The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-30
FIVE YEARS IN PORTO RICO.
Companions suggested by tho Annaver'
nary of the Landing of our Troops.

To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sw: Five years
ago to-day Porto Rico was under the iron heel
OF Spain. while now II lis as free as any other
territory Of the United States
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico was prac-
tically without public school facilities. while
now II has a well-or ganized system OF prl-
mary. secondary and industrial education
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico mad hut
few schools tsO-called), few pupils and fewer
teachers. while now II has 200 schools, LES
teachers. and nearly 10000 pupils.
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico was with
out a normal school Now il has one located
in q fine building erected for the purpose, with
over 100 Porto Rican young men ana women
In attendance, fitting themselves to help make
Porto Rico blessing to the American FAMILY
and itself
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico. after
400 years of Spanish occupation, did not own
a single school building Now it owns. free
| Of all debt. forty public school buildihgs'
equipped with modern school furniture IN
GLIDING the normal school before referred TO.
and fine high school.
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico paid little
or no attention to sanitation, while now II mas
an active board of health. the result OF whose
labors was n reduction Of 1891 in the number
of deaths In the year ended May 81. 1902 COM
pared with the prior year.
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico, after 400
years Of Spanish occupation, was without an
asylum for the blind. though there are over
1000 poor. blind persons In the island. Now
It has one such asylum erected at cost Of
81, 900, and paid for out of the revenues OF the
island
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico's public
charities were but few. and those few indif-
ferently provided for, while now 1t has we'll
| organized department of charities. properly
| caring for the leper colony. insane asylum.
blind asylum. girls charity school and boys
| charity school In the girls charity school
credit Ia due to the ten Sisters Of Charity who
formerly had charge. but recently returned
| to Spain. after spending years Of their lives
In entire unselhsh devotion to the children.
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico was with
| out any provision for public education in gri-
| culture. though agriculture is the main In
dustry Of tho island That want has been
partly. and will be fully supplied
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico knew no
will but the will Of Spain; now II has its own
civil government. legislative assembly. and
levies and spends its own taxes For this last
| right Cromwell and Washington fought
Five years ago to-day Porto Ricans had
| but little. II any. opportunity TO secure en-
| ployment abroad, while now about $500 are
| in Hawaii. and doing well.
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico was
| cursed with franchise and concession grab
bers. while now the Porto Rican executive
| council grants no franchises or concessions
without strictly guarding the public interest
\ and the public finances as to royalties.
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico had no
laws sufficiently guarding the Investment Of
outside capital. while now it has. as Governor
Hunts report for 1902 says. an excellent
| general corporation statute modelled after
the New Jersey laws upon the same subject.
| Five wears ago to-day Porto Rico did not
| possess that foundation stone OF liberty. the
| right of trial by jury. while now 1t does. To
secure this right other peoples have waded
| through rivers OF blood
Five years ago to-day Porto Rico did not
| possess judicial system of its own creation.
while now 1t has one. modelled after the best in
| the United States and az complete rs the
| circumstances naturally attending the max
| ing OF all things new" will permit.
| Five years ago to-day Porto Rico helped
| to I'LL the Golfers at Madrid. and the pockets OF
| officials sent over from Spain. while now
every cent of the insular revenue is spent
| for insular purposes" attorney General
| Harlan's report for 1902. and the Govern
| ment Of the United States not only bears all
| expenditures for national purposes in the
! lBlanQ, DuC pays OUT n large sum UOmnly lOT
the maintenance there OF the native regiment
| Five years ago to-day Porto Rico did its
| banking in a free and easy way. while now IL
has the benefit Of the United States National
| Banking Act
| Five years ago to-day Porto Rico had very
| indifferent codes OF penal laws and criminal
! procedure. while now 1t has codes which. as
| Acknowledgement Harlan says are "essen-
| TALLY American in form and substance" They
| are substantially like the excellent codes in
| force in the State Of California.
| Five years ago to-day Porto Rico had only
| l77T miles of roads, principal highways
| though Spain had been in possession for dOO
| years, and though roads are an essential in an
| agricultural territory. Now Porto Rico has
| 92S miles Of roads, an increase of 1907, miles
| in five years. or within ~ miles as much roads
| as Spain constructed in 400 years In add
ton, So miles of roads have been reconstructed
and repaired, and 100 miles surveyed for pro-
posed new roads. This result was made pos
sible by the refund grant by Congress TO Porto
| Rico OF s. O0O. 900 out of the import duties
! previously levied bv the United States
/ Five years ago to-day Porto Rico began
business for itself. as a member Of the Ameri-
| can family without cash capital. while now
II has about 81 800 900 in its TREASURY. is paying
its bills OF 81, SOC, 900 yearly rs they become
due. and its revenues are steadily increasing.
Five years ago to-day land for 400 years
| be9ore) Porto Rico's Spanish officials were
| there only "for what there was in it," while
| now. az Governor Hunt says the public
service NEARLY all Porto Ricansl in the island
| In most faithful and efficient. Nor Ia this
commentator due to heads Of departments
only; 1t is sincerely meant for the whole civi
service II would be hard to find better
| orsnnizaton. The standards exacted for
.nnointment and tenure of Office have beer
honesty. loyalty to the institutions of the
United States and capability The result ex
citcs the pride Of those watching the building
up Of Porto Rico.
| Five years ago to-day, Porto Rico's com
merce with the United States for the calendar
year 1898. was:
| Imports from ''.'''''''''''''.''' SS2'l0
Exports 10 .,,,.,.,,.,'''''.'.'' l%oAOo
Total ,.,,.,..'''.' ''''''.''''''''''' @ho'l'
While for the fiscal year ended June 30 1908
II was:
Imports from ..,,,'..'..'''''''. S2WO.W
Exports to nOoO.W
23OOO,O0
Deduct 1903 S7s6,i7
Common gain for one year ,.....,,.,,.. sie2i3,s2
Our anti-imperialists may rail all they like
but facts are facts. American occupation o
tropical territory Ia a success, and benefits
nike the occupied and the occupiers. VIVA
| b,a heon done In Porto Rico and Hawaii on