The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-08-25
PORTO rico
IS PROSPEROUS
AMERICAN DOMINATION MAKES
INHABITANTS HAPPY
MARSHAL WILSON TALKS
About the Present and Future of Our
New Possessions-A Bright
Future.
MARSHAL WILSON TALKS

country visiting his family and
friends. Heis an active illustration
of the fact that an American, bred
and born, can live in the tropics and
physically thrive.
He states emphatically that he nsv-
er has had an ache nor pain during
his life on the island.
Mr. Wilson talked freely concern
ing conditions on the island.
cit is an ideal possession and one
that will pour forth wealth in album
dance,' he said. "But it will take
two or threee generations before all
things are working in harmony.
"The most encouraging feature is
found in the rapid advance they are
making along educational lines. AL
ready there are 10000 scholrs in the
public schools, and this army Of
youngsters is deeply interested in the
work.
"They seem to realize the future
will depend upon their efforts and
they are absorbing information in
most commendable way.
"Excellent schoolhouses are being
built at all accessible points as they
are constructed.
Speaking of the political situation,
Mr. Wilson displayed unusual enthu-
siasm.
"The Porto Ricans are loyal,' he
said "They have no desire for sepa-
ration nor for independence. They are
proud to be members Of the earth s
greatest republic.
"They would like to have a terri
torial organization, but there their
ambition ends in a way.
"Of course, there is an abundance
of local politics, and, like the volatile
Latin races, they are intensely in
earnest, but they are never anti
American in any particular.
"In fact, they are entirely Amer
lean in sentiment and practice.
Commercially the islands are
thriving. Americans with their natur-
al enterprise are coming in. They
note the opportunities for the invest
ment of capital, and they are placing
their money where it will give great
returns before many years.
"For instance, take orange culture.
Oranges have never been an article
of export, but within a few years the
groves now reaching bearing stage
will furnish a supply for the export
trade which will be worth about 49,
100000 year.
"And as they grow, even if there
is no extension of the number Of Or
chards, the output will increase very
materially.
"Coffee. too, is going to contribute
greatly to the wealth of the island.
It is excellent in quality and the pro-
duction will be increased greatly
under American methods of cultiva-
ton.
"Under Spanish domination the
yield averaged about $50 pounds to
the acre. Under the advanced meth
DDS it will reach 600 pounds and per-
haps 700. Of course, the price at
present is unusually low, but that is
not a permanent condition.
"Money is going into pineapple
plantations. That is a good opening
though they may not be exported
! largely.
cit is the intention of those en-.
gagged in this branch Of tropical ag-
riculture to can the pineapples righi
v on the plantations and in this form
y ship them to the northern countries
: cit can hardly fail, as the crops
. will not fail. and labor is low enough
n to satisfy the most particular en-
: ployer.
;, "Even now the production of sugar
I is greater than it ever was in Spain 3
s best days. 1t is increasing and viii
increase, but, as in the case of coffee
i the price has not been encouraging
: "There have been some backsets
as with coffee, when a cyclone in 1895
almost entirely destroyed the many
plantations scattered over the islands
. ''Yet the present crop will be three
fourths of normal, and within year
or two it will reach record-breakins
fgures.'
When asked as to the climate, tax
e en- from year end to year end, Mr.
Wilson said: