The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1909-01-23
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that they are situated so far from the
cities that, with the very poor means
Of transportation, it is very difficult to
reach them.
At the largest tcentrals' you find
but six or eight families living in sep
arate houses, and clubhouse housing
80 or 40 unmarried men or men with
out their families.
But even among themselves some
social life would be possible were it
not for the fact that these people come
from SO many social classes them
selves.
The lack of schools for the children
has been a great drawback to men
carrying their families with them, but
there is plan under consideration
now for the government to establish
schools at some of the larger cen
trails for American children. This
will probably be the means of inducing
more men to carry their families with
them, and eventually greatly improve
the social life
Probably the sehooLteachersf form the
largest class of Americans on the is.
land, but, of course, they are very
widely scattered In the larger cities
Of San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez, you
find a great many American teachers,
both men and women, and probably in
these three cities are to be found as
many Americans as in the rest of the
island
San Juan is the center of American
civilization in Porto Rico, and has
been from the first. There are the
government officials, and most of the
men in business of a commercial ma.
ture.
However, in travelling about the in.
terror of the island and in the smaller
coast cities, the larger part Of Amer
leans you meet are teachers. In every
town large enough to be called such
you find a school over which floats
the American flag, and in which the
English language is being taught.
Often the only English-speakfng per
son in the whole town is the teacher
and it may be long, hard trip by
coach or on horseback to the next
town.
Among a strange people, where the
language, food, customs, ETC., are SO
hard to become accustomed to. it often
proves hard life
But in the larger towns the condi
tons are much better. Here YOU gen.
orally find more than one teacher. bet
ter school buildings, and a higher class
of people, with whom it is easier to
mingle.
The tobacco business has already
grown to vast proportions under Amer
lean management, as is evidenced by
the constantly increasing consump.
ton of Porto Rfcan cigars in the
United States. In every town or vii
lage, even among the mountains, to.
bacco is still raised and cigars are
still made as they have been for gen.
erations, but the new tobacco raisers
have planted hundreds and in one case
over 1000 acres in stetch.
which may be seen entirely covered
by cheese cloth to subdue the light
and improve the quality. This indus
try has by no means reached its
height, and, indeed, has the, prospect
of vast future growth.
The coffee raising is also worthy Of
mention, although not developed as yet
to any great extent. Coffee is raised
mostly among the mountains and
Americans have taken it up but little.
However, it has been pronounced the
finest coffee in the world by President
Roosevelt, and when the market for it
is made it will undoubtedly offer
broad field for American interest.
There are also a large number of
minor industries which men from the
United States have entered and at
which they are making fortunes.
Among these are the raising of pine.
apples, cocoanuts, rice and vegetables,
which are sent to the United States for
winter use.