The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-09

NEW YORK, July S.-Gov. Charles H
Alien. of Porto Rico arrived here yes
terday on the United States despatch boat
May1ower. The voyage from San Juan
was made in five days and one hour. Tie
Governor was met on his arrival by II s.
Allen. He will go to Washington on Tues
day to report on conditions in Porto Rico.
To the newspaper men Governor Allen
said:
1.-THE proper administration of Porto Rico
will. in my mind, bring about the annex
alton Of Cuba"
Before making this important observa-
ton the Governor talked freely about his
mission In the island. Among other things
he said:
81 believe will go right back to Porto
Rico in order to get cool. 1t is fact
which too few people realize that the
equitable climate of the West Indian Isl
ands is far more endurable than tie cratic
weather of more northern countries. The
temperature OF Porto Rico averages from q
to S6 for winter and summer. Our great
tempering influence is the trade winds.
which blow with arithmetical regularity
during the hotter season, and since they
blow from north to south, they pass over
the island croSswise. Accordingly, there
is no such thing as a land breeze.
My purpose in going to Washington IS
to report. 1t was on April Fl last that
I set foot in Porto Rico. accompanied by
my wife and family. ! did not expect at
that time to remain longer than few
weeks. Only casual view of the situa-
3ion. however, was enough to prove to me
that immediate and continuous work was
necessary. Accordingly l was inaugl-
rated on May i, and l set about to try TO
win the confidence of the natis es and 10
make stable the civil government which
had been established over them. The work
was by no means easy.
''New conditions Of life and thought. of
law and finance, confronted US. But the
responsive spirit of the people, elihusias-
tic as they were over the idea OF exchang-
ing monarch;cal form OF government tof
that Of republic. was great stepping
stone to success The intelligent and in
dustrial natives have greatly aided in the
work which the United States Government
has undertaken. This was perhaps fitting
~ illustrated at the organization of the
Executive Council on June Is. Five of its
eleven members are Porto Ricans. and two
Of these made speeches In which they
ardentiy praised the United States for
what it had done and for the future which
II promised to them.
"Delegatlons of merchants and men Of
public affairs came to the palace daily,
some to learn more of our institutions and
customs and others TO thank us for set
ting a higher example before them. In
deed / believe that our destiny as nation
hinges to a great degree on our admins
trattion of this island The eyes OF the
Spanish American world are upon lis. If
We succeed, as l believe we NAV, with
proper guidance and forethought, our sue
cess Wa, be greater than we can measure
THE proper administration of Porto
Rico will. in my mind bring about the an
nexation o: Crta.
If the people of Cuba see that their
neighbors have benefited and have pros
pered as gart Of the United States, il
viii only be natural for them also to ask
that Cuba be brought into the Union.
''Agriculturally Porto Rico is yeritable
garden spot. Its virgin soil responds with
wonderful fullness to cultivation. Its fields
are lying ready for the American plow
and rake. The long. rich grass of the
pasture lands first impresses the new
conner with the fertility of the land.
the raising of coffee. Perhaps six-tenths
OF the exports of the island have been
cArgoes of coffee. The old planters during
the last twenty-five years were prosper
Gus. but spent their money in going to
Paris and in otherwise enjoying them
selves. Consequently when other brands
Of coffee came into the market and the
island was visited by the tornado many Of
these men were pushed to the wall.
The coming industry Of Porto Rico. in
my mind. is the raising of sugar. Already
great strides have been made along these
lines A great plant is now being erected
on the southern shore of the island, TO
cost 100000 The capital or crusher
alone will cost $500. 900. Then the tariff
arrangement between the United States
and Porto RICO has greatly stimulated the
industry. Now. sugar planter gets $3.50
In gold on each ton more than his COM
petitore in lands not belonging to the
Cnited States.
"But the sugar business Is practically the
rich mans business. II requires too much
capital Tor a poor man to start In it. For
him. instead. the raising Of tobacco offers
an available and fairly profitable business.
The land and climate are ideal FOR tobacco.
and the plant would be cultivated to D
much greater extent II there should be an
incoming OF stable. industrious Americans
to awaken the natives to a sense Of their
own advantages. Only about one-fourth OF
the island is under cultivation.
Oranges can be raised in Porto Rico
and make an exceedingly good crop. Many
orange growers in Florida, who lost every
thing there because of severe frosts, are
now going to Porto Rico. and several
thousand acres have already been planted.
One or two own tracts of 800 acres. where
they are planting orange seedlings
Il have found many native owners Of
land who are unwilling to cultivate their
property and yet refuse to sell II. On
asking one man why he prevented the i'm
provemcnt of his land he said that he was