The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-05
SURVEYS OF PUBLIC LANDS
Confusion Regarding Them Grows
Out Of the Paris Treaty.
recommendations of Cummis~ioucr
of the Interior for Porto Rico iU
His Annual Rcport-CUmTIHint
Against the Army and Navy Hoard.

The Commissioner of the Interior for
Porto Rico. iu his annual r.u,rt- mad,
public today. notes th. cautuuauco vr
The public lands question ass q v,-atioGs
ana annoying problem. and recommend
searching Investigation Of titles
throu-h.uf the island. Co Doe, followed ly
careful surveys OF all public lands. The
Commissioner adds.
non the presumption that The TITLES
&" all lands not held 10y legal claim of
private ownership had passed 10y "a,
Treaty of Paris to the United States. 100
provision has been made by tho IuSular
G"E,rnms MT 60 determine tho location and
extent Of such lands. and this department
has been Handicapped both by lack of
authority and tho means { prosecute the
work with any sort of vigoi. 1 am unable
Therefore to report any material additions
To the list of public lands.
The point raised by the Commissioner
Is whether the so-caued public lands.
Of Porto Rico were Cedcd TO the United
States boy the Treaty of Paris as crown"
lands. or were they and do they remain
the property of Porto Rico as state
landSZ On this subject ne adds
The distinction between crown prop
erty and state property in Porto Rico
ne mum AliA AAhlr stated To- iIf deter
mined. II the InmoyabIe property coGgd
Is construed To embrace public lands as
defined 10y United States laws. yet which
did not in fact belong To the crown of
Spain. but were and remain me property
OF the 'Statc'-that is 10 say. OF Porto
hlco-theu the United States has no legal
claim thereto. and the InsuIar Govern
mtut has the right to- administer them
Tie says that the matter of roads and
bridges, particularly from the interior e.
The s,acoast continues of prime impor-
lance The more closely one studied The
conditions iu Porto Rico. m. Characters
ties and possibilities of the soil. the n-.,ls
OF outlets to markets. To- th, end that
landowners might be- encouraged Co pro-
Vide the work necessary TO the existence
OF The laborers and their families. The
more hrm became the conviction That the
( construction of roads, aside from tho
benefit Of immediate employment Of la
Dor Is the chief factor I'm the a,Gutiou of
| the problem and certain and enduring
prosperity for the island
The Commissioner records his objection
To the report Of the board of army and
navy officers which was appointed 10 '.,N-
anime and report respecting the part Of
publC lands used 10y the United States
and Porto Rico required for the use Of
IN. HllltarH and naval establishments
lie asks that Congress boz fully inform
cd OF the situation i'm The matter he
rights and equities of the people OF the
lstauds-uefpre any act Of transfer is per-
mitttd 10 pass as ha claims fHsf mo
recommendation made il Hrrur.-.t In
Congress, would work "a great Injustice.
To- the Porto Eicaus
Tn, subject of agriculture the Com
missioner says Is Of prime fulurrtanc. 10
the people 81 the island. Tn. wealth of
ID" island lies in the soil and given good
roads. IN, enrichment comfort T.I....f-
ness. and. i'm fact TN. very ..yf--.-... 40
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