BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-09
Americans and Porto Rico.
Why Some Succeed and Others
Do Not.
Good Opportunities for the Right
People.

Il is very amusing sometimes to see
new arrival from the United States learning !
all about the Island, from some compstriot
who has preceded him by perhaps a single
steamer.
The stranger here knows it all when he
has been here about week. The logger
he remains, however, the more be fiuds out
be does not know. There is great deal to
be learned about conditions here in almost
every way, which can only he learned from
a systematic study of matters generally by
actual observation and experience, and the
intending investor would do we'll to have
some definite idea beforehand of the kind of
investment be wants, of the amount OF
money he wishes to put into chosen enter
prise, and above all, he should, il possible,.
have at least partial knowledge Of the Ian
guage, SO as to be able TO converse directly
with The people, as he will find the average
interpreter he is likely TO pick up qni,e uu-
able to properly convey his meaning to the
people he has occasion to do business with,
Or to express theirs to him in return.
Another thing, man coming here should
endeavCr to engage in some business for
which he is st least partially fitted A far
mer coming here would be no more APT to
prosper in the dry goods business than
he would in the United Sates; nor on the
other hand would good knowledge of the
dry goods business necessarily beft man
for successfully running fruit plantation
here, for instance And yet Americans
have doue well and are doing we'll both 10
mercantile business aad in agriculture, but
l. -, - H. IL Ln,k
were already experienced in the line of bus
iness undertaken, and in most instances had
at least s'workiug' knowledge of Spanish.
1t would not be proper in an arGlcle like
this to mention names, but numerous ius-
tances will Immediately suggest themselves
to every reader, of men VINO have come here
with determination, courage, some capital,
more OF less knowledge Of Spanish, and
fixed purpose to succeed, who have prOSpered
from the start.
Others, however, with little or no money,
no knowledge of Spanish, with no idea
whatever of what business, if anv, they are
fitted for, have come to Porto REQ, as the
old Forty .Niners vent to California, and
have expected to fiud gold for the picki0g up
One of the stock questions of such people is
lles. ~ l1G ~
hertg OF course to such indsfisits inquir-
les no satisfactory answer can be given aud
the disgruntled would be 'icoionisr," after
wasting a geek or Two or it may be mora Of
bis perhaps not over valuable time, aud
spending nearly all Of his money, he takes
what is left and buys retcrn passage to tue
States where he tells the people "Porto Rico
is no good.n
But, in all seriousness, there are now,
and there will continue to be many oppor,
tunities for tue energetic, industrious man,
with some practical knopledgs, and suffic.
lent capital to come to Porto r. CO and make
profitable Investments, and men Of this class
will always be welcomed here.
In this connection, hOWever, it may lie
well to call attention to the fOtij'y OF yeuug
man without resources coming here from
ths States ON the of chance OF securing s
government position Immediately upon their
arrival. Frequently young men of this class
come here with no special training IN any
particular direction, IN many casps solth few
or no Credentials, and with hardly enough
money to last them week. They may have
a fair education but unless they have special
qualifications in some direction where expert
service IS needed, their chances of securing
employment are poor indeed.
None Of this class sheuld come here unless
i-dsed, they have the assurance OF position
before leaving home. s.LooA before YOU
leapn is good motto, and skcnid be specially
regarded by young 4len desirous Of seeking
their fortunes abroad. There Is almost no
chance for obtaining employment, here ont.
Sue Of the Government service except for
the ordinary day lsborer, and his pay is
small indeed compared with the pay Of
laborer in the UnitVd States. And as 10
The Government service, there. are pracucaIly
no vacancies of any description.
The Military Department has been stead l.
reducing its clerical forcs here tor mo e
than year, and will probably continue 10
do SO. In the civil Departments ihsre "a no
demand whatever for additional clerical or
other assistance, except tnat emergeU cles
sometimes arise Tsqu,nDg the Employ leni
OF a skilled man OF perhaps several Ia
these classes, however, when The men :ase q
come from the United States arrange meuts
are always made before hand anA.n q men
kr0w jast schat to expect.
In other words, TO the young man without
special qualifications and yHithoV much
money, acno is tbiuking Of coming 10 Porro
Rico looking for employment ~e epeat the
famous advice OF tho Lpnaon s.'Punckn 70
persons about to marry. y.--s D0N'1.v
se~@rse e'-n--.'-------------s