Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-22
NEEDS OF PORTO RICO.
Gov. Winthrop's Message to
Island Legislature.
THE COFFEE INDUSTRY
Opportunities Offered for Investment
to Foreign Capital.
MORE PRIMARY SCHOOLS NEEDED
Establishment of Rigid Merit Sys-
tenn in Public Offices is Earnest
ly Recommended.
MORE PRIMARY SCHOOLS NEEDED



SAN JUAN, P. R., January 10, 1906.
Gov Winthrops annual message 70 the
legislative assembly is this year a brief
business-like document. giving some reliable
facts concerning the vital interests Of the
island. During the past fiscal year insular
revenues, through strict economies ex-
ceeded expenditures by SS4, 09S.32 and a re-
assuring increase from customs revenues
and internal revenue dues continues. Be
sides this, there is still a balance of $4,000
In the trust fund for the building of roads
and bridges. This sum- the governor hopes
may be increased by judicious economies.
AS to general prevailing conditions the gov
ernor says:
The past year has seen considerable i'm
provement in the economic welfare of the
Island. thanks to the larger exploitation and
higher prices of the two important agricul
turai products, sugar and tobacco the COM
bined value of which amounted to $14,516,-
4l3 Cofee, the crop on which depends the
wealth or poverty of so great a proportion
OF our fellow-citizens has increased slight
iy in quantity, but unfortunately still repre-
scnts q comparatively small percentage of
It's former magnitude. The expectation of
coffee during the past fiscal year, amount
ing to 16, S49, $3.50 pounds valued at So 141, one,
Is approximately but Is per cent in guam
thy and value of the maximum produced
III any previous year. ON account Its
geographical situation the wealth of Porto
Rico must always depend upon It's manu-
features. Legitimate encourage cement along
commercial lines, the Introduction Of i'm
proved methods of cultivation and the inn
portation of new varieties of crops suitable
to the soil and climate are therefore i'm
portant factors in our endeavOrS to adj
vance the economic interests of the country.
Through wise legislation many thousands
of sizal plants of the Yucatan and Bahama
varieties have been secured and vigorous
attempts will be made to encourage their
cultivation by private individuals.
Opportunities for Investment
That class of investments which enrches
and benefits the people of this island while
yielding profitable returns to the investor
should earnestly be encouraged. Large
agricultural enterprises which can afford
10 make experiments in various methods of
planting, irrigating and fertiizing. and
which have the means to spend large sums
In advertising the products of the island,
are of inestlmable advantage to the small
proprietor, for with no expense to himself
he can profit by the experience of his richer
nelghbors and avail himself of the market
which they have created. The opportunities
for investments on the mainland of the
United States have of late years been SO
great that special encouragement must be
given to attract capital to Porto Rico. 1t
cannot too often be repeated that the only
object to be attained Is the prosperity OF
the inhabitants of Porto Rico. This pros
penity can more rapidly be secured by the
introduction Of outside capital, which would
creased money in circulation. Capital can
be attracted, however, only by conditions
which promise a fair and reasonable return
upon investments.