The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-25
PORTO Rlco'S FUTURE

There is no doubt that Porto Rico is
making rapid progress under American
rule The hopefulness that prevails on
the island was we'll reflected in the at
titude of the commission of business
men which recently visited this coun-
try. The New York Evening Sun pre-
sents an interesting interview with
Henry w. Dooley, who has made a
careful study of the islands industrial
aspects, in which he points out what
has been done and suggests some of
the things that remain to be accom-
plished.
The islands trade with the United
States was in 1898, he says, but twenty
per cent of its total foreign trade,
whereas now between sixty and seven
ty per cent is with this country This
transfer of the trade has been accom-
panied by general enlightenment on
commercial affairs which has resulted
in the adoption of modern business
methods. The business men advertise,
and the newspapers, thus given sup
port, are able to give their readers i'm
proved news service.
The chief hope of the island is in the
development of agriculture. The in
dustry is so backward that in some
sections wooden ploughs are still used.
Grain is usually sown by hand and, in
truth nearly all modern agricultural
implements are unknown. Some new
orrrs 1,oxvevar bava beap i,+ro5ucad
and it is becoming better known every
day for what the soil and climate are
best adapted. The island will not have
any rival. Mr.. Dooley thinks, in the
production of grapefruit, oranges.
lines. lemons and pineapples. Rice
may be grown on the lowlands, and
corn is suited to parts of the island.
Grains are raised merely to meet home
necessities. A great deal of the grain
is still ground in the old-fashioned
stone mill which is operated by hand.
| In coffee and tobacco, Mr.. Dooley be-
llieves. lies the islands best prospect OF
wealth The Porto Rico tobacco, he
! says, is not excelled by any other
| tobacco in the world, and when the
/ local manufacturers have learned prop
| err methods, the product must gain rap
! idly in popularity. Porto Rican coffee
! is already fairly well known in Eu-
rope but since Porto Rico became a
! part of the United States the coffee is
barred from Spain by the Spanish tar
iff laws. Germany. however, is a buyer
to a considerable extent. Mr. Dooley
is also sure that sugar planting will
become a great industry on the island.
Mr.. Dooley estimates that in three
years the annual exports of the island
will have surpassed the best figures be-
! fore the war. by S20,000,0O0.
With better steamship service the
! island would be able to raise a great
many vegetables for the American
market but the time Of passage is at
( present so long that the vegetable in
dustry is not feasible. There are soIse
fine breeds of cattle on the island and
! beef is exported to Cuba and other
/ islands of the West Indies. The dairy
/ is yet to be developed.
/ Forty-five schoolhouses are being
built. They include a normal school,
nine high schools and thirty-five pri-
mary schools. The children learn Eng
Ilish very readily The inhabitants have
been very backward in education, not
more than twenty per cent of the
adults being able to read or write
( Spanish.
! SO far as manufacturing is concerned
Mr. Dooley does not speak with partic-
ular enthusiasm. There are not enough
! people on the island to enable local
manufacturers to compete with the i'm
porters. There is an ice plant and