Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-18

good grip on the situation. We know a
good deal about the place and the people
already, what they've got and what
they want, but our observations thus far
have been only superficial, merely pre-
liminary and educational. Now we are
going into a thorough scientific inNesti-
cation of the soil, the climate and the
agricultural conditions generally.
GU Know" continued the secretary.
that Porto Rico is one of the richest
spots on God $ footstool and has been a
source of profit TO Spain ever since it
was first discovered. 1T has been one of
the few Spanish colonies that paid more
than 1T cost, but all these centuries the
people have left nearly everything to
nature and have cultivated the ground
in a careless. Indifferent sort of way,
without regard to scientific principles or
the economics of agriculture. The APP
plication of modern. progressive ideas
will make Porto Rico even more protita-
bla than 1t has ever been. and we are
going TO try. TO teach not only the plant
ers but the labering element to apply.
these principles TO theil. toll.
We SHAH first study the island from.
1.-The producers standpoint. take up the
principal industries and teach them how
their labor than they now receive. Take
the tobacco crop, for example While
the available area for tobacco culture in.
Porto Rico is limited compared with
That of cuba, the soil is just as good,
land, With the application of scientific
principles, the crop can be much in-
/ proved. For example. under the prini-
tive processes it takes ten months To
lIfernert tobacco, hu we can show hem
4 how to do lit just as Well in thirty days,
with better results to the leaf.
We are already closely in touch with
! the sugar industry. Mr.. c. T.. Savior of
I this department has been on every plan
station ard in every factory in Porto
4 Rico. Most of them are ovsred by Eng
aiishmen, Germans and Spaniards but
I'VE propose to encourage the poor people
ito plant sugar and VIII show them how
10 get the best results.
Coffee is the grea; staple of Porto
\ Rico. but science mas never done any !:
q thing to improve coffee. 1t has 1lever
Z been cultivated as il should be. Natare
1 has been allowed TO take its cou ,ss, The
4 coffee trae is subject to all soris af dis
eases. We will studSsthean ana antl tiiss
5Isbest representatives. and cor'i wee We
4 Will find the tree that pro- iless H best
sIsbesrIes and the tree tis la:llaagfs Inc
most, and will cross use
.Anothei very itrr Industry in
Il Porto Rico is aim q ted.
They have very s5tsss here
q have Keen tole; ns p. ssasl iI8t hire a
Z horse in the san ,1llan, and that
Iall the hau4ing de,.s vt oxen and
donkeSs * fed il ss;ir cane. The
4 absence houses l. tli.sio the lack eli
s grass h9.y ard we intend 10
SUPP an find some grass. L have
II no aeiihT taaf y hi aro,s IN that climate,
{ NJ bic US TO introduce the
Teing5 to study 100. The best
me. proving the conditions Of
who under. Spanish
a state of senii-se
.alreadySa lot Of schools
20 teach than reading,
b and arithmetic. but we viii try
ms NE them an education in the art OF
and the science of labor-that Is
81 IL be useful. Porto Rico is essen
~ an gricultural country. and tiiere
re many Industries that have never
= oeen introduced there which might bs
.!ismade prpfitable.