Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-12-11
MESSAGE
ON PORTO RICO.
Sent to Congress by
President Roose.
welt.
TELLS OF REAL CONDITIONS
Number Recommendations
Made...Questions Vital
to People.

Following is the special message o.
President Roosevelt on Porto Rice
which was read to both Houses o
Congress this afternoon:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes:
On November 21 | visited the islant
of Porto Rico, landing at Ponce, cross
ing by the old Spanish road by Cayey
to San Juan, and returning next morn
ing over the new American, road from
Arecibo to Ponce; the scenery was
wonderfully beautiful, especially
the mountains of the interior
which constitute veritable tropiC
Switzerland | could not embark al
San Juan because the harbor has not
been dredged out and can not receive
an American battleship. | do not
think this fact creditabe TO us as q
nation, and earnestly hope that i'm
provision will be made fol
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 fol
pride in the character of our repre-
sentatives 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. 1t would be
impossible to wish 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 insulal
government.
stopt at a dozen towns all told
and one of the notable features il
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
proper, has been put 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 the next generation
but also as far as means will permit
to train them SO that the industrial
agricultural and commercial opportun
tiles of the island can be utilized tC
the best possible advantage. 1t was
evident at glance that the teachers
both Americans and native Porte
Ricans, were devoted to their work
took the greatest pride in it. and were
endeavoring to train their pupils, not
only in mind, but in what counts fol
far more than mind in citizenship
that is, in character.
Military Organization Good.
| was very much struck by the eX
cellent chara cter both of the insulal
police and of the Porto Rican regi
nent. 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 appro
priated for by the Congress. earn
estly hope 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 ma
tive Porto Ricans. 1t would be from
every 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
sugar cane and tobacco. The fruit in
dustry is also growing Last year was
the most prosperous year that the isl
and 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 history
Prior to the American occupation the
greatest trade for any one year was
that of 1896, when it reached nearly
twenty.three millions of dollars. Last
year, therefore, there was double the
trade that there was in the most pros
porous year under the Spanish regime
There were 210,273 tons of sugar ex
ported last year, of the value of $l4,
1S6,319; s3,555, 1853 Of tobacco, and 2S,
1922 pounds of coffee of the value
of $34S1, ,102. Unfortunately, What
used to be Porto Rico's prime crop
coffee-has not shared this prosperity
It has never recovered from the dis
aster of the hurricane, and moreover
the benefit of throwing open our mar
ket to it has not compensated for the
loss inflicted by the closing of the
markets to 1t abroad call your at
tention to the accompanying memor
ial on this subject. of the Board o.
Trade of San Juan, and | earnestly
hope that some measure will.be taker
for the benefit of the excellent ant
high grade Porto Rican coffee.
Coffee interests Damaged.
In addition to delegations from the
Board of Trade and Chamber Of Com
merce of San Juan. also received del
egations from the Porto Rican FEEDER
alton Of Labor, and from the Coffee
Growers Association.
There is a matter to which / wish
IN col1 vO,Ir snncia1 attantiOn and