Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1901-02-14
Der Of children below the age Of 8 fig
ure among breadwinners.

Der of children below the age of 8 fig
ure among breadw1nners.
The average death rate in Porto Rico
during the past II years has been about
30 per cent and the average birth rate
about IS. There are no gains to the pop
ulation by immigration and such a
small gain from births hat the popula-
ton is now nearly stationary and will
probably be more so IN the future I'M
less American enterprise results in a
greater development of agricultural
area.
Most Of the area Of Porto Rico is held
as farms, and more than one-ifth of
the entire island is under cultivation.
The forest areas are small and almost
entirely confined to the highest noun-
tains. Few remains of the pr1meval
forests are to be found, timber being
very scarce, and most Of hat used in
building Is imported. The industries Of
trade, transportation and manufac-
lures are Of almost trffing impor-
lance. Seventy-six per cent Of the en-
tire surface of the island is included
within the 10000 or less farms, with
not less than q per cent OF the entire
area under the pillow.
These figures are in strong contrast
| with those for Cuba, for on the latter
island only 80 per cent of the area is
included in farms and only 3 per cent
of the area Ia under cultivation. The
conditions In Porto Rico more nearly
approach those prevailing in the Unit
/ ed States, where IS per cent of the
area is under cultivation. Yet, consid-
ering the density Of the rural popula-
ton Of Porto Rice, which Is far beyond
that of m portion Of the United
States, the proportion Of cultivated
land fs small. The average size OF a
farm in Porto Rico is As acres, of
which about u acres are cultivated.
In the United States the average farm
contains 1877 acres, of which IS acres
are improved. In Cuba the average
farm has an area Of 142 acres, of
which only 13 acres are under cult1va-
ton.
Seventy-one per cent Of all the farms
In Porto Rico are owned by hey whites,
and p per cent are owned by colored
people, making a total of 90 per cent
of all the farms Of Porto Rico cultiyat
ed by their owners Five per cent were
rented by whites and 2 per cent by col
ored. This proportion of owned farms
is unusually large. In the United
States only p per cent of the farms
are cultivated by their owners and bu
few individual states can show as higl
a percentage of by owner!
as can Porto Rico.
The relative Importance of the crop
! raised in Porto Rico is shown by tn
area devoted to each crop. Coffee oc
1 cupies Il per cent. sugar cane 15 pc
cent, bananas IA per cent. and the bal
ance is divided among sweet potatoes
. Indian corn, malangas, rice, c%ocoanut
. and tobacco. Coffee is by far the mos
important crop, and tobacco. which i
one Of the leading products of Cuba. i
i Of but trifing Importance in Porto II
co.
r The work of the war department i
e the taking Of the census Of Porto Ric
q has been remarkably thorough an
gives at a glance a true reflection Q
the conditions which prevail on that Ii
S land. In this work Colonel Sanger, ai6
n I'd by the statistical experts, Professor
Gannett and Wilcox, has been guide
a by the desire to present not only a nj
n merical compilation, but a sociologics
l estimate of these people lately take
d under the Jurisdiction of the Unite
e States, and he has succeeded in ma
J. ing both the Cuban and Porto Rica
g census reports absolutely necessary
S, the library of any one desiring a reli;
BILE reference in regard to matter
ID therein treated.
r. Try Aliens EOtst Ease.
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