The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-12-21

Observation-Disclosures Rooseyelt's
message, describing conditions In por.
to Rico, and making recommendations
Tor legislation he believes necessary,
was read to the congress. 1t is as fol.
lows!
To the Senate and House Of Represen.
tatiyes:
On November q ! visited the island
Of Porto Rico, landing at Ponce, cross.
ing by the old Spanish road by Cayey
10 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 yeritable troplc
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 creditabIe 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
mas been made under Its admirable
government. We have Just cause for
pride In the character Of our represen.
tatlyes who have administered the
tropic Islands which came under our
nag as a result OF the war with Spain.
and OF no n Of them Is this more
true than OF Porto Rico. It would be
impossible to wish a more faithful, q
more efficient and q more disinter.
ested public service than that now be.
Ing rendered in the island of Porto
Rico by those in control of the lnsular
government.
i stopped at a dozen towns all told.
and n 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
mas 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 Ia a
normal school, and agricultural school.
three industrial and three high
schools. Every effort is being made to
secure not only the benefits OF Gle.
mentary education to all the Porto
Ricans OF the next generation, but
also as far as leans will permit to
train them so that the industrial, agri.
cultural and commercial opportunities
OF the island can be utilized to the
best possible advantage. II was evil
dent at a glance that the teachers.
both Americans and native Porto
Rlcans, were devoted TO their work.
took the greatest pride in 1t, 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 ex.
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 OF the island. The in.
sular police ere under the local Porto
Riean government. The Porto Rican
regiment OF troops must be- appro.
priated for by the congress. +. carr
estly hope that this body viii be Ke,1t
permanent. There should certainly be
troops In the island. and It is wise
that these troops should be themselves
native Porto Ricans, II wonld be
from every standpoint a mistake not
to perpetnate this regiment.
In traversing he island even the
most cursory survey leaves the be.
holder struck with the evident rand
growth In the culture both OF the su.
gar cane and tobacco. The fruit In.
dustry is also growing, Last year was
the most prosperous year that the
Island has ever known before or since
the American occupation. The total
Of exports and Imports Of the island
was S45,ooo,0 900, as against $4,000, 900
In 1901. This Is the largest In the
Islands history. Prior to the Ameri.
can occupation the greatest trade for