BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-01-02

hout the world, hoping that before long va,
can inaugurate a new system with bettef
results end at less cost tdan at present. 4
believe the general supervision Of roadd
should be retained in the Department Of
the Interior, but in order TO assist in theiy
construction and maintenance the citizen
should bear slight burden. A plan which
has been successful throughout many states
of the United States in the levy Of a tax
upon each and every able bodied male citiy.
en- ever the age of twenty one and under tor
ty.fiye years. see no reason why it would
not be good with US. The proceeds Of this
tax should 60 to the insular road funds, the
expenditure, however, to be had within the
district in which the tax is paid. The
amount OF the tax iH ofte1 two or thee dol
lars in the states, but it ought not be more
than a dollar in Porto Rico. The citizen
should have the right of working out his
tax on the road if he prefers to do SO. IS
| Your attention is invited to the condition
of the pubic buildings. Public property
should not be allowed to dsteriorate by
neglecting to provide for substantial repairs
ask that that you look into the condition
of all public buildings, and thereafter make
such appropriations as will enable them to
be put in good order.
TIE telegraph system of the island wal
turned over to the Iusular Government by
the War Department Of tbs United States or
February 1st, 1901. Its value was ther
lestimsted at $37 ,907 48 but no charge wal
made for this, although We paid to th,
United States the sum OF 81 529-74 as cos
10. instruments and material on hand B.
I NJ ho a n an.
, Of the system Was assigned to the Interio
t Department.. The telegraph lad beeI
operated at considerable loss (sbout 81, ,C0'
, Ipsr montb) and the number of stations
had been reduced to ten; but the receipt
: now show steady increase in the value o
business transacted, and we have toda
, nineteen Stations. 1t is believed that in th
! next fiscal year the deficiency will noteXcee
$4,000, even allowing for the erection Q
heliograph stations at Faj ardo and Vieque
q which sbeuld be undertaken at once.
Il The Federal Government intends to es
tablish agricultural experimental stations il
b the island, and we ourselves should d
r something to help distribute agriculture
, knowledge among the people. Represent
atives of the Agricultural Department Q
the United States will be here in a f3i
weeks. shall invite them to a conference
, and hope to lay before you by special met
g sage, further recommendations in 1eferenc
r TO this important subject. We should en-
courage the people to make homes and ow
a their own farms and cultiyst, tbs III themse
q YES. That is the American policy OF develop
ment, and We must leg,slate 20 carry
, Iout.
ei With the increasing commerce OF th
I island, the control and Jurisdiction owe
' hsrbors and docks demands legislative cor
s slderation. The Attorney General havin
8 advised that the Office Of harbor master ST.
exists, filed that position IN Novembe
. last, by the appointment Of Captain y. e
9 TiDgle, directing him to mabe report to th
O Department of the Interior, to which h
official duties should be appropriately at
tached. There is some confusion betwee
The old regulations and the rules establishe
by military orders. My recommendation
!. that law be enacted revising and moderni
!, ing the shole system and authorizing reason
able charges to be made for harbor Use
. and d0ckage. At present notices or tariff
! are collected. The Captain of the Po
estimates that under a schedule of charge
more reasonable than those usually deman,
ip harbors, the revenues fre4 ihe harhe