New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-09-27
PORTO RlC0'S FUTURE.

up-t Vi tGuhlIls VINO oeELlS Il
think It viii invite some of ouI
sugar planters whose waning in
dustry is causing much uueasiness
and f0gebodings for the future
With free entry To our great mark
cts for all the products Of Porte
Rico, It w0nld seem that coffe.
/ producers ought to have a g0oC
thing and the industry could b.
expanded there to an unlimited ax
tent which might result in mend
ing the fortunes Of those whose
agricultural existence to say The
least has of late been precarjous
There are untold possibilities
in Porto Rico for the capitalist
the practical farmer aud the man
uEac1QIeT, and those who reach the
ground first and become establish
ed there will reap benefits and ad
Vantages never before dreamed Of.
Thus spoke Il f. GoOding Field
a prominent business man, impor.
ter aud exporter Of San Juan.
Porto Rico, yesterday.
Il may be optimistic concerning
the future Of that island, bat
have been on the ground for the
past two years, | have mixed with
the people Of all classes. | have
been IN business there, and after
close personal examination of all
the details of trade there, I repeat
my remarks.
Mr. Field has been in New
Orleans several days, having come
from New York, where he spent
some days doing active work for
Porto Rico. He made his trip to
the United Sataes for the purpose
Of attracting attention to the new
possession Of this country. He
takes pleasure in speaking Of the
wonderful development of the is
land, telling what has been done
since the American occupation and
what Is needed to complete the
work Of renovation and rehabita-
ton. Mr. Field IS a progressive
man IN many respects. He is liber-
al in his views, and his knowledge
Of the Porto Ricans as a race social
ly and commercially make him an
authority. His business experience
IN that island gives weight to any
statements he might make.
Mr. Field said the purpose of his
visit to New Orleans was to call
attention to the local business peo-
pie of the wonderful reward which
they will obtain If they will but
make a concerted effort to get the
trade of Porto Rico. He wants to
make arrangements for bringing a
delegation of Porto Rican business
men to this city at the time of the
convention Of the National Associa-
ton of Manufacturers. By doing
this he will show that Porto Rico
IS progressive, and wants to foster
further good relations with this
country He believes that the
bringing Of this delegation Of bus
mess men from Porto Rico to the
of manufacturers in
New Orleans will do great good,
not alone for this city, but for the
other manufacturing cities of this
country, but above all for the isl
and in which he lives and does
business.
Mr. Field wanted to have num-
Der Of the most prominent mem
bers Of the National Association Of
Manufacturers to make the trip to
Porto Rico, so that they could see
for themselves just what the island
s doing, what class Of manufac-
,ured goods the natives and resi-
dents want and will have, and see
he manifold opportunities which
present themselves for the modern,
lp-to-date capitalist, manufacturer
md farmer But after discussing
he matter with several influential
members of the Progressive Union,
NJ. Field has about decided to |
)ring over the delegation of Porto |
2lcan business men, and thus
fleet the same result.
He says there is absolutely no
INIT to the possibilities offered for
he investment of capital in Porto
Rico. "Of course, said he, "the
arger cities are becoming modern
zed They have electric cars,
lectric lights and other modern
improvements. San Juan has two
,e plants, and other cities have
hem also. But there is still
'hole lot Of things We need down
here.
"The main feature which has
truck me is the lack Of first class
otel accommodations. We have
ne or two nice hotels at San Juan,
ut | firmly believe that if an
.merican company was to erect a
lodern first class hotel, built on
le latest principles and operated
pom modern methods, there would /
e a wonderful return for the in
estment And it would not de-
Iand very large amout of capital
} build and operate hotel there
1.-The principal items in Porto
lean export trade are coffee, to-
acco and sugar We import all
,rts of manufactured goods, and
uch foodstuff. We are busy all
lie year round, and have no dulI
.ason. Our coffee is shipped
alHly to the United States, and
hen compared with coffee from
her countries, shows up most
vorabIy We took medals at
e Charleston Exposition and the
uffalo Exposition where we We're
competition with the open
arket / am now discussing with
cal parties a proposition to ship
rough New Orleans all the coffee 4
1ich I can gather in the island.