The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-12-20

ScSG&i OA lis iSCSII ODSSik dlIOLlS Ill
Porto Rico and making recommends
ton concerning the government Of
that island was delivered to the SEN
ate It was read at length and re-
ceIved careful attention. The mes
sage was as follows:
The Presidents Message.
To the Senate and House Of Repres-
e~ntatives:
On November q I visited the IS
land OF Porto Rico, landing at Ponce,
crossing by the old Spanish road by
Cayey to San Juan, and returning
Eext morning over the new American
road fro Areci0o to Ponce; the
scenery was wonderfully beautiful,
especially among the mountains of
the interior, which constitute a YER
liable tropic Switzerland. / could not
embark at San Juan because the har-
bor b2s not been dredged out and
Gan not receive an American battle
ship. [ do not think this fact credit
able 10 u Gs a nation. and I earn
es1iy hope that Immediate provision
VIII be made for dredging San Juan
hazfor-
I doubt whether our people as a
whole realize the beauty and fertility
Of Porto Rico, and the progress that
has been made under its admirable
government. We have just cause Tor
pride IN the character of our rep
xGsentatives who have administered
Ene tFoplc islands which came undei
czE flag as q result Of the war with
Spain; and cf no one of them is this
TBaoEe true than of Porto Rice. It
would sc impossible TO wish a more
faithful. 4 more efficient and a NOR,
dIs4nteEested public service than that
rKs1w being rendered in the island OF
Porto Rico by those in control Of the
1rsE3&r government.
] stepped at q dozen towns all told.
GH8 Y Of the notable features IN
every town was the gathering Of the
seho01 children. The work that has
been done II Porto Rico for education
has been noteworthy. The main EN-
Ehas2s, rs is ~eminently wise ana
proper, has been pat upon primary
edne2tion; but in addition to this
there is a normal school. an aori- |
cultural school, three industrial and /
three high schools. Every effort IS |
Being made to secure not only the
benefits Of elementary education 10
all the Porto Rica1s OF the next
generation, but also as far as means
E7II permit TO train them so that the
Industrial, agricultural and omref
ezal opportunities Of the island can
lie utilized to the best possible ad- |
~santage- 1t was evident at a glance
that the teachers, both Americans
.aad native Porto Ricans, were de-
voted to their work, took the great
est pride in it, and were ~endeavoring
to tram their pupils, not only in
NaI7d, but IN what counts for far
H1or than mind in citizenship, that
rs In character.
I Troops in the Island.
I was very mach struck by the ex-
ce1Eent 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
SaIar police are under the local Porto
RIean government. The Porto Rican
regiment OF troops must be appro-
pr1ated for by Congress. | earn
estfy hope that this body will be kept
permanent. There should certainly
be troops Ii the island, and it is wise
tnat these troops should be them
selves native Porto Ricans. It would
he fro2n every standpoint q mistake
NOT TO perpetuate this regiment.
In fraTersing The. island even tha
HasI earscry survey leaves the be-
hesder struck with the evident rand
growth IN the culture both of The
sugar cane and tobacco. The fruit
industry is also growing. Last wear
was f3ae most prosperous year that
Size island has ever known before or
ssnee the American occupation, The
total exports and imports Of thu |
island was $40, 900, 900 as aoinst SIS
9GO,o2a II 1901. Tits isthe I~erges,
In he Islands history. Prior to the
American occupation the greatest J
trade for any one year was that oC
1855, when it reached nearly 500
$4,000. Last year, therefore, there
WAS double the trade that there was
III the most prosperous year under
the Spanish regime. There were
210.2I3 tons of sugar exported last !
year, OF the value of SAL 6,319; So
ad5,1G3 of tobacco, and 29,29O,32 ?
pcunds Of coffee of the value Of So
ISL ,102. Unfortunately, what used to |
be Porto Rico's prime crop-coffee-
Hs not shared. this prosperity. It