The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-14

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE presi-
dents message TO congress giving The
result Of his recent observations in
Porto Rico and making recommended
tons concerning the government OF
that island vas delivered to the e n
ate today. 1t was read at length and
received careful attention. The mes
sage was as follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyeS:
On November q, | visited the is
land of Porto Rico, landing at Ponce,
crossing by the old Sanish road by
Cayey to San Juan, n returning next
morning over the new American road
from Arecibo to Ponce; the scenery
was wonderfully beautiful, especially
among the mountains Of the interior,
which constitute a ve1itable tropic
Switzerland. | could not embark at
a Juan because the harbor has not
been dredged out and can not receive
an American battlesn1p. | do not
think this fact creditable to us as a
nation, and earnestly hope that i'm
mediate provision will 1e made for
dredging San Juan harbor.
l doubt whether Our people as a
whole realize the beauty and fertility
OF Porto Rico, n the progress that
has been made under its admirable
government. We have just cause for
pride in the character of our repre-
sentatives who nave 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 a more faithful, a
more efficient and a more disinterest-
ed public service than that now be-
ing rendered in the island Of Porto
Rico by those in control of the insular
government.
| StOpt at a dOZen towns all told, and
II of the notable features il every
town was the gathering Of the school
children. The work that mas been done
in Porto Rico for education has been
noteworthy. The main emphasis, as
is eminently wise n proper, has
been put upon primary education; but
in addition to this there is a normal
school, an agricultural 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 CT the
next generation, but also az Tar as
"a will permit to train them SO
that the industrial, agricultural, and
commercial opportunities Of the island
can be utilized to the 5est possible. ad-
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 i'll
it, and were ~endeayOring to train their
pupils, not only in mind, but in what
counts for far more than mind IN
citizenship, that is, in character.
| was very much struck by the eS-
cellent 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 Cf the island. The in
sula 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 cody will be
kept permanent. There should GER
tainly be troops in the island, and it
is wise that these troops should be
themselves native Porto Ricans. 1t
would be from every standpoint a
mistake not to perpetuate this regi-
ment.
In traversing the island even the
most curs0ry 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 is
land has ever known before Or since
the American occupation. The total
Of exports and imports OF the island
was forty-fve millions Of dollars as
against eighteen millions in 1901 h
is the largest in the islands history.
Prior to the American occupation the
greatest trade for IN Il year was
that of 1896, when il reached nearly
twenty-three millions ot dollars. Last
year, therefore, there was double the
trade that there was in the most pros
proaIs year under the spanish regime.
There were 210,273 tons of sugar ex-
ported last year. of the value OF s14,-
1876. 319: 1856 63 Of tobacco. and 49,
290,3 1922 pounds OF coffee of the value of
So, 4S1, 102. Unfortunately, what used
to be Porto Rico's prime crop-cohee
has not shared this prosperity. 1t
has never recovered from the disaster
Of the hurricane, and moreover, the