The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-29

da and California varieties will make the Porto Rico orange one of the best. At tpresent the transportation facilities are rot as good as some of the other West
 Indian islands, but fruit lands are chean -and such plantations are steadily grow
 ing. I have never seen better pineapp,es than those which are grown in Porto Rico. They are about twice as large as tho varieties we have in out markets and their flavor is unsurpassed. Havana Tobaceo in Porto Rico.
 What other industries have you?' asked.
 "We have some excellent tobacco pIan- tations." replied the Porto Rico commIs sicner. We can grow as good tobacco as Cuba. and great deal of our tobacco gees to Cuba an is exported thence as the best Havana. Not long ago some of the Cuban farmers objected to the impor- tation of Porto Rican tobacco on the ground that the Havana exporters were using 1t and that It's quality was such that it would injure the Havana brands Irasmuch as the exporters had most to lose by such an injury. the complaint should have come from them The to- bacco Is grown we'll up In the mountains There are large plantations near Cayey and elsewhere There are cigar factor ies in both city and country. and in San Juan there Is cigarette factory which makes about 100000 cigarettes day."
 What are the prices of tobacco lands?''
 ''They vary according to situation and quality. Very good lands can be bought from $50 to $100 per acre."
 A Stock Country.
 Tell me about Porto Rican cattle?" Said MT. Degetau: Porto Rico has great possibilities as a stock-raising coun- try. We have something like 3o0,ooo cat tie and we raise as fine stock as is grown anywhere. Our cattle are noted for their beautiful hides. Indeed, one of the South American republics which charges a ta- riff on other stock admits Porto Rican stock free on this account The animals are usually of a dun color. They arc heavy limbed and finely formed. They arc said to be the descendants of Andalu- sian and African cattle which were brought to the island centuries ago."
 Have you much good pasturageT"
 Plenty of it. The grass is green all the year round. It grows luxuriantiy. and the expenses of keeping stock are low "
 What other kinds of stock have your' I asked.
 we have horses. hogs, goats, mules. sheep and donkeys. We have altogether four or five million dollars worth of stock. and as whole more than one mil- flor acres in pasture. I think there is money to be made in stock raising."
 How about your markets7"
 we have all the West Indies and all | tho countries of South and Central Amer lea along the Caribbean sea. Live stock and dried beef are fp demand in that part | of the world and we can sell all we can | raise"
 No Place for Poor Men.
 Would advise young Americans to l 70 to Porto Rico to make their fortunes?'' l asked
 Not if they are poor" replied Mir. Deg tau. We have plenty of good work nen and many small capitalists If the 'oung American has some money and at he same time any special knowledge or Ibility he can do well in Porto Rico. The nore money he has the better he can op- rate
 There is a great opening for banking ailroad building and business of various inds. Department stores would pay a San Juan and Ponce. As to banks. the 1terest rate range rom F per cent up- 1ard, although the legal rate is, think.
 per cent. Loans can be made on good ecurity. There are also opportunities to uy lands for those who can command eady cash.''
 Investments fin Railways.
 I asked Mir. Degetau to tell me some- hing about the railway possibilities of he island. He replied:
 At present We are not we'll supplied rith railways. Some little additions have cen made to the line knwon as the 'rench concession. running form San uan with some breaks around the west oase. This will some day be completed, nd we shall probably have a railroad en- lrcling the island. A movement is now nder way to build trolley line across an Juan and Ponce. This road should 0 immensely profitable. It would get s power from the streams, and could be perated at small cost
 There is no more healthful country in he world than the interior of Porto Rico, nd I know of no country so beautifur' IT. Degetau continued. "A short dis srce back from the coast there are hills 'hich rise into mountains. These moun- lins are green all the year around. It
 never cold and never hot. The trade 'inds from the North Atlantic wash them ally with ozone, and in time they will 9 the great winter resort of the United tates. I understand that a hotel it to rilt at San Juan and another at some lineral springs near Ponce, high up in ,e mountains. These hotels should be III uurlnB the WlnteF, ana IL may DC EndC orto Rico will have similar winter pou- ltion to what Florida has now"
 Glad to be Americans. How about your towns? Are they rowing?"
 Mot rapidly" replied Mir Degetau. The largest are San Juan and Ponce, either of them has 50O0O people Tho ext city in size Is Mayaguez on the west past, with a population of from fifteen twenty thousand. We have altogether bout 100000 people, but they live large- on farms and fin comparatively small lllaRes. How are your people satisfied with merIcan rule? Are they glad of the hanger
 They are glad to be Americans" re- lied the commissioner from Porto Rico, 1t is undesirable that they are issatisfied that they are not yet recog- ized as such. Tn other words. we are lad to be members of your great and lorious commonwealth, although not atisfied with our present political con-