The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-10
PORTO RICO ENERGIES
There Are Knockers" There as Else.
where, but Business Interests
Are Making Progress.
While There Are Many Difficulties
Yet to Be Overcome Prospects
Are Encouraging.

FfSucTlCh 41eaSh1H SAVCSs Ill eAlO SaAAAAS
South. some interesting facts relative to
business conditions in Porto. Rico since
the little island has been under the rule
Of the United States. and the effect which
the success of American rule Will have In
causing the other islands to come under
the starry banner. The other islands OF
the group are owned by European coun-
tries, and Of course there can be no unity
of action in anything, and only dissen-
sions and jealousies. Europe Is too far
away to afford profitable market for
the products of their wonderfully fertile
SOIL but we have S0,000,0e0 people who de-
sire and are amply able to pay for the
great variety Of tropical products which
can be produced here in abundance, II
sufficient encouragement and protection Is
given to capital to induce 1t to enter the
field for the purpose Of developing 1t. VIII
American rule convert the West Indies
into desirable field Of endeavor for Yam
kee energy? Will free access to the great
American market make the islands pros
porous? These are the great questions lit
tie Porto Rico must prove or dtsprove.
Why Bad Reports Are Heard.
Realizing that upon the outcome OF this
experiment hinges the future OF the other
islands in the group, those whose inter-
ests cause them to oppose the extension
Of American rule are leaving nothing un-
done to discredit the result This Is why
one hears little or no encouraging news
concerning the progress of our little ward.
Only discouraging phases of the situation
almost invariably magnified out or all
sembance to the truth-are discussed by
the papers of the other islands. The plan
purpose Of these partizan writer's Is to
poison the minds of their readers against
the Americans. If a resident Of adjacent
territory speaks we'll Of Porto Rican con-
ditions, he is considered unpatriottc.- The
powers are fighting the spread Of Ameri-
oro
that threatened to consume them. The
European offceholders realize that their
Jobs are at stake and they are fighting
hard to hold them; they know II Porto
Rico gets off on the right foot that their
cake will soon be dough. If this little
midget blossoms out under the care OF
Uncle Sam. a lot Of her neighbors are soon
going to want new dresses Of the star and
stripe pattern. This will be the certain
and natural result if our administration Is
success. And it explains the presence
of so much hostility and unfavorable COM
ment in the other islands.
But all the talk about our failure does
not come from the outside. There Is as
much criticism in Porto Rico as there Is
out of 1t. This internal dissatisfaction,
altho Of other origin, Is as natural as the
| external when it's real name Is under
stood It IS caused from an overdose OF
politics. There is really nothing alarm
weeds will flourish in new soil-unt1l they
are turned under. =, j..
T.. :. -., The Brighter Side. A., +. j. :
| The writer reyerts to the commercial
aspects of the situation for encourage
ment and, after giving numerous ~ IN
stances of business success on the part
Of those who have gone to the island
without money, as well as those who
brought capital with them, he sums up by
saying: $500, -
''In addition to all this may be added
the customs receipts for five years. Dur
I ing the last year of Spanish rule Porto
Rico purchased from the United States
goods to the amount Of $2,254,9S0; during
the first Of American rule. 89l6; the
second year, $6,4s3,e1s; the third year.
sS, us. .751: and last year. ST.. 200. And
the increase of the islands sales have
increased in proportion to its purchases:
In 1901 we bought from her $6,968,6T7: and
last year the total ran up to So, 291.652 3
''The totals are swelling In both direc-
welling like they ought to- There
have been many trying and annoying
hindrances in the way, and there ere are yet
many to be overcome; mistakes have been
i made and more will follow, 4. but b these
\ | considerations are all. secondary to the
/ one big fact that the sky IS clearing
Porto Rico is certainly making her way
out of darkness Unto Light: All this tes-
timony have given backed up by o1i-
/ cial figures, makes a strong case to prove
that the island s affairs are on the mend
There is no. doubt Of it. When her size
is taken into aecount-only 40 miles wide
and 100 miles long-as well as the des-
perateness of her condition when we took
charge Of her affairs. the showing is very
4 creditable. She vas for centuries al
abused child In the Spanish colonial fam
4 lily; she was terribly pinched blythe hurri-
q cane and, on the whole, has had enough
rough handling to dwarf her and make
her black and blue. But she is nov
coming to her own. With the protection
Of the greatest government In existence
and free access TO the greatest marke
in the world she Isl becoming robust an(
;. hearty. an object lesson to those about hel
J and a credit to Uncle Sam, her Drawn,
, foster father, 20 sss 81
ADVISING THEsLAWYER. s.
n w ashington Times. 5s.. - ~
THAT won't do said. the grass widowe
$ why nots'' asked the lawyer.
You make the paper say that won be re
sponsible for any debts my wife may epntrac
never contracted debts in her life She expand
I, EN- -S !.
n I NJ n