The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-25
Progress in Porto Rico.


island of Porto Rico adopted the other
day by a large majority a resolution.
demanding the independence of the
island, or it's admission into the union
as a state. The Porto Ricans are
naturally DISCONTINUED with their
somewhat ambiguous condition, but
their discomfort is largely sentimental
and political, rather than Industrial
Great progress has been made in pros
perity since the island was annexed
by the United States, and in the reg
ister of Porto Rico for 1903 the pre-
diction is made that under existing
conditions the next decade, should wit
ness the full fruition of brightest
hopes for the uplifting Of the farmer
and for the payment Of dividends on
money invested in agraria:n enter
prises." =, .-~. .-.a... ... r....: r
With large capital a profit of $50 to
$500 per- acre. may be expected from
the cultivation of sugar cane in Porto
Rico. Coffee is profitable crop and
will be much more profitable as soon
as a taste for the Porto Rico berry
has been cultivated in the, United
States. Porto Rico tobacco is steadily
attaining a high place in the .Ameri-
can market and the island is produce
ing and selling stock which fairly
rivals that of the best Cuban wrapper
and filler. A feature of 1908 was the
rapid rise Of the cotton growing in
dustry. Owing largely to the interest
taken by the government, 10000 acres
produced 5000 bales of high-grade
sea island fiber, and it is said that it
is not improbable that within a year
the present acreage Of sea island cot
ton will be doubled or trebled, and
that many small growers will be en-
gagged in the culture.
Fruit raising is taking new life and
several stock companies are now en-
gagged in the development Of orange
groves. The first shipments of cult
waited oranges will be made this sea-
son, those heretofore shipped having
the official report: 1.-THE Porto Rico
orange proposition seems to be a
sound and enticing one; from 70 to
100 trees are grown to an acre, and a
good grove can be assured at cost
Of 500 an acre; to bring it to bearing
costs $500 an acre; it should then
yield at least $3.50 an acre a year.
Ten thousand acres have been planted
in oranges in Porto Rico within the
last five years Among the other
fruits that do well in Porto Rico and
promise to do their part in making
this island the fruit basket of the
United States are pineapples, ba-
nanas, cocoanuts, lines, lemons,
grape fruit, aquacates, anones, "a
potes, plantains, bread fruit, man
goes Besides these fruits the castor
plant, the cacao, the yucca and many
medicinal plants run wild. The ma
guey plant produces a valuable hemp,
and there is no reason why the rubber
tree should not be grown in Porto
Rico. There is also said to be great
island, as there are millions Of acres
of pasture land.
There is no reason why, with it's ia
vorab1e climate. and it's advantages in
having free access to the great Ameri-
can market, Porto Rico should not ere
| long become one of the wealthiest
agricultural communities in the
world. AS wealthy people is not
likely to long remain an ignorant or
backward people. it's safe to pre-
| dict that within a generation changes
twill be made in Porto Rico that viii