The Washington times., 1901-08-09
CONDITIONS IN PORTO RICO.
o. F.. Cooks Investigations for the
Dcpnrtment of Agriculture.

q. F.. Cook. chief botanist at the De-
partment of Agriculture. has recently re-
turned from a six weeks trip to Porto
Rico. Mr.. Cook was in charge of the in
vestigations in tropical agriculture which
the department has been conducting in
the island. .t-
In answer to a question as to whether
fruit growers in the States had anything
to fear from Porto Rican con.petition Mr.
Cook said that he thought not, for some
time to come at least. Aside from the
staples, coffee. sugar. and tobacco. the in
habitants export very little. being content
to produce merely enough to satisfy them
own needs. Some Americans are engaged
in orange growing. and the idea has also
been advanced that Porto Rico may some
day rival the Bermudas in the produc-
tion of potatoes but while the island is
unloubt edly suited TO such crops, 1t is too
early yet TO prophesy their future
Many Americans who are experiment
ing in various kinds of agriculture said
Mr. Cook would do better to stick to
the production of the well-estabiished
staples of sugar. coffee, and tobacco.
Some persons were no doubt prevented
from going into the coffee business
through fear that the present depression
in the business in the iSiaDt Is perma-
nent. The conditions of distress which
prevailed in the coffee regions were, now
ever only the logical consequences OF
short crops. due to the war and the great
hurricane. There VIII be large coiIee
crop this year.
Mr. Cook says that during the period
of starvation many Porto Ricans in the
coffee section We're given work by the
Government upon the macadamzed roads,
some of which were begun by the Span
iards. As the work was carried on chiefly
In those districts where the most rigorous
suffering was experienced, that the peo-
pie might have some means of livelihood,
the result is that the present system Is
rather patchy. Mr.. Cook thinks that
wagon roads are not so much in immedl-
ate demand as are cart tracks and bride
paths.
Nothing in the shape of local organiza-
items for the building of roads has ever
existed. The Spanish discouraged the
idea of the people taking the Initiative in
any matter whatever, and as a ccnse-
Quence the people look to the Government
to make the first move in anything that
is done.
Il found the sentiment existing toward
Americans to be very friendly" said Mr..
Cook. ANY complaints Of an existing
animus are, / think, due rather to per-
sonal than to national urpopularity. The
Porto Ricans seem to be very well salts
fed with their change of government
They were very enthusiastic about free
trade-even those who did not know what
was meant by it,
Some of the American merchants who
went into business In San Juan and
Ponce during and after the war have
closed up shop. But this should not be
taken as a sign of i'll omen, for these
were dealers whose support came chiefly
from the army. and the crowd of Ameri-
cans who We're attra acted to the island by
curiosity and other interests Immediately
after the war. A Spanish merchant Will
consider that he is doing very well. how
ever, on an income that an American
could hardly live upon. Mr.. Cook says
that while the Spanish are very con-
scrvative and do not take readily to in
novations American goods are slowly
gaining ground.
The school system is progressing in an
encouraging manner. Teachers are badly
needed. There is a normal school at San
Juan with an attendance of about coo.