Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-10
PORTO RIOAN PROGRESS
FIVE YEARS OF GROWTH IN THE
PROSPEROUS ISLAND.
What Has Been Done There Since the
American Troops Landed
in 1893.
Letter in the New York Sun.

free as any other territory Of the United
States. Five years ago Porto Rico was
practically without public school facilities.
while now 1t has a well-organized system
OF primary, secondary and industrial edu-
cation. Five years ago Porto Rico had
but few schools (so-called), few pupils and
fewer teachers. while now it has LOU
schools, 1.225 teachers and nearly 10000
pupils.
Five years ago Porto Rico was without
a normal school. Now 1t has one located
in fine building erected for the purpose,
with over 100 Porto Rican young men and
women in attendance, fitting themselves to
help make Porto Rico a blessing to the
American family and itself
Five years ago Porto Rico, after 400
years of Spanish occupation. old not own
single school building. Now 1t owns.
free of all debt. forty public school build
ings, equipped with modern school furni-
ture, including the normal school before
referred to, and fine high school
Five years ago Porto Rico paid little or
no attention to sanitation, while now 1t has
an active board of health, the result OF
whose labors was a reduction Of 1881 in
the number of deaths in the year ended
May 81, 1902, compared with the prior year
Care Of the Blind.
Five years ago Porto Rico. after 400
an asylum for the blind, though there are
over 1900 poor blind persons in the island
Now it has one such asylum erected at
cost Of $4,000 and paid for out Of the
revenues Of the island.
Five years ago Porto Rico's public chart
ties were but few, and those few indiffer-
entity provided for. while now It has a
well-organized department of charities,
properly caring for the leper colony, In
sane asylum. blind asylum, girls charity
school and boys charity school. In the
girls charity school credit is due to the
ten Sisters of Charity who formerly had
charge, but recently returned to Spain.
after spending years OF their lives III en-
tire unselfsh devotion to the children.
Five years ago Porto Rico was without
any provision for public education In agrl-
culture, though agriculture is the main In
dustry of the island. That want has been
partly and will be fully supplied.
Five years ago Porto Rico knew no will
but the will of Spain. Now it has it's own
civil government legislative assembly and
levies and spends its own taxes. For this
last right Cromwell and Washington
fought.
Five years ago 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 Porto Rico was cursed
with franchise and concession grabbers,
while now the Porto Rican executive coun-
Gil grants no franchises or concessions
without strictly guarding the public in
terest and the public finances as to roy
alties. -t-
Five years ago Porto Rico had no laws
sufficiently guarding the investment of out
side capital, while now 1t has, as Gov.
Hunts report for 1902 says. IAN excellent
general corporation statute modelled after
the New Jersey laws upon the same sub
iect.''
sess 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. s-..,. sa.f 4
Judicial System. -. :@',''f14
Five years ago Porto Rico did not pos
sess judicial system Of it's own creation,
while now it has one. modelled after the
best in the United States. and as complete
as the circumstances naturally attending
the making Of all things new will per-
NIT. ,''@'-- y
Five years ago 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 tnsular purposes" attorney General
Harlan's report for 1902, and the govern
ment of the United States not only bears
all the expenditures for national purposes
in the island. but pays out a large sum
monthly TOT the maintenance there or the
native regiment.
Five years ago Porto Rico did Its bank
ing in a free and easy way. while now 1t
has the benefit of the United States ma
tiOnal banking act.
Five years ago Porto Rico had very in
different codes of penal laws and criminal
procedure, while now 1t has codes which,
as Attorney General Harlan says. are ''es-
sentially American in form and substance"
They are substantially like the excellent
codes in force in tho state of California.
Five years ago Porto Rico had only 177h
miles Of roads principal highway. though
Spain had been in possession for 400 years.
and though roads are an essential in an
agricultural territory. Now Porto Rico has
500 miles Of roads, increase of 150h
miles In five years. or within twenty-seven
miles as much roads as Spain constructed
in 400 years In addition. hfty-ive miles
Of roads have been reconstructed and re-
paired. and 100 miles surveyed for pro-
posed new roads. This result was made
possible by the refund grant by Congress