New-York tribune., 1903-07-13
PROGRESS TN PORTO RICO.
GOOD YEAR FOR SUGAR.
commissioner Lindsay Tells of the
ErfcnSiUc Work IN Education.


Of Education for Porto Rico, arrived here on the
steamship Ponce, from San Juan. p r. yester-
day To Tribune reporter he said;
There has been substantial gain in education, IN
he 5S.rJ scaI yeaq oF civil soyernent IN Porto
Rico and the fifth year Of American sovereignty in
Row PREPARING their annual reports which viii
snow great activity in an departments of govern
in The insular treasury. Many additional miles of
road have been constructed. three hundred more
schools have been opened, being an increase of 30
per cent for the year; the foundations are laid for
Pan-American university in Porto Rico; much
efficient judicial system is work and there
IS greater honesty and efficiency in municipal and
local government; which is almost entirely in The
There is undated zeal and patriotism among
the American officials I'm Porto Rico who believe
The results of the year have been accomplished
without any increase in taxation. but by careful
al the command of the Insular Government Few
americans Who nave NOT spent r9cR ~ eie IN tiTf tng
before Us II Porto Rico Is to be land of free,
citizens. with American republican institutions
firmly rooted. Naturally in this transition period
poverty still exists and there are many mutter-
ings Of discomfort These things. however the in
and governmental changes going do not dis
courage those who know what they signify: since
\ new standard Of efficiency has been set up new
business methods. hours Of work and new
bis,5T boone neceesry % MucR American capital is going
into raillcad construction, sugar centrais the To-
not vet begun TO yield returns but which will in
i,G ,3,s n5 "a he country AZ IarCe as wcll as to
The respective owners.
GOOD YEAR FOR SUGAR.
Sugar and tobacco have had another prosperous
crop. and the coffee crop. which represents 50
many small holdings while II shows steady gains ans
has had this year the poorest market and the low
10 the States is increasing each year. and when
the excellence and superiority Of the Porto Rlcan
coffee once becomes sufficiently widely known in
the States the island viii he able 10 produce
most encouraging Several experts who have been
can be grown at profit in all parts of the island
fTihutIT. se aratis 70 enco9rage new panters
This is crop Cor the small property owner
;t t M NAM T n are 6esirous
. Of negotiating loans for general municipal i'm
Public education is taking hold Of all classes Of
the population and the public schools in every
municipality are preparing the children of the peon
training the future initators and directors OF
two frame school buildings have been erected dur
ing the last year. or were under construction on
funds available in all aEEregating a sum Of $50
90 partly derived from trust funds in the hands
of he lnsular government and partly from local
taxes The cost Of The ll5e schools now n opera &
tor one year about seoo"n paid by the lnsuar
Inents or about SEQ oo0 in all With this sum We
have not only maintained ll50 common schools IN
1902 and March 60 1903 Ohe latest date for which
accurate statistics are now avallaole ana on @ Wsh
but also the sum mentioned includes the cost Of
irg Of teachers Two graded AMI high schools.
Fneiish W language: and finally it includes also the
cost Of two industrial and trade schools WHICH ri
FOURTH OF TAXES FOR EDUCATION.
About one-fourth Of all taxes. both insular and
local go for education. The high schools will soon
have boys and girls pTepared 10 S enter az
Porto Rico The industrial schools aim to be prac-
people eS % aPprsca5e eT theT possbi5es and want one
established in every large town as soon as the De
more will be opened next year. one Of them in a
S25.c6 with It's initial equipment.
bicb Ui raad rnfIcb financial aid from people in
the United States II IL is TO be the great Pan
ana the opportunity are there and challenge the
1s ] a's aab 75 trust ~ for The good Of their
fellow men. assured that the results of such in
HvsTsT SSS Of Porto Rco to carry on Work which
viii he a credit TO the American nation and a ser
Governor Hunt has set the highest standards OF
ton He conmsnds the entire CONFIDENCE and re-
R 81 m P9P % a & M P2cad @ dranay an1 o Is no% b
lntiring work for the welfare Of the island. He
cials ~ho work under him and with him. but their
nigh esteem as well, With such c9nditons i m man, IN
future OF Porto Rico. Many Of the observations
the island ma their way into the American news
papeTs LuGh 10 our slt Dec8use I4gg 90 nor hof qe
worthy Of cur regard and which 1t is worth while
only have patience and persevere in the work the
federal government has set out 10 perform and
adhere 10 the lines already laid down. and the
wisdom of our colonial policy viii be justified amply
by its results
one hundred and fifty American teachers were a
work in the schools last year and are just now
returning for their summer vacation The steam
shin Philadelphia last week crowded with re
turning teachers ard many more came on the
steamship Ponce Yesterday The commissioner
spoRe i'm the highest terms % praise OF the work o
these American teachers Of English. who go from
class 70 class teaching English Tney recruited
Tor the most part from the New England and Mid
dc States. and are teachers Of good training and
experience in American schools.