by the President to
revise the codes; that the jury system be
adopted; that the banking and patent laws
of the United States be extended to the
islands; that court of claims be estab-
lished to adjudicate all claims to property,
secular and ecclesiastic, arising under the
treaty of Paris; that the rule adopted by
the military government as to civil mar
riages be continued in force; that the Span
ish silver coins be retired; that the lottery
be prohibited, and that the governor gen.
era1 and the Legislature be required to
provide for universal and obligatory edu-
cation in a system of free schools, where
English shall be taught, and that an agri-
cultural experiment station be established
for the island.