The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-12-21

w dhHlllb lOH.--i ItSlutul IOOStNtll
message, describing conditions in Por
70 Rico. and making recommendations
for Legislation he believes necessary
was read to the congress. 1t is as fol.
lows:
To the Senate and House OF Rcpresen-
tatiyes
On November 81 visited the island
of Porto Rico, landing at Ponce, cross
ing By the ODD Spanish road by Caycy
to San Juan. aud returning next morn.
ing over the new American road from
ArecIbo to Ponce; the scenery was
wonderfully beautiful especially
among the mountains of the interior,
which constitute a vcritable tropc
Switzerland. | could not embark at
San Juan because the harbOr has rot
been dredsed out and can not receive
an American battleship. | do not
think this fact credltable to us as a
nation, and | earnestly hope that i'm.
mediate provision will be made for
dredging San Juan harbor.
| doubt whether our people as n
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 represent
tatives who have administered the
tropic islands which came under our
flag as a result Of the war with Spain;
and Of no one of them Is this more
true than of Porto Rico. II would be
impossible to wish more faithful, a
more efficient and n more disinter.
ested public service than that now be.
ing rendered in the island of Porto
Rico by those In control Of the lnsular
government.
/ stopped ut dozen towns all told,
and one of the notable features In
every town was the gathering OF the
school children. The work that has
been done in Porto Rico for education
has been noteworthy. The main EN-.
phasis, as Is eminently wise and prop.
er, has been put upon primary educa.
tlon; but in addition to this there is q
normal school, and agricultural school,
three Industrial and three high
secure not only the benefits OF ele.
mentary education TO all the Porto
Ricans of the next generation, but
also al far as means will permit to
train them so that the Industrial agri.
cultural and commercial opportunities
OF the island can be utilized to the
best possible advantage. 1t was evl.
dent at a glance that the teachers,
both Americans and native Porto
Ricans were devoted to their work.
took the greatest pride in II, and were
endeavoring 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. Tho in.
sular police are under the local Porto
Rican government. The Porto Rican
regiment Of troops must DO appro.
2riated for by the congress. I earn.
estly hope that this body viii be kept
permanent. There Should certainly be
troops in the island. and It Is wise
that these troops should be themselves
native Porto Riclns. II would be
from every standpoint mistaFe not
20 perpetuate this regiment.
In traversing he island even the
most cursory survey leaves the be.
holder struck with the evident rapid
growth In the culture both of the su.
gar cane and tobacco. The fruit in.
dustry is also growing. Last year was
the most prosperous year that the
island has ever kro vn before or slnca
the American occupation. The total
Of exports and imports OF the island
was s45,O0O,0O0 as against $lS,00o,0
in 1901 This Is the larees. In the
islands history. Prior TO the Ameri'
can occupation the greatest trade for