The Washington times., 1901-11-06
CONDITIONS IN PORTO RICO
Annual Report of Commissioner n
lott on Internal Anair.

Hotf on Internal Affairs.
An important and interesting statement
was made public yesterday by the Inter-
ior Department. in the annual report of
William II. Elliott. Commissioner OF the
Interior for Porto Rico.
The Commissioner objects strenuousIy to
the report of the board of army and navy
officers appointed to examine and report
respecting the part of the public lands
used by the United States and Porto Rico
required for the use of the military and
naval establishments. He asks that Con
sress be fully Informed, Of the situation
in the matter-the rights and equities OF
the people of the islands-before any act
of transfer is permitted to pass. as ne
claims that the recommendations made.
If approved by Congress. would work a
great injustice TO the Porto Ricans.
Regarding the dispute over land titles
in the islands. the Commissioner recon-
mends searching Investigations of titles
throughout the island. accompanied by
careful surveys of all public lands. Con-
tinuing. he says:
Upon the presumption that the titles
to all lands not held by legal claim of
private ownership had passed by the
Treaty of Paris to the United States, no
provision has been made by the insuiar
Government to determine the location and
extent of such lands. and this department
has been handicapped both by lack OF
authority and the means to prosecute the
Work with any sort of vigor. 1 am u:aote
therefore to report any material additions
to the list of public lands.
The point raised by the Commissioner
is whether the so-called public lands
of Porto Rico were ceded to tie United
States by the Treaty of Paris as crown"
lands, or were they and do they remain
the property of Porto Rico as State
lands? On this subject he adds:
The distinction between crown prop
erty and State property in Porto Rico
needs, from the facts stated, to be deter
mined If the 'inmevable' property ceded
is construed to embrace public lands as
defined by United States laws, yet which
did not in fact belong to the crown of
Spain. but were and remain the property
of the State'-that is to say. of Porto
Rico-then the United States has no legal
claim thereto, and the Insular Govern
ment has the right to administer them"
He says that the matter of roads and
bridges. particularly from the interior to
the seacoast, continues of prime impor-
taDce. The more closely one studied the
conditions in Porto Rico. the characteris-
tics and possibilities of the soil. the needs
of outlets to markets, to the end that
landowners might be encouraged to pro
vide the work necessary to the existence
of the laborers and their families, the
more firm became the conviction that the
construction of roads, aside from the
benefit of immediate employment of la
Dor. is the chief factor in the solution of
the problem of certain and enduring
prosperity for the island.
The subject of agriculture, the Com
missioner says, is of prime Importance to
the people of the island The wealth of
island the
roads, the enrichment. comfort. happi-
ness and, in fact, the very existence of
the people depend upon the proper plant
ing, care, and cultivation of the soil.
Under Spanish rule. no attempts were
made to enlighten, instruct. or encourage
the agriculturists and therefore they
are poor farmers. without knowledge of
the adaptability of the products to soil,
selection of seed, correct methods Of cul-
tivation. or proper implements. He recon-
mends the Immediate establishment of
several agricultural experiment stations
on the island.
In closing the Commissioner says:
notwithstanding the deplorable condition
of the laboring classes at the time of the
cession of Porto Rico TO the United States.
the awful destruction of life and property
wrought by the hurricane of 1899, the in
jury to trade and commerce caused by
the necessary change in the circulating
medium and in spite of opposition and
malicious represe ntation as to the poll
cies pursued. there are in all matters re-
ldtinB TO the department OF tne interior
evidences Of substantial progress made
and the prospects for the future are rea-
sonably bright.
There remains much to be done, yet
with the exercise of patience, Industry,
wise discretion and zeal. the speedy re-
habilitation of Porto Pioo .vcritabIe
garden spot rich and prosperous aud the
people fully employed, contented and
happy, are conditions that those persons
well informed as to the material resources
of the island and the character and dis
position of the people. confidently predict.
Capital is needed for the restoration of old
plantations and the opening and cultiva-
ton of new estates. In the near future
fruits and vegetables will, l believe be-
come large and profitable features of the
agricultural industry of the land and
leading item in the exports to the United
States"