The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-18
UNExAMPLED PROSPERITY HAS
MADE THE ISLAND RICH AND
HAPPY.
THE PEOPLE ARE CONTENT.
CAPT. w. n. WILLIAMS TALKS IN
TEREsTINGLY OF CONDITIONS
THERE.

Island in Fine Shape-Fruit Grow
ers From Florida Teach Scientific
Methods - People Now Pleased
With American Sovereignty.
Capt w. r. Williams, formerly in COM
mand of the government transport
Chester, which made trips between Sa-
vannah and Cuba during the period just
following the Spanish-American War,
came recently to Savannah on another
mission.
Capt. Williams is looking into the lum-
Der market in Savannah, with a view to
making large purchases of poles and ties
for the construction of an extensive troll
ley system in and around San Juan, Por-
to Rico, where he is interested in a cor
poration that has secured large and val
liable concessions from the insular gov
eminent. Capt Williams talked interest
ingly at the De Soto last night, of the
conditions that prevail in the island and
of it's future prospects.
The company which he represents on
his present mission has secured fran
chise to dam the Rio Plata, the princi-
providing power for the operation of troll
ley systems and to supply the city of San
Juan and it's very extensive suburbs with
electric power and lights.
San juan" said Capt Williams, lis a
walled city, situated on an island. 1t has
itself about 5000 inhabitants, but very
many of those whose business is in the
ill., -.
surround it. The places of business of
these suburbanites are closed al noon and
the proprietors go back to their country
he mes for breakfast
Two old steam roads have been secured
and these will be enlarged. re-equipped
and fitted for operation by electricity The
company will secure, by damming the Rio
Plata, about 1000 horse power which will
be converted into electricity and supplied
to the trolley, lighting end mechanical
power systems of San Juan and the sub
burbs by an overhead pole line about
twenty-five miles in length. The popula-
ton which we will supply with electrical
power and with transportation numbers
about 100000"
Capt. Williams is in Savannah to see af-
ter the purchase of poles and ties for the
trolley systems and other lines convey
ufacture to the points of delivery. He
thinks it not improbable that he
will make the needed purchases here
and that Savannah will be Sc
Elected as the point of shipment. In the
warm and damp climate of Porto Rico
lumber rots rapidly, and it Is something
of a problem to secure lumber that will
resist successfully the inroads of the cor
roding seasons. 1t is this problem that
ha ie
to@solve.
Capt. Williams is firmly of the opinion
that the future of the island is bright,
and that there are splendid opportuni-
ties there for young men, provided with
even small capital and a reasonable
amount of diligence and intelligence. He
does not think it is a good place for me-
chanics or unskilled laborers, who find it
impossible to compete with the labor of
the island, which is at once cheap and
abundant.
For the last six months, especially"
said Capt. Williams. 1.-The island has been
undergoing a period of unexampled pros
perity. Merchants and planters alike
have been making more money than they
ever have before, and the people. per-
haps, in consequence of this fact, are
contented and happy.
Agriculture of every description is in
fine shape. This year 100000 tons of sugar
will be marketed and perhaps one-third
of the islands normal output of coffee
The coffee plantations were terribly dam
aged by the hurricane and have never re
covered but a beginning has been made
and the superior squality of the coffee
is coming to be recognized.
Fruit is beginning to be grown on
scientific principles. 1t grows luxuriant-
ly, and when the cultivation and market
ing of the crops are directed by men who
understand the business, it is very profit
able. Many orange growers from FLOR
ida, Disguised with the destruction or the
trees in that state by the cold snaps OF
the past decade, have gone TO Porto
Rico, and are building up their shattered
fortunes in the island, and in business
which they thoroughly understand.
But from an agricultural standpoint,
the cultivation of Tobacco is the indus
try that promises most. The tobacco of
Porto Rico is as fine as is grown any
where in the world, and before the war,
large quantities of it were shipped to
Havana, and there manufactured
into cigars, which subsequently found
their way into the American markets,
and were sold as Havanas. Now the Por-
to Ricans are manufacturing their own
tobacco. The duty is but fifteen per cent,
of that on tobacco from Cuba. and the
Porto Rican cigars, which are of equally
fine quality as those from Havana, can
be delivered to consumers in the states
for a very much smaller price, and yet
permit a very handsome profit to the
manufacturer.
'rhe cultivation of tobacco, as the fact
that it is profitable dawns more and more
clearly upon the people, is increasing very
rapidly. The place of the coffee plauta-
tons. destroyed by the hurricanes, is be-
ing taken by fields of tobacco, a crop
which natures in one year, while coffee
requires five or more. Tobacco planta-
tons and fruit orchards and even sugar
plantations are to be had on easy terms
and with small capital, and enterprising
men from the states are taking prompt
advantage OF the golden opportunities
thus afforded.
This condition Of prosperity has had
its effect on the people. A year ago, IL a
vote had been taken for or against an
nexation by the United States. there
would have been a heavy majority in ia
vor OF return to the rule of Spain. The
people had been discouraged. dishearten-
ed and emblttered by the failure of Con-
gress TO give them free trade and to rec
ognize their needs. But all this has been
changed and the feeling of the people
has changed with the conditions. The
change in sentiment began with the I'D
vent Of Gov Allen
Now. a just and equitable system of
taxation has been adopted, the public
school system has been extended, and is
I'm successful operation In every town i'm