The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-19
PUERTO RICO AS SHE
Report of Special Commissioner Car
roll on the Island.


Washington. Jan. 1s-Henry K. Car
roll, special commissioner for the Uni
ted States to Puerto Rico, under ap-
pointment by the president to investi-
gate the civil, industrial, financial and
social conditions of the islands, has
made his report. The report states that
Puerto Rico has an area estimated at
from $3.50 to $3.50 square miles. The
climate is tropical, but not torr1d. The
thermometer rarely rises to 100 de-
grees, the highest monthly average on
record in nine years in San Juan being
IS degrees The mountains are gem
orally covered with verdure and even
the peaks are gardens of the husband
man. The death rate is moderate The
population in 1897 numbered S9o,S20 ex-
elusive of the Spanish military then
occupying the island and the penal
population A comparison OF the census
of 1857 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 American occupation
there were only two churches of any
other faith in the island. The public
charities are few and poorly supported.
Crime is not excessive. The statistics
of birth in 1897 show that about 48 per
cent. are illegitimate. AT most of the
hearings held by the commissioners
persons insisted that the fees exacted
by the priests were too heavy for poor
people, who preferred living together
unwedded than to submit to all the
conditions of ecclesiaSt ical marriage
These persons. it was said, are rarely
untrue to each other
The Puerto Ricans, the reports says,
are a kindly, hospitable, polite people,
very sOeiable, and always ready to do
Americans a friendly service. One of
the greatest needs of the island, it is
said, is good roads.
The common estimate Of Puerto Ri
cans is that only one-tenth of the Gull
tod Iov ffxy,f ION or
one time. The soil of the plains and
valleys is generally very rich and have
borne crops for generations without the
use Of fertilizers. The crops most gen.
orally raised, in the order of areas oc-
cupied in 1896: Coffee, 121, 176 acres;
cane, 60,S84 acres; tobacco, 1922 acres.
Coffee cannot be raised without shade
as in Brazil. The coffee bushes need
five years for full development under
the shade of banana or other trees,
and continue bearing twenty-five and
even fifty years. Bananas give both
shade and fruit the first year. Coffee
farms are exempt from taxes for the
first five years. The grades of coffee
are among the finest. The fruits of the
island are such as are common to
tropical countries. The raising of
cattle is an important and lucrative in
dustry. The daily wages Of the COM
mon field laborers range from IS to so
cents native money. Women are
rarely seen in the fields. The people
are Industrious.
Commissioner Carroll recommends
that laws of the United States be ex-
tended to Puerto Rico and that a ter
ritorial form of government similar to
that established in Oklahoma be pro-
vided; that the legislative power shall
extend to all rightfuI subjects of legis-
lation, including regulations fer the ex-
ercise of the elective franchise; that the
legal voters of the island be permitted
to elect a delegate to congress; that a
commission, consisting of three men.
who shall be natives 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 is
land; that a court of claims be estab-
lished to adjudicate all claims to prop
erty, secular and ecclesiastical, arising
under the treaty of Paris; that the rule
adopted by the military government as
to civil marriages be continued in
force; that the Spanish silver coins be
retired and the coins of the United
States be substituted; that the lottery
be prohibited and that the governor
general and the Legislature be required
to provide for universal and obligatory
education in system of Tree schools.
where English shall be taught and that
an agricultural experiment station be
established for the island