Milford chronicle., 1906-12-14

n lngS or Vei
and onionsation in
Pe Until reenmenda
tioSN a Of Byas' If thai
49, AE off the
'siahd w Fen Chigwel senate Il
was read az Kerry well .eceived care
ful attention.goll J fg.nessage was as
follows:
On November q I visited the island OF
Porto RICO landing at Ponce. crossing
by the lold Spanish road by Cayey to
San Juan, and returning next morning
over the new American road from Are
cibo to Ponce; the scenery was wonder
fully beautiful, especially among the
mountains of the interior which consti-
tute verltable tropic Switzerland I
could not embark at San Juan because
the harbor has not been dredged out and
cannot receive an American battleship
I do not think this fact creditable to us
as a nation and 1 earnestly hope that
immediate provision will be made for
dredging San Juan harbor
I stopped at a dozen towns all told,
and one Of the notable features in every
town was the gathering Of school chill
dren. The work that has been done in
Porto Rico for education has been note
worthy. The main emphasis, as is emil
nently wise and proper, has been put
upon primary education, but in addition
20 this there is a normal school. an agri-
cultural school. three Industrial and
three high schools. Every effort is be-
ing 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 opportunities OF the island
nauma. a n.r D. d. 4
vantage. IT was evident at a glance
that the teachers. both Americans and
native Porto Ricans, were devoted to
their work, took the greatest pride in It,
and were endeavorng to train their pu
pills not only In mind, but in what counts
for far more than mind in citizenship.
chat is in character.
/ was very much struck by the excel
lent character both of the insular police
and of the Porto Rico regiment. They
are both of them bodies that reflect credit
upon the American administration of the
island. The insular police are under the
local Porto Rican government. The Porto !
Rican regiment of troops must be appro- |
priated for by congress. l earnestly /
hope that this body will be kept perma- /
nent There should certainly be troops |
in the island, and it Is wise that these /
troops should be themselves native Porto /
Means. 1t would be from every stand /
point a mistake not to perpetuate this
i,S reversing the island even the most
cursory survey leaves the beholder struck
with the evident rapid growth in the cul-
ture both OF the sugar cane and tobacco.
The fruit industry is also growing Last
year was the most prosperous year that
: he island has ever known before or since
,be American occupation. The total of
,,,,,,-ts ord fn,norts of the island was
: n 0oo 000 as against slS.O00000 in 1901
mis- Is the largest IN the Islands his
to-,- prior 10 The American occupation
h. orsatest trade for any one wear was
80 - SOC ,,,bon 81 reacbsd nearly.
s59 am 00o last vear therefore there
80 to7ibta mo trade than there was i'm
tb.. r,,sf nrosuarous veur under tho
-;ns,,isb regime. There were 2l0273 tons
- - .,.,,,,.tod isst ,,os- of tho ,,al,,a
~ s141Sf g1q. s2 555 1tg of tobacco and
= oe, 100 r,otnds of coffee of the value OF
y AL mo Trnfort,inateIv what used 10 he
80, I3ico-s prirne crou-coffse-h nor
.b.,r.d mis- ,rosDeritv IL has nevei
.l',-,,.,-,.oI from, me disaster of the burri
49,. .,,,d ,,,oreo,er tbe benedt of throw
,,-. ,,,., our market TO il has NOT com
,i7,..t.d t.r the loss inflicted NV the
49,, Of tho markets 10 IL abroad
III -, ,tt,,,ffo, A. mo a,cornn,p,,i,,,,
az, ,,rial ,r MS s,biert of tha U1gr5
e 1r,,ds ~ san INN. and earnesfIv
80, tl.,t como ,,,e.,s,,r, ,,.ii d., t.ts, for
~ tancft If Tho excolIcut ana birb
ri. porto fifean co0'ee.
1,ysr.. Is 81 ,,atter ia which I wish 70
IN ,.9,,,. s,.o.i.l attention and mar IL
H., i.sir,I,;iif,. of cnnf.rriro nm AD,eri-
, -itigc,,si,i., ,tnon tba nsopi. If porto
loo roost earnestly hone that tbis
IN H.. done cannot see how any
a,-r,, c.,r ,ossi,l,, rosi,it from il and il
eo+,s ~ me y matter of right and ms {
~ 70 fbe neonle of Porto Rico They
~ to,,ol tbo,, are glad 10 he under our
~. fhe, ire makjnr rapid prorress
-, mo nat, of orderly liberty surely {
~ sbo,,Id show our appreciation Of
Nan, o,lr nride in what fhev have done
nd our pleasure in extending recognition
,r Ubat mas thus been done. by grant {
10 them fufI American citizenship J
f-nd,.r the wise administration of the
resent e.,G, governor and council. marked i
rOgress has been made in the difficult {
latter o. srant.ns 70 .nT peopie @l ome
.n 1r that can with safety be given
the present time. 1t would have been :
very serious mistake to nave gone any
ster tnah we nave pr,o a'rgaay gone S IN oS
80 and absolute autonomy in ali their $
unicipal governments. the only power ,
ier them possessed by the lnshlar gov ,