New-York tribune., 1901-03-31
EMIGRATION FROM PORTO RICO.
BENEFITS TO ISLAND BY SURPLUS OF LABOR
GOING TO HAWAII AND ELSEWHERE

GOING HAWAII AND ELSEWHERE
ocorrespendence Of The Associated Press)
San Juan Porto Rico. March 5.-The surplus
labor population of Porto Rico Is being graouaHy
but permanently lessened by emigration IN 'he
last few months over eighteen hundred men. wom-
en- and children have started for Hawaii: ana IL
+b. Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association does
not cancel its order with the local agents ana II
too much opposition is not raised mere aoout
eight thousand more will be sent to the 1ar away
islands The local agents have been consluelaplS
Handicapped by the publication Of numerous scare
stories in the local Spanish papers These stories
are written and circulated by a certain element
which. for reason or another. Is oPPoseu :"
emigration. BY means Of newspapers ana haHu-
bills which have been distributed in the districts
from which the emigrants are being recruited '"e
ignorant would-be emigrants are led 10 peheNe
that they are being sold into slavery, and that
their masters will subject them to all manner OF
torture and cruelty the sugar plantations OF
Hawaii. .
Tho las, lot Of Hawaii bound emigrants sailed
rroro Ponce on March The ship intended TO sail
on the ID but it was held up by the authorizes on
complaints from parents that their children We're
being taken away without their consent Dozens
Of women also complained that their husoalus
y-ara deserving them. The ship detained over
night and several Of those intending 10 san on iei
were taken off by the police.
An unsuccessful attempt was made on March
10 ship four hundred emgrants to the Cubah iron
mines from Ponce The steamer sent mere py inc
Snanish- American Iron Company was an EnsHsh
freIghter and not licensed TO carry passengers
The boat was held up by the customs authorities
and the man in charge Of the expedition dismissed
the ernigrants saying that he an irresponsible
employe and not Obliged to pay the four days pay
which the men claimed was due them While wait
ing TO sail He had entered into no contract win
the people beyond a verbal promise to give them
work at q a day. The disappointed men naturaIy
felt that they had grievance. and TOT WAS
imminent when they were quieted by the police.
seventy-fve Of them sailed the next morning on
the Californian for New-Orleans' bounu ior
Hawaii. ,,-,....-- .,.r 90 M
Other emigration agents are soliciting men 70 go
n Ecuador 10 work the Mcdonald rallroad
contract The Jamaican laborers which th2t conn
many has taken to South America are reported 10
he troubles and unsatisfactory, ana the con-
tracing company is anEious to engage three thou-
abv sail by way Of Colon about March 10. Small
parties Of fifty or hundred are continually
leaving the island by steamer and schooEer lor
Hayu and San Domingo. =, -.
THE EMIGRATION of her labor class may be con-
sidered blessing for Porto Rico. The island IS
exceedingly oyerpopulated, and there Is no "ofk
10 be offered to the vast army of unemployed
70 better themselves: and those who emigrate.
esn,cialv those who go to Hawaii. will have per-
manent employment They find the climate ana
style OF labor the that 10 which they are
accustomed here, and they secure free rent fuel,
medical attendance, and schooling for their chill
dren and besides. well paid. conditions for
which they could never hope in Porto Rico