Arizona republican., 1902-08-04
PORTO RICO HAPPY
 UNDER NEW RULE
Business Is Better and Ex-
 ports Show Increase.
Governor William H. Hunt, Who Is Now i'll the Country Speaks of the Developments and Future of the Islands.

Washington. August Ex-Governor | William H. Hunt and Attorney Gen l eral flames 2. Harlan of Porto Rico are in the city. They will spend the re- | mainder of the summer with their fam | lilies, and will return to Porto Rico in i September.
 With reference to Porto Rico Gov ernor Hunt said:
 Ger eral Miles landed in Porto I .ico four years ago last Monday. Great changes have set in. and Porto Rico | has much to be thankful for since the flag was raised at Guanica. The close of the fiscal year showed better busi- i ness, better health and better prospects than ever The insular treasury bal ance on July 1 was S314 900. a gain 0; S239,G00 in the year.
 The total exports for last year az grcGated SIP, ,SS9.92j, showing an in 1 crease in exports to foreign countries l Ci 54.7 per cent over the previous year and 4S.6 per cent increase of exports to the United States over last year. i The increase is principally in sugar. cigars and cigarettes. straw hats and coffee We sent S2O4.500 worth of straw ! hats alone to the United States last year.
 American merchants would do well 10 study Porto Rico's imports from Europe, with q view to enlarging home trade. Porto Rico bought over $+00. 1000 worth of Nova Scotia codfish last year, over $150, 000 worth of foreign soaps. over $SO00O worth Of bags fer sugar and coffee. Spain sent us rice valued at more than $90O00 and over $500. .000 worth Of potatoes. This business should go to our own.markets. and with larger development in the islands it's future ! commerce must be kept closer at home.
 The Porto Rican coffee continues to go to Europe. to Austria. France. Spain, Italy and Germany. America . took only $2S.G worth last year, Europr . over $3.000 000 worth. The superiority of the coffee is such that we cannot understand the insignificant demand for it in New York Still it is gradually getting il. :avor. and will soon b. sold extensively, I hope.
 Fruit growing is receiving more at tention. and with quicker transporta- tfon will invite investment.
 Improvement is noticeable in all directions. The people welcome schools. : The insuldr government cannot supply s enough. being necessarily limited tu
 
 . We are teaching nearly 5O,000 children. and expect to open two industrial schools in the fall. Adults want to learn. and in some instances children are teaching their parents. Q There was an extraordinary de , crc&se in the number of deaths last U year. 13.U00 fewer than the year before . There is much less anaemia than for : T.elly- People lCol: healthier. live bet II ter and take better care of themselves All sanitation has improved.
 They are contented with their gen 1 e.al political condition. This being ar election year, politics will occupy much attention. as a new legislature. mayors : and other officers are to be chosen S Two years ago one party withdrew
 from the field. but from the present = outlook there will be a contest in Nc : vember. The vote will run up tu l30. ! eco.
 Il Civil government has now been es- tablished over two years. during which ' tune there has been wonderful adap- . t;lbi-ity to free conditions. and thus fat C no aeiious setback. The new codes of laws &re in effect. The island is now :, controlled by American statutes There was q ready adjustment to the change and reports of the operation of the new laws are gratifying The criminal T. code, modeled largely after the Califor- ! nia penal laws. is giving particular satisfa ction.
 Porto Ricans are ambitious for closer relations with the United States and deserve all encoura cement. In my
 residence of over two years in the isl and l found them generous. warm
 healte good people. They are inn
 questionable. but gentle and kind The
 result of the liberal government given
 them is q steadily growing mutual re- E spect and liking between them and thl
 citizens of the mainland. l regard this
 in itself as most desirable achieve
 n;e4t of our occupancy"