BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-08-19
SAN JUAN, AUGUST 19, 1901
Editorial Comment.

There will be no loss to us if, as reports
affirm, Porto Rico has not fonnd favor in
the eyes of the sugar trust and the opera
tiOns of the combine are to be confined ior
the present to Cuba.
The capacity Of our soil and climate for
profitable sugar growing is now or will be
known and recognized sufficiently well
among capitalists to insure or progressive
ard steady development through the ms
trumentality Of considerable companies,
such as that in which tho De Fords are
interested at Aguirre, and the independent
planters of the island. Give our sugar
growers and the many who are preparing
to come in the near future, if the signs
are not at fault, few years in which to
entrench themselves upon their lands with
their own machinery in place and all fully
paid Tor, their shipping and market con-
nections established and our people will be
in far better position than they would be
if only tenants on trust holdings With
ownership of nothing.
1t is our idea that Porto Rico will be
more happily situated with sixty thousand
planters, more or less, on large and small,
operating their own places, employing the
labor Of our people and regulating Their
own affairs, than with any great monopoly
planted here with its quick ana relentless
absorption of the lands, its absOlutiSm IN
the control of prices, its importation Of
alien labor.
There is no trouble about the coming to
Porto Rico of all the capital that will be
ueeded.1or the development of our hume.
>fous RESOURCES, investors are not blind and
the facts as to our possibilities can be made
known to them if we take the proper steps
to do it. They are finding these out now
here and there and it only rests acilh our
people to give the truth SIS it is a still
wider recognition.
This can be done through the work of
our merchant bodies, commercial societies,
etc., in the publication of descriptive fac S
and statistics carefully authenticated and
then distributed throughout the capital l-cen.
ters and among the agricultural classes of
the world everywhere. The truth cannot
remaiu long hidden, Porto Rico has every
physical advantage that Cuba offers, its
area and climatology. are not essentially
different and tne current report to tue Gen.
trary will find few believers.
Now that the political status OF our isl
TEN in accord with that of the parent coun
try inaugurated and the rights and salty
of capital thus guaranteed Porto Rico should
offer splend field for the thousasds in
the United States and abroad who with
greater or less amounts Of idle money are
casting about for safe ard promising retnrns.
Here while lands can be bought at reason
able rates there is more practical induceneDt
and hope for the small farmer than is offered
to day in any part of ths American demain
With the multiplied gifts of eur ricn ard
almost ineYhaustble soils aud the perpetual
potentalities and charms of orr glorious
climate, there are openings here for hundreds
if not thcusa with small means who may
wi ,h to enter upon the varied AMI promising
field OF the small farm industries and lay up
for themselves the foundations Of permanent
homes.
Mrs. Nation is in Jail. Wont.sombody
be thoughtful enough to pass the old lady in
an ak?
Teddy Roosevelt has his monocle focuss
ed towards the west end of Pennsylvania
avenue.
If Porto Rico could export some Of her
weather she would be Independent Of tariff
problems.
A man who conspired against the life of
Louis Napoleon in 1858 has just been turn.
ed out from Devils island prison hale and
hearty after serving term Of forty two
years
Still we don't believe this incident iciIl
bring the place into general favor as o
health resort.
A Texas man who sprinkled bis farm with
kerosene to kill mosquitoes sold bis place
nezt day TO smelling committee of coal
oil syndicate for S100, 1000. THAT'S better
play ihan sailing gold mine.