The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-18
POSSIBLE MANUFACTURERS.

POSSl Bile MAN ~ All " hlLo.
1t is perfectly feasible that, while
developing the immense agricultural
resources of the island, at every sea-
port factories might be established
and nothing leave the island but fin
ished products.
Porto Rico can sell to the world, not
only coffee ready for the consumers
| use but refined sugar and molasses,
rum, cigars equal to those purchased
in Havana, cotton goods of all descrip-
tions, fine leather, shoes and harness,
chocolate and all it's products. canned
fruits equal or superior to the best
preserved in California, and many 9TH
| er necessares and luXuries which will
bring in returns sufficient not only to
support in comfort the million of peo-
pie now there. but five times as many.
1t is with the present, however, more
than the future, that we have to deal
in this connection. The industrial
possibilities of Porto Rico are at this
time largely agricultural OF the SUI
perfcial area of 2,347,520 acres, a little
less than half million acres are now
producing crops. After setting aside
this twenty per cent. of cultivated land.
pasture land, thirteen per cent. in un-
classified uses and woodland, and six
teen per cent. in towns, roads, streams
and swamps. A great portion of this is
in forests, which cover the hilltops
and dot the slopes in every district.
One is never out of sight of leafy
groves and wooded mountains.
WEALTH IN NATIVE CROPS.
The three principal crops are coffee,
sugar and tobacco; cattle also and
other live stock are raised successsful-
ly, and in considerable numbers. The
coffee plantations cover with their
green foliage. their jasmine-like flow
ers and cherry-like berries, seven per
cent. of the whole island and thirty
six per cent. of it's cultivated lands. 1t
is perfectly obvious, however, that four
times as much land as at present could
be used in growing coffee were the
market to be found for it's expectation.
The hurricane of August 1899, Destroy
ed many of the coffee trees and, of
course. diminished the crop, and as it
required time after the injuries sus-
tanned for the trees to renew their
bearing. only during the present year
can this industry be restored to it's
former condition. However, during
twenty months of American military
occupation there was exported $1,420,-
900 worth of coffee. and during the first
ten months Of civil administration the
exports have reached Sl,397,442 worth.
Although the sugar planting is con-
fined to the seacoast plains or playas
and to the alluvial bottoms along the
margins of the larger streams, yet
there is no doubt that large acreage
of such lands, which are now devoted
to pasturage, under proper conditions,
could be devoted to the culture of su-
gar cane.
The 1855 sugar plantations now eX-
listing on the island cover an average
area of about thrty-fve acres each.
Reliable statistics show that the yield
of sugar per acre is greater than in any
other canr-Growing country in the
world, except Hawaii and Java. and it
approXimates those. However, the cost
of production is $40 per ton cheaper
than in Java, Sll cheaper than in
Hawaii, $la cheaper than in Cuba, Sl7
cheaper than in Egypt $40 cheaper
than in the British West Indies, and
H1 cheaper than in Louisiana and
Texas. with these advantages of
cheaper production at less cost the SUI
gar planters of Porto Rico ought 10 be
able to compete with the rest of the
world in any open market.
1t is a matter of encouragement that
the recent opening of the markets of
the United states to the people of Porto
Rico. has stimulated this industry in
particular, and, already several cen
trails are In process of erection, in
volving an expenditure of several mil
lions of American capital, already as
sured to the island
Although the 13,704 acres covered by
the tobacco plantations of Porto Rico
may seem insignificant. yet, when we
see that the crop of 1897, after having
been partially converted into cigars and
cigarettes, was exported and sold for
81, $4,000, it cannot be regarded as un-