Evening star., 1901-07-04
Impetus to Agriculture,

Assuming that the legislature makes the
showing which will bring about free trade
with the United States in the immediate
future healthy impetus will be given te
| the agricultural resources Of the island
The 10 per cent that Is now collected on
sugar and other products, which must look
almost exclusively to the United States for
their market, is something Of a drawback
to the investment of capital. With the re-
moVal of this 10 per cent unQueStionably
more sugar lands will be placed under cul-
tivation. The amount Of available cane
lands in Porto Rico is not large enough at
the extreme limit to menace the beet grow
ers in the United States, yet the cultva-
tion of every acre which is available for
cane will be a great boon to the overcrowd-
ed Inhabitants of the Islands.
Tobacco also will receive some stimulus,
but l never could find enough uncultivated
tobacco land in Porto Rico to see wherein
Its extension could benefit a large number
Nf the people. If the present production of
tobacco In Porto Rico Is increased SO per
cent within the next five years 1t will more
than come up to the expectation of those
who have studied the possibilities of the
crop. Yet every little helps and any tariff
burden taken off Porto Rico tobacco will
be a gain to those who are engaged In the
industry. 1t also may encourage the home
manufacture Of cigars and cigarettes by the
Porto Ricans.
Citrus fruits will be benefited by tariff
equality with the products Of the United
States While orange growing has not yet
become an extensive industry all the re-
ports from those who have gone into it
since the American occupation are encour-
aging. The capital required Is not large,
but the four or five years necessary before
the orange groves bear is a hardship to
those whose means are limited. However,
other citrus fruits do not take so long a
time, and with the certainty of no tariff
duties there is inducement for Americans
to engage in fruit raising in Porto Rico.
Coffee, OF course, is not affected by the
tariff, yet there are many small capitalists
who are inclined to coffee raising if they
can vary 1t with other business, such as
fruit growing.
Rico all depends on the development of its
agricultural resources. More than a CEN
tury ago Friar IAbbad. the historian of
the island, remarked that agriculture
which was the first Of the arts and the true
richness Of the state was in it's first begin
nings. This cannot be said today, but fu-
ture prosperity can be developed by intelli-
gent and diversified agriculture. That is
why too much Importance cannot be given
to the experiment stations and agricultu-
raj schools which the Department Of Agri-
culture Is seeking to establish. After they
learn something more of the nature Of
their own soil and the best methods Of
cultivating it the Porto Ricans will show
more disposition to buy modern agricultu-
raj machinery, and probably, also, they
will have greater ability to buy. or a
larger purchasing power. This Is another
step in the development Of the island which
will come from the adjustment of political
and industrial conditions under good Amer
lean government.
Industries Capable of DEVELOPMENT.
Aside from the purely agricultural re-
sources there are some minor industries
which are capable Of slight development
and which may receive an impetus from
the removal Of all tariff duties. The ma
tive phosphates are yet commercial prob
lem, but the salt marshes, which have been
worked in a small way. appear to be ca
pable Of greater production. Quite lately
It has been reported that one of the big
salt combinations included Porto Rico in
the sphere of it's future operations.
Whatever the complete result Of the meet
in the United States will find satisfaction
in the renewed good feeling which will be
demonstrated toward this country. The SEN
timent now is akin to that which prevailed
when General Miles planted the American
flag there. 1t is in striking contrast to
the feeling of a year ago. which was not
entirely without reason, that the United
States, for selfish purposes, was proposing
to discriminate against the little island. or
at least to experiment on 1t without regard
two ago the long bill OF grievances drawn
up at that time by the federal party, which
was seeking to show that Porto Rico really
had been better off under Spain. The
specifications were about one hundred in
number Many of them were utterly ridic-
ulous yet some had real basis. This was
simply because the United States in the
first year or two of it's control had not
been able fully to appreciate the manifold
industrial and political problems which
were forced upon 1t in taking over the
Spanish possessions.
ha ed nd uhn