The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-11-14
NEEDS OF PORTO RICO
Report Of the Commissioner o,
the Interior.
THE SITUATION IN THE ISLAND

THE SITUATION IN THE IsLANI
Question nS TO whether the Crown
Lands Coded by thc Treaty of Paris
belong Ia 'bc United states or to
the Island - Ronds mud bridges
GrentIy Needed.
The commissioner Of the interior FOR
Porto Rico ln his annual report. says
a Washington dispatch. notes the con.
unuancc Of The public lands question
a. a vexatious ana annoying problem
and recommends a searching invostiga
tion Of titles throughout the island. to
BE- followed 10y careful surveys of all
public lands. Tho commissioner adds
Upon the presumption that the titles
20 all lands not held 10y legal claim OF
private ownership had passed 10y the
treaty of Paris TO the United states
no provision h04 been made 10y the in.
fular government to determine the To-
cation and extent of such lands, and
this department has been Handicapped
both by lack Of authority and the
, means 20 prosecute the work with any
Won't of vigor. | am unable therefore.
10 report any material additions TO the
list of public lands
The point raised 10y the commissioner
is whether the so called public lands
Of Porto Rico were coded TO the United
States by the treaty Of Paris as
Grown" lands or were they and do
tfy remain the property Of Porto
Eico as state lands on this subject
ne adds:
The distinction between crown
property aud state property in Porto
Rico needs. from the facts stated. TO lac
determined. If the 'immovable' prop
orty ceded is construed TO embrace
public lands rs defined 10y 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 iusular govern
ment has the right TO administer
thom.'
The commissioner says that the mat
ter Of roads and bridges, particularly
from the interior TO the scacoast, CON
tinuos Of prime Importance The more
closely one studied the conditions in
Porto Rico. the characteristics and pos
sibilities Of the soil. the needs Of out
lets TO markets, 10 the end that land
owners might be encouraged 10 provide
the work necessary for 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 labor, is the chief factor in the solu-
tion Of the problem and certain and en-
during prosperity for the island.
The commissioner records his objec-
ton to the report Of the board Of army
and navy officers which was appoint
ed TO examine and report respecting
the part Of public lands used 10y the
United States and Porto Rico required
for the use of the military and naval
establishments" lie asks that con
gress be fully Informed of the situa.
ton in the matter-the rights and equl-
} ties of the people of the islands-before
any act of transfer Is permitted TO
pass, as he claims that the recommen-
dations made, If approved by congress,
would work a great injustice to the
Porto Ricans.
The subject Of agriculture. the com
missioner says, is OF prime Importance
10 the people Of the island. The wealth
of the island lies in the soil, and, given
good roads, the enrichment, comfort,
happiness and, in fact, the very exist
ence of the people, depend upon the
proper planting. care and cultivation
Of the soil. Under Spanish rule no at
tempts were made to enlighten, in
struct 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 cultivation or
of proper implements. He recommends
the immediate establishment of agr-
cultural experiment stations on the is
land. In closing the commissioner says:
Notwithstanding the deplorable con-
dition Of the laboring classes at the
time Of the ccssson of Porto Rico TO
the United States, the awful destruc-
tlon OF life and property wrought by
the hurricane of 1899, the injury to
trade and commerce caused by the nee
essary changes in the circulating me-
dlum. and, in spite OF opposition and
malicious representation as to the poll
/, cies pursued. there are In all matters
relating TO the department of the in
Jterior cviCcr-es ct substantial progress
made, end o." r., poets for the future
are reasonably bright. There remains
much TO be done; yet, with the exercise
Of patience, industry, wise discretion
and zeal, the speedy rehabilitation of
Porto Rico as a veritable garden spot,
rich and prosperous and the people
fully employed, contented and happy,
are conditions that those persons well