Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-11-12
NEEDS OF PORTO RICO
Report of the Commissioner OF
the Interior.
TIE SITUATION IN TIE IsLAaD
Question y. to Whether the Crown
Lands Coded by the Treaty OF faris
Belong TO the United States or to
the Island - Roads and Bridges
Greaf,y Needed.


the Island Roads and Bridges
Greatly Needed.
The commissioner of the interior for
Porto Rico in his annual report. says
a Washington dispatch. notes the con
tinuance Of the public lands question
as a vexatious and annoying problem
and recommends a searching investlga-
ton of titles throughout the island, 10
be followed by careful surveys or all
public lands. The commissioner adds;
Upon the presumption that the titles
to all lands not held by legal claim or
private ownership had passed by the
treaty of Paris TO the United States.
no provision has been made by the in
sular 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 to prosecute the work with any
sort of vigor. l am unable, therefore
to report any material additions to the
list of public lands"
The point raised by 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
they remain the property of Porto
Rico as state lands On this subject
he adds:
THE distinction between crown
property and state property in Porto
Rico needs, from the facts stated, to be
determined. If the 'immovable' prop
erty coded is construed to embrace
public lands as defined by 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 insular govern
ment has the right TO administer
them"
The commissioner says that the mat
ter of roads and bridges, particularly
from the interior to the seacoast, con-
tinues 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, to the end that land
owners might be encouraged to 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-
ton 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 by the
United States and Porto Rico required
! for the use of the military and naval
establishments" he asks that con-
gress be fully informed of the situa-
ton in the matter-the rights and equi-
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
| to 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
! proper planting care and cultivation
of the soil. Under Spanish rule no at
/ tempts We're made to enlighten, in
| struct or encourage the agriculturists.
| and therefore they are poor farmers
without knowledge of the adaptablity
! of the products to soil, selection of
seed correct methods of cultivation or
| of proper implements. He recommends
/ the immediate establishment of agri-
| 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 cession of Porto Rico to
| the United States. the awful destruc-
| ton of life and property wrought by
| the hurricane of 1899, the injury &c
/ trade and commerce caused by the nee
1 essary changes in the circulating me
/ dunn, 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
terror evidences of substantial progress
made. and the prospects for the future
| are reasonably bright. There remains
much TO be done. yet, with the exercise
] VI Wise
and zeal, the speedy rehabilitation OF
/ Porto Rico as a veritable garden spot
/ rich and prosperous and the people
k fully employed. contented and happy
I are conditions that those persons well
! Informed as to the material resources
I of the island and the character and dis
/ position of the people confidently pre-
I diet Capital is needed for the resrora-
/ ton of old plantations and the opening
and cultivation of new estates. In the
/ near future fruits and vegetables will.
I believe. become large and profitable
/ features of the agricultural Industry Of
I the Island and leading item in the
exports TO the United States"
Bible Held to Be Cheap.
After four years Of litigation. during
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