The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-17
OUR RULE IN PORTO RICO.
More Schools and Good Roads disease
Being Stamped Ont.

During the seven and a half years Of
American occupation of Porto Rico, writes
Gov. Winthrop in the Independent, sixty
two schoolhouses nave been built-a con-
siderable number when one considers that
none had been constructed prior to that
period.
Since 1893 the number Of children under
instruction In the public schools has been
doubled. In spite OF the fact that more than
rs per cent. Of Porto Rico's income is de-
voted to school purposes, the resources
are still too small to permit the maintenance
OF a sufficient number Of public schools.
For the present every effort is being
made to extend elementary instruction in
the rural districts rather than to increase
the facilities now existing for hi gher educa-
ton in the cities. Practical training in
agriculture and the various trades is also
provided, Instruction in English is given
in all the large schools to the Porto Rican
teachers as we'll as to the pupils, and special
prizes are offered annually to the teacher
making the best progress in this language.
The system Of roads invariably attracts
the attention of the visitor, Until the
time Of the transfer Of the island to the
United States the Spanish Government
had built 1875 miles Of excellent macadam
road. Since then 275 additional miles
nave been constructed, making a total OF
AL miles Of highway, equal to the best In
the United States.
The most important work from a by
gienio standpoint that is being carried
on by the Government is undoubtedly
the systematic war waged against ,unci-
nariasis, q disease caused by an intestinal
parasite.
Strange to say, the disease is usually
communicated through abrasions in the
foot and produces an anemio condition.
with many symptoms Of starvation. In
lection can be avoided through the use
Of shoes and the most simple sanitary
precautions.
In 1904 the Legislative Assembly, realiz-
ing the necessity Of taking action to check
the spread Of this disease, appropriated
the sum Of 5000. and provided for the
appointment of a commission for the study
and treatment Of uncinariasis.
Very soon after the commission had
begun it's work reports were spread through
the ~neighboring country OF the numerous
cures that were being made. and patients
commenced to arrive from all directions
Tor treatment, on some Gays the numper
amounting TO five or six hundred.
Frequently patients came from great
distances, travelling the entire day on foot
to reach the hospital, In other cases
those too i'll to walk were carried for miles
in hammocks swung on the shoulders Of
friends and neighbors. In five months
$500 cases were treated with excellent re-
suits. Patients readily improve in strength
under the treatment and many wa &c earn
ers who had been too ill 10 work IeS=sueu
TO their families completely cured,
The following year an appropriation Of
SIS, 900 was secured and the work renewed
with great activity. the cures amounting
in that year to q, 800. 1t is now proposed
to extend the work still further. As ]. has
been estimated that 90 per cent. Of the
rural population OF the island is afflicted
it car easily be understood that the pres
ence OF the disease seriously affects both
social and economic conditions. The value
of the exports and imports for the past
fiscal year was the greatest in its history
1t is. not generally realized that the COM
merce Of the United States with Porto
Rico is considerably greater. than its trade
with the Philippine Islands. This en-
ging showing is due chiefly to tn"
very great increase In the production Of
sugar cane and tobacco. The expectation
Of sugar has doubled In the past five years,
while the value Of the tobacco produced
increased almost 800 per can't.