The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-11
Roosevelt's CommunicS ST..
Read in Both Branches
of Congress.
TELLS OF HIS RECENT
VISIT TO THE ISLAND
A Country Of Beauty and Fertility
Great Progress Made Under the New
Government-The Removal of
Corrupt Official Commented Upon
by the President In Address.
To the Senate and House of Represen-

To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
On November 21 I visited the island
of Porto Rico, landing at Ponce,
crossing by the old Spanish road by
Cayey to San Juan and returning next
morning over the new American road
from Arecibo to Ponce; the scenery
was wonderfully beautiful, especially
among the mountains in the interior
which constitute veritable tropic
Switzerland. I could not embark a,
San Juan because the harbor has not
been dredged out and cannot receive
an American battle ship 1 do not
think this fact creditable to us as
nation, and l earnestly hope that i'm
mediate provision will be made for
dredging San Juan Harbor.
doubt whether our people as q
whole realize the beauty and fertility
of Porto Rico, and the progress that
has been made under its admirable
government. We have just cause for
pride In the character of our represen-
tatives who have administered the
tropic islands which came under our
flag as result Of the war with Spain,
and Of no one Of them is this more
true than of Porto Rico. It would be
impossible to wish more faithful, q
more efficient and more disinterest-
ed public service than that now. be-
ing rendered in the island Of Porto
Rico by those in control of the insular
government.
stopped at dozen towns all told,
and one of the notable features in ev-
cry town was the gathering of the
school children. The work that has
been done in Porto Rico for educa-
tion has been noteworthy. The main
emphasis, as is eminently wise and
proper, has been pat upon primary
education; but in addition to this
there is a normal school, an agricul-
tural school three industrial and three
high schools. Every effort is being
made to secure not only the benefits
of elementary education to all the
Porto Ricans Of tho next generation,
but also as far as means will permit
to train them SO that the Industrial,
agricultural and commercial oppor-
tunitfes of the island can be utilized
to the best possible advantage. 1t was
evident at glance that the teachers
both Americans and native Porto Ric-
ans, were devoted to their work, took
the greatest pride in it, and were en-
deavoring to train their pupils, not
only in mind, but in what counts for
far more than mind in citizenship,
that is, in character
was very much struck by the ex-
cellent character both of the insular
police and of the Porto Rican regi-
ment. They are both of them bodies
that reflect credit upon the American
administration of the island. The in
sular police are under the local Porto
Rican government. The Porto Rican
regiment of troops must be appropria-
ted for by congress. I earnestly hop.
that this body will be kept permanent.
There should certainly be troops in
the island, and it is wise that these
troops should be themselves native
Porto Ricans. 1t would be from ev-
cry standpoint a mistake not to per-
petuate this regiment.
In traversing the island even the
most cursory survey leaves the be-
holder struck with the evident rapid
growth in the culture both of the sug-
ar cane and tobacco. The fruit in
dustry is also growing. Last year was
the most prosperous year that the
island has ever known before or since
the American occupation. The total
of exports and imports of the island
was forty-five millions of dollars as
against eighteen millions in 1901.
This is the largest in the islands his
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