BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-08
SAN JUAN, OCTOBER 8
Editorial Comment.


mess men of Porto Rico to the United
States, under the auspices of the Oh amber OF
Commerce of Porto Rico, at the invitation
of the leading commercial bodies of tse
North American Republic, unquesti0nably
marks most important epoch IN the com
mercial and industrial history of this Island
A few years ago Porto Rico was practical
ly terra incognita to the American bnsin-
ess man. Gradually, since the late war, II
has become the object of increasing interest,"
in all the important trade centres of the
United States.
To understand the present situation bet
ter it may be well to take brief glance
backwards. During the last few years Porto
Rico has sustained a series of the most
severe shocks to all her interests, CONNER
cial, Industrial, agricultural and personal,
such as few communities have ever experienc
ed; such az fewer still, have sustained and
survived.
To begin With, the state of war existing
in 1898 between the United States ard
Spain necessarily exerted most deleteriOus
influence on the Island during Its duration.
producing as it did sp absolute paralysis of
all business, 10th domestic and foreign, and
creating q temporary reign of lawessnt IS
which nearly destroyed the agricultural in
terests in many parts of the Island.
Nor did these influences cease to cause
trouble and distress even after the Amer
lean occupation. 1t was long time after
the cessation of Lostilities before tranquil
lty and confidence we're restored.
But, as if this were not enough, hardly
had affairs in the Island begun to regain
q certain degree of quletude, and prosperity
seemed again about to shine upon this fair
Island, when there burst upon its devoted
head one of the most appalling and most
unlocked for disasters which could possibly
have overtaken any land. The hurricane
Of August 9th, unberslded, save for the
almost unheeded few hours warning OF tie
Weather Bureau, swept with terrific force
over the land. leaving in its path m sery,
destruction and death. In many instances
the labor of years vas destroyed in an instant;
thousands lost all they possessed, other
thousands lost their lives. the coffee plant
ations, the glory and pride OF Porto Rico,
and the source of much Of its productive
wealth, we're almost absolutely destroyed !;
whole towns were demolished, and havoc
and chaos feigned. But why 60 into partic
u'srs Tie details of that fearful time are
still fresh in the minds OF all.
In no way could the vast recuperatiVe
powers of the Island have been shown SO
well as in the phenomenally rapid recovery
from this almost fatal blow. During the
ensuing year, destroyed towns were rebuil
desOlated plsntatons were renewed ard once
more Porto Rico began to show smiling
face, when, what proved to be, at least for
the time, almost the most severe blow of all,
fell the change of money OF August 1st
1900, Whatever may have been the theoret
ical advantages which should have been
derived, and whatever permanent good may
ultimately result, the effect at the time was
most disastrous. The result was practically
the same as if the Government had put its
hand into the pocket of every man who had
dollar, taken the dollar and left 50 cents
in exchange.
From all these disasters and m;sfortunes,
which would have set back the prosperity
and civilization of almost any other country
for century, Porto Rico has risen trium-
phant Like the tabled Phoenix she rises
from her ashes refrigerated ard rejuvenated.
At no time has the future of Puerto Rico
looked SO bright. Her unrivalled resources
need but the touch of the magic wand Of
capital, and already this is bsirg applied.
Already, in agriculture alone, millions Of
dollars are being invested, and we cay mil
lions advisedly, IS more than one million
has within the year been expended on a
single sugar plantation.
The great stores Of latent wealth possess.
ed BY Porto Rico in her agricultural, min
ing, and industrial resources are al last be-
ginning to attract the interest Of capitalists
abroad, and it will be the especial mission
Of the representatives OF our Chamber OIL
Commerce to Dring them 10 a convincing
manner to the attention Of the capitalists
and the business men in the great CONNER
cial centres Of the United States Tue
names Of those selected for this iIuporiani
undertsk nx have already been published in
the BoLETIN B tier men could not have
been found and we earnestly wish III
Godspeed on their j.nrrey and The utmost
success In their enterprise.
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