Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1906-12-20

ihbpbtNtil n
message, describing conditions in Por-
to Rico, and making recommendations
Tor legislation he believes necessary.
was read to the congress. IL is as fol.
lows:
To the Senate int House of R~epresen-
tatives:
On November Fl ! visited the island
OF Porto Rico. landing at Ponce, cross.
Ing by the old Spanish road by Cayey
to San Juan. and returning next morn.
Ing over the new American road from
Arecibo TO Ponce; the scenery was
wonderfully beautiful, especially
among the mountains of the interior,
which constitute a veritable tropic
Switzerland. | could not embark at
San Juan because the harbor has not
been dredged out and can not receive
an American b~attleship. / do not
think this fact creditable to us as a
nation. and | earnestly hope that i'm.
mediate provision will be made for
dredging San Juan harbor.
| 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 for
pride In the character Of our represen.
tatives who have administered the
tropic islands which anne under our
nag as a result OF the var 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. n
more efficient and n more disinter.
ested public service than that now be.
ing rendered in the island of Porto
Rico by those in control OF the insular
government.
] stopped at a dozen towns all told.
and one OF the notable features in
every town was the gathering of the
school children. The work that has
been done in Porto Rico for education
has been noteworthy. The main EN-.
phasis, as is eminently wise and prop
or. has been put upon primary educa-
ton; but in addition to this there is a
normal school. and agricultural school.
three industrial and three high
schools. Every effort is being made to
secure not only the benefits of ele-
mentary 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. agri-
cultural and commercial opportunities
of he island can be utilized to the
best possible advantage. 1t was evi.
dent at a glance that the teachers.
both Americans and native Porto
Ricans, were devoted to their work.
took the greatest pride in 1t, and were
~endeavoring 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 ex-
cellent character both OF the insular
police and Of the Porto Rican reg
ment. They are both of them bodies
that reflect credit upon the American
administration OF the island. The in
sular police are under the local Porto
Rican government. The Porto Rican
regiment of troops must be appro-
priated foT by the congress. earn.
estly hope that hi h3dy will be kept
permanent TheIU shcn;d certainty DO
troops In the island. and II Is wise
that these troops should be themselves
native Porto Ricans j, world be
from every standpoint a mistake no;
to perpetuate thi1 regiment.
In trayersins re island even the
most eursOry survey leaves the be
holder struck with the evident rapid
growth In the cni,ure both 81 the su.
gar cas- - tobacco. The fruit in.
dnstry Is also Enowing. Last year was
the osost prosperous year that the
island has ever krO vn before or slnca
the American occupation. The total
Of exports and imports OF the island
was si5.0 0o. Oo0. as against SIS. O00, 900
in 1901. This is the larges: in the
islands history. Prior TO the Ameri.
can occupation the greatest trade for