The times., 1901-04-25
PROSPERITY IN PORTO RICO.
Great Advance in All Branches of
the Islands Industries.


Governor Allen. of Porto Rico yesterday
received a telegram from j. F. Harlan.
Attorney General. and J H. Holander.
Treasurer, Of the insular government,
telling of widespread improvement in the
condition of the island Those two Off
cials have just returned from a trip of
observation through Porto Rico. appar-
emily taken to ascertain whether there
was any truth IN the statements of the
Ponce Chamber of Commerce that the
island was not prosperous.
On his arrival in Washington Governor
Allen said, in a newspaper interview that
Porto Rico was prospering. and it was
to contradict this that the Ponce Cham
Der of Commerce issued it's statement.
The despatch from Attorney General Har-
Ian and Treasurer Hollander which ap-
parently controverts these criticisms, is
as follows:
I'VE have just returned from a ride
over the new road from Arecibo to Ponce
returning to the capital over the old mill
tary road. Favoraby and strongly inn
pressed with existing conditions At Ad-
juntas, formerly the centre of poverty
and distress, were evidences everywhere
of decided Improvement in the condition
of the people. Saw no indications of ac-
tual want.
In the sugar country claims are made
by all that the crop will be the largest
in the history of the island Many plant
ers predict it will exceed 1000 tons. AT
Ponce there is widespread confidence in
the immediate outlook and strong en-
thusiasm for American institutions. Ship
ping people inform us that this activity
commenced earlier in the season than
usual and win probably continue later"
While the opponents and critics of Gov
ernor Allen lay unfair stress on the in
dustrial depression, it is possible that the
American officials a
government which is given the inhabi
tantS of the island and of the immense
improvement over Spanish rule unduy
emphasize this efficient administration to
the exclusion of economic conditions. The
truth about Porto Rico is that the trou
bic is due to economic causes, and the
most efficient and honest administration
at the hands of energetic American Off
cials cannot reach the root at once.
The real factor in the Improvement of
the Inhabitants is the Department of Ag-
r1culture. BY means of experimental sta
tionS and other measures the department
can show the people of the island how to
develop their agricultural resources so as
to secure d larger degree of Sustenance,
but like all Spanish peoples it will find
them slow in responding to these lessons
much slower than American farmers. It's
work must be gradual and the recogni-
tlon or what IL is doing is likely to be a
grudging one. But patience and perse-
verance will accomplish results even in
this unfruitful soil. After a time general
and tobacco in Porto Rico will be con-
Quoted on systematic principles and when
that is done the great mass of the Dopu- |
lation. which is an agricultural one, will |
be enabled to live in greater comfort.
Everyone who has visited Porto Rico /
notes the marked absence of anything !
like garden cultivation. Not one hut |
in a hundred Of those occupied hy the /
poems is surrounded by garden. The big /
planters have raised these products in |
areas specially given over to that pur- |
S.El
life, of which rice is the chief one. and |
resold them to the agricultural laborers. |
Their claim is that this IS a measure of |
economy. Possibly that is so from the |
planters standpoint, but it works to the /
harm of the peon in leaving him 50 abso- |
lutely dependent on artificial sources of |
supply.
The relief from emigration is a tenn |
porary one. yet its value is unquestion- |
able. The present population is too dense |
for the capacity of the people to sustain, |
though the resources of the island itself |
might support a million inhabitants in a |
fair degree Of comfort as comfort is un- |
derstood in the tropics In a highly de-
veloped civilization probably the island !
would get along without serious incon-
venience but the industrial civilization of !
Porto Rico he's not been highly developed !
In five years probably the Agricultural /
Department will have made visible prog
ress in teaching the people how to utilize
more fully their natural resources and |
after that steady Improvement may be
looked Tor. Bat this Improvement can
hardly more than keep pace with the
growth of the population, and on that ac-
count emigration movements should not
be discouraged
a little relief has been given by the
within the last year To Hawaii |
and Cuba. In spite of the local oppOsi-
ton. the best thing for Porto Rico. would
be TO have this emigration take on large
Hawaii. it is stated. can |
provide on its sugar plantations for 10000
or 1900 Porto Rican laborers. Cuba can |
gradually absorb a larger number. though |
not much encouragement is given there |
for the Porto Rican laborer, prefer ence !
being shown to the natives of Spain. The |
mine owners in Santiago during the last
two years have offered extra inducements |
10 Porto Rican laborers and have per
suaded many of them to go from San
Juan and Ponce to Santiago, but the diff
fculty is to keep them employed in the
mines. When the cane-planting season
comes they go to the plantations. This
helps the Cuban planters. but discOurages
the mine owners. However it is prob
able that from season to season there will
be movement Of Porto Eicau natives to
Cuba large enough to afford relief to
some of the districts in which the popu-
ation is so badly congested.