The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-08
ONE GREAT GARDEN
PORTO RICO A VERITABLE PARA
Disc FOR THE MAN OF
SMALL MEANS
FRIENDLINEss TOWARD U. $.
H. H. Allen, in Charge of the Porto
Rican Exhibit at the Fair, En-
thuses Over Future of
the Island.

H. H. Allen, who had charge of the
Porto Rican exhibit at the state fair, is
an enthusiastic believer in the future Of
the island. He located at San Juan at
the close of the Spanish-American war
and has resided there continuously, SO
that he is well qualified to speak under
standmgly Of the condition of the island
and its prospects. He said last night:
1T seems strange to me that Cuba
the people of the United States, to the
exclusion of the interests of Porto Rico.
There are number of reasons why this
should not be the case. In the first
while the Cubans have opposed annex
alton, and have practically demanded
that the Americans, after saving them
almost from extinction at the hands of
the Spaniards, should withdraw, that the
Porto Ricans welcomed our troops and
asked for annexation. They were much
disappointed at the delay in getting free
trade, not SO much because they ex-
pected to profit commercially as because
they wanted to feel that they were real
ly American citizens. Considering that
the Introduction of American business
methods, our system of education and
civilization inculcated by the Spanish
regime for several centuries, the Porto
Ricans have adapted themselves to the
change with reSdiness that could only
which is in sharp contrast to the atti-
tude of the Cubans.
Again, Cuba presents opportunities
for investment that can interest only the
into tracts by the hundred thousand
acres for the raising of sugar cane. and
a million dollars is the least sum with
which the manufacture of the product
should be undertaken. The people on
these great plantations are bound to be
poems The tobacco lands are already in
the hands of rich corporations of foreign
capitalists. The same conditions are
true OF the development of its mines At
present there is scarcely an enterprise in
which an American of limited means can
engage.
In Porto Rico the situation is just the
land to be gobbled UP by capitalists.
Sugar and tobacco will not be raised in
quantities to much exceed the home
consumption. The raising of tropical
cupation, although coffee growing can
also be reckoned as an additional indus
try to be followed with good profit upon
moderate investment. The fertility of
From two to three crops of vegetables
can be raised in year. Within the
past few months a number of orange
groves have been planted, but up to then
TINS fruit grew wild in sufficient guam
titles to supply home consumption, and
an export trade of considerable proper
lions. There is no danger of froSts as
there is in Florida, and no need for ex-
pensive irrigation, as in California Land
can be bought for SIS on the average.
which will be immensely profitable under
cultivation. The island is bound to he
come one great garden, divided into
small farms or plantations titled by peo-
pie who will all be prosperous. There
will be no opportunities which will at
tract the trusts to the exclusion of the
small property owners There is a need
of transportation facilities to get
products to the ports for shipment, but
this will soon come.
Gov. Hunt, l believe, Is just the man
to accomplish the political re-
forms that are needed He
served as secretary and head of
the executive council, and has thus OBJ
tanned a clear insight into the situation.
Gov, Allen was a man of good executive
ability, but he did not take the interest
in the welfare the the people that Gov.
Hunt does. He was a man of wealth
who found the life of comparative iso,
lation distasteful. Gov. Hunt, on the
contrary, has taken hold with a win
which shows that he is very much in
earnest in his desire to help the people
and develop the resources of the island.
He has the confidence of the Porto Ri
cans, and believe his appointment is
in every way fortunate.
AS a legacy fram the Spaniards there
is corruption in the Courts and In the
local branches of the government. Gov
Hunt mnst overcome some deep rooted