La Junta tribune., 1900-10-17

Niccs, uuu ~ pus II urge AuO ever
increasing corps OF Spanish officials.
the whole aggregating <o.OOO,O0O a
year.
Then when trouble in Cuba came,
Porto Rico, as the penalty for being
good, WAS compelled TO advance large
sums of money for the suppression OF
the rebellion. The accounting Of this
matter shows balance. mostly ac-
crued since 1895, of 81. 2.5,3, ,5l6.55, for
which amount a claim is now pending.
The one thing plentiful was taxes. the
ever-present guest, the gutherer OF
tithes. Aptitude In making app2opria-
tions and skill In manipulating them
for the benefit of the favored few
were marked features Of Spanish ad-
ministration. There were appropria-
tions for schools, but not school
house; the budgets provided for roads,
but only one road worthy OF the name;
there were sO-called charitable funds.
but hospitals only in name. Beggars
OF every degree extended emaciated
hands on every side, and evidence OF
diseases produced long continuance Of
deprivation OF wholesome food was
painfully apparent.
The sugar industry Of the island had
materially declined, due in part to the
but particularly to the employment OF
ancient methods. The low price of
coffee had materially reduced the prof
Its. One market only. Cuba, was open
for the tobacco crops. The people
were prohibited from establishing
trade with the United States, hence
as fine fruit lands AS exist In the world
lay waiting. AS u rule, the planta-
tions were heavily mortgaged, and the
mortgages We're disposed to fOreclose
With the foregoing conditions ex-
isting, American occupation began. A
military government was established.
1t ruled with mildness and justice,
holding steadily in view the succession
OF a civil government and undertak-
ing to prepare the way. Harsh laws
We're modified us rapidly as possible
and the people were gradually given
control Of local affairs. Mortgage fore.
closures were suspended. Work was
provided for the poor ON the roads and
trails, plan of roads covering the
island was prepared and in due time
numerous contracts for the construc-
ton OF first-clnss macadamiZed high
ways We're let and they are being
pushed to completion.
On August y, lSJ3. Il terrible hurri-
cane swept over the island. leaving
trail of destruction, death and suffer-
Ing. Relief was promptly extended
and energetically continued for nearly
a year, 32,OOO,OU0 pounds of rations be-
ing distributed. Private charity like
wise poured In money and clothing;
the poor were well fed and sufficiently
clothed.
Meantime Congress provided wise
and Just measure for civil government
which. when Its scope and liberaiity
were understood by the people. caused
general rejoicing and proved an In
centiye 10 all glasses. Then the mon
ey current. forced upon the people orig
innlly as Il speculative scheme, worth
only Its bullion value, and not recOg-
nized as money outside of Porto Rico.
was exchanged for United States coin
OF par value the world over, and the
commercial interests took courage
Business is looking up, old tirms
have swept the cobwebs from the
walls, many new firms are hanging out
signs; Importation have increased enor-
Inously and are holding up through the
dull season; long lines of carts. wagons
and pack horses move daily from the
ports to the interior: thousands of
acres Of land have been added to the
cane fields, and II is confidently pre-
dicted that next years sugar output
will be the largest In the history of
the island
Meantime many new factories, sup
piled with modern machinery, are be-
ing erected. Tobacco culture has in
creased immensely and the demand
from the United States IL booming the
cigar trade. The coffee plantations
suffered from the hurricane and many
OF the planters were too poor to imme-
diately repair the damage, but nature
has helped. and In localities where
few months ngo 1t was estimated that
the yield would not exceed ten per
cent. Of normal, II Is now conceded
that favorable conditions give a pros
pect Of forty, fifty or sixty per cent.
Planters are greatly encouraged. The
fruit industries. never large because
growers were not permitted 10 open up
trade with the United States, are
bounding. Thousands OF acres Of land
are planted In bananas and plneapples
and laid Oh for oranges, lemons. lines
and other fruits; every arriving steam
ef brings invoices OF orange or lemon
trees from California and Florida and
several nurseries are being opened up.
In short time the fruit trade Of
Porto Rico will be an item, and in
few years 1t will be great.
Meantime the insular government is
giving particular attention to roads;
some fifteen contracts for hrst-class
highways are already under way. The
purpose Is to build good roads and to
build them now as an encouragement
to the Development OF the islands re-
sources.
Proof of the confidence of the Porto
Ricans in the prospect and their ear
nest desire to have II continue is shown
In the political situation. The election
Of commissioner to Washington and
4 house OF delegates Will be held No.
vember. Here, as In the states, there
are some politicians and many dema-
g0gnes. The municipal elections q