The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-12-21

Washington. President ROosevelt's
message. describing conditions in Por-
to Rico. and making recommendations
for Legislation he believes necessary.
was read TO the congress. IL is as fol
lows:
To the Senate and House OF Represen-
tatives
On November Fl l visited the island
OF Porto Rico. landing at Ponce. cross
Ing by the old Spanish road by Cayey
70 San Juan. and returning next morn
ing over the new American road from
Arecibo 10 Ponce: the scenery was
wonderfully beautiful. especially
among the mountains OF the interior.
which constitute a veritable tropic
Switzerland. l could not embark al
San Juan because the harbor has not
been dredged out and can not receive
an American battleship. l do not
think this fact creditable 10 US as a
nation. and l earnestly hope that i'm
mediate provision will be made for
dredging san Juan harbor.
doubt whether our people as a
whole realize the beauty and fertility
OF Porto Rico. and the progress that
has been made under rs admira bic
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 a result OF the var with Spain:
and OF no one OF them is this more
true than OF Porto Rico IL would be
impossible 10 wish a more faithful. a
more efficient and a more disinter.
ested public service than that now be.
ing rendered in the island OF Porto
Rico By those in control Of the insulsr
government.
! stopped at a 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
ton: but in addition 10 this there is a
normal school. and agricultural school
three industrial and three high
schools. Every effort IS being made to
secure not only the benefits OF ele
mentary education 70 all the Porto
Ricans OF the next generation. but
also as far as means will permit q
( train them so that the industrial. agri
cultural and commercial opportunities
/ OF the island can be utilized 10 the
best possible advantage TX was evi
dent at a glance that the teachers
both Americans and native Porte
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 foi
/ far more than mind In citizenship. thai
I is, in character
was very much struck by the ex
cellent character both Of the insulal
/ ment They are both Of them bodie.
that reflect credit upon the American
\ administration Of the island. The in
sular police are under the local Porte
\ Rican government. The Porto Ricar
Y regiment Of troops must be apprO
\ priated for by the congress. l earn
/ estly hope that this body viii be KEEP
permanent There Should certainly bs
troops in the island aud Il Is wise
that these troops should be thernselve.
native Porto Riclns L. world b
from every standpoint a mistake mo-
10 perpetuate this regiment
In traversing re island even Tx
most cursory surrey leaves the be
holder struck with the evident rapid
| growth in the culture both % 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 sine;
the American occupation. Tie tota
OF exports and Imports Of the island
was si5.000.0 900. as against SIS 900 ,O0C
in 1901 This Is the larees. in the
islands history. Prior 10 the Ameri
can occupation the greatest trade fol-