Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28

United States The most Of your coffee
comes from Brazil, and the Brazilian cof-
feet does not compare in quality with that
ours is comparatively dear. feel sure
that the Americans VIII gradually learn
the excellence of our Porto Rican product
and that It will have the position that the
best OF the Java coffee has now.
II think 1t will eventually bring the high
est prices of any coffee In the American
markets. When that time comes our coffee
area will be increased and we will be one
of the richest states of the American
Union"
How much coffee does Porto Rico raise
nOw?" asked.
I'VE annually now raise about forty mil
lion pounds We have 10000 acres under
cultivation and there are large areas which
might be planted. The coffee lands are
back from the sea the slopes of the
mountains. They are to be found in near
ly all parts of the island. although some
districts produce finer coffee than others.
AS for me drink only Porto Rican coffee.
except where the social demands are such
that have to do otherwise. Our coffee has
flavor which is beyond compare"
Cheap Lands in Porto Rico.
What are coffee lands worth?''
THAT depends the location and the
soil,'. replied Mr.. Degetau. "If the lands
are accessible to the ports and are in good
coffee districts, they will bring much more
than where it is hard to get the coffee out.
The coffee business has been so bad that you
can buy some lands for $12 an acre, and
very good lands for little more than that
I think a good speculation could be made
in such lands and in other lands on the is
land Indeed, l bought piece myself the
other day for cne-tenth what its value was
just after the war. This was not strictly
farming land however. 1t was tract of
twenty-four acres adjoining the town of
Aibonito. 1t is high up in the mountains
healthful regions of the world. 1t cost me,
not counting the buildings, about $40 per
acre"
Money in Fruits.
The conversation next turned to the fruit
industry and Mr. Degetau ventured the
prophecy that Porto Rico would some day
be the chief orange grove and pineapple
plantation of the United States He says
the fruit lands are being taken up, and
that many Americans have gone there 10
raise oranges. He cited one instance OF
man who offered job at 5000 a year
In the United States. The man had recent
ly lived In Florida and had just begun to
raise oranges in Porto Rico. He replied
that while he had nothing now he would
not give up his prospects of making for
tune out of the fruit raising In Porto Rico
for $40, coo a year, much less 5000. The
island Is such that there Is no froS,.
Oranges grow luxuriantly and produce ex-
have been budded and the bringing In OF
the best of our Florida and California vari-
cites will make the Porto Rico orange one
of the best. At present the transporta-
ton facilities are not as good as to some of
the other West Indian Islands, but fruit
lands are cheap and such plantations are
steadily growing. ! have never seen bet
ter pineapples anywhere than those which
are grown in Porto Rico. They are about
twice as large as the varieties we have in
out markets and their flavor is unsurpassed
Havana Tobacco in Porto Rico.
What other industries have your" 1
asked.
1--WE have some excellent tobacco planta-
TONS" replied the Porto Rlcan commits
soner. I'VE can grow as good tobacco as
Cuba, and great deal of our tobacco goes
to Cuba and is exported thence as the best
Havana. Not long ago some of the Cuban
farmers objected to the Importation of Por-
to Rican tobacco on the ground that the
Havana exporters were using 1t and that
it's quality was such that 1t would injure the
Havana brands. Inasmuch as the export
ers had most % lose by such an injury. the
complaint should have come from them.
The tobacco is grown well up in the noun
tains. There are large plantations near
Cayey and elsewhere. There are cigar fac
tories in both city and country and in
San Juan there is cigarette factory which
makes about leo, 900 cigarettes a day.
What are the prices of tobacco lands?"
They vary according to situation and
quality. Very good lands can be bought
from $50 to 500 per acre"
A Stock Country.
Tell me about your Porto Rican cattle"
said I.
Said Mr.. Degetau: Porto Rico has great
possibilities az a stock-raisng country. We
have something like 100000 cattle there,
and we raise as fine stock as is grown
O,,r otad for fhair
beautiful hides. Indeed, one of the South
American republics which charges tariff
on other stock admits Porto Rican STOCK
free on this account The animals are usu-
ally of dun color. They are heavy limbcd
and finely formed. They are said to be the
descendants of Andalusian and African cat
tie which were brought to the island GEN.
turtles ago.
Have you much good pasturage?"
Plenty of 1t. The grass is green all the
year round. 1t grows luxuriantly, and the
expenses of keeping stock are low"
What other kinds of stock have your l
asked.
I'VE have horses, hogs. goats. mules,
sheep and donkeys. We have altogether
and as whole more than one million acres
in pasture. 1 think there is money to be
made in stock raising"
How about your marketsP
I'VE have all the West Indies and all
the countries of South and Central Amer
lea along the Caribbean sea- Live stock
and dried beef are in demand in that part
of the world and we can sell all we can
raise"
No Place for Poor Men.
''Would you advise young Americans to
go to Porto Rico to make their fortunes?"
1 asked.
mot If they are poor" replied DR.. Deg
etau. I'VE have plenty Of good work.
men and many small capitalists If the
young American has some money and at
the same time any special knowledge or
ability he can do well in Porto Rico The
more money ne has the better he can oper-
ate.
There is a great opening for banking
CROSS