The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-10-30
Porto RICO ~ 1909. 10.

| Ths annual report OF the GoVernnT Of Pors
Rico for The year 1870 10, Just received by the
Bureau OF insulAr Affairs Of the War Depar tmenL
shows commendable progress. According 70
the census Of 1899 the island had an area Of asOs
square miles and population Of ssA - densss
population than that Of any American stats
or Territory except Massachusetts. while the
census Just taken will show population OF soma
thing over ODOD or $40 per square mile. rk's
population Is composed largely Of working and
prod ucing people. happy and industrious and
capable % greatly Increased activities WITH the
Improved conditions that are promised.
Tnul . year ago men Of energy and means has
become discouraged over local condition. and tbs
apparent uncertainty which prevailed a. 10 the
future. and they were inclined tn dispose Of ther
Interests and leave tho island To day there
eKists through the island . gratifying spirtt
Of confidence Ia the future Of business enter.
prtses and capitalists have extended their inyes-
rnents and operations The island IL endowed
with nne natural AdvAn tages, and backed by this
Increasing confidence Of capital Il should show
increased farming and Industrial activity snd
prosperity along all lines The record % TIE
last year seems fully TO Justify the confidence
now en- t~rtained for the future
one of the most conspicuous evidences %
the growth Of con AUDIENCE In the Industrial develop
ment OF the island WAS the establishment lass
year Of branches Of twenty two foreign oorpors
Hons with . capital stock OF sI.iiO.ii:. and ths
org AniIa uon Of thirty two domestic corpora
tons. with . combined capital Of ts.s0sOoo. -
the eud Of the previous year iisdomesuc cofporA"
lions with authorized capital amounting -
corporations. registered with authorized capital
OF iese. a5s go. were engaged In business.
The total value Of all property In the island
based on . va,uation 81 about N per cent 10
si7i ~ lee. compared with q total valuation
OF Ui1siss7s IN 1909. The present valuation :.
divtded a. follows Personal property, SIS Sss
els and real property. 90 32s T1s. Taking int
consideration the usual percentage 81 omissions
and characterization. the per capita wealth Of ne
island. based on the census Of 1909 Is estimated
81 about 500.
The total net public debt 10 At1sso. or sbou,
- per cent 81 the assessed valuation and -
per cent. ~ tire actual value % the property IN
the island. The statements covering trsnsaetlcos
of banking Institutions show their total resources
on June M last - have been tsae..si an 10.
crease ~ - cent over those 81 the end Of ihs
hsral year 81 iae Tho deposits and cash re-
sources At the md NJ each Of the last three years
indicate ,o some sItent the rapid but healthy n.
ereaAe IN business that has taken place dur1g
that period From 500 s2S In 1914 oash -
sources Jumped IN Siu SIS IN 1910 and more 'tA1
kept pace with the increase ~ deposits from
~ ?ns Tao to tii.0ei.s0. Operations and essh %
hand indicate more nooey IN the hLand All
larger eirculstlon az the present time than ''''
before These statistics represent only the ron'
dition and operation 81 the nine recognized hAr'.
ing Institutions ~ the island but are given +"
fairly Indicative Of the financial progress BE-
made Many ~ the commercial houses follow
ing the customs NJ spanish times. are s'i! gr'
forming functions usually res~rvef 70 bah''
The rates on good commercial al ] piAnters psHeT'
which untli recently have been 10 W !, yer oeeh
have decreased 10 an average ~ ato 10 per rrr'
uhii. the present sound conditions and conhf'r
in their continuance augur Ull further redrch'h
during the coming year
The total alue Of the foreign commerce Of -
island Witch Amounted To SiTSn2 100 - 20 '7
creassd 20 ~ 20 ia In 1910. an increase Of ~
,nutIaIIy ~ per cont Imports smouned N
vsIuA ton ~ sso 49, ass. and exports 10 81 oo
leaving a substantial balance Of trade 10 %
Of the island Of 8; a25.sis About IS per cent ~
the total trade value represents shlpmenn 20 ~
from the IRIted States A. q custoFnsr ~V~r'
sam the island RANKS twelfth preceding emo's
other cOun tries. Russia. spainAIApsufa- ChHs
Japan. Turkey. all countries Of Central and sou
America except Argentina aad all OF she ~.
indies Iis purchases In the United Ststes
greater than those % other non Contiguous ~
iran territory The fact that only shout ~
cent Gifts land f. under cultivation Sfu poss
convey . concrete impression OF TIE ehst'
Industrial condition OF the island end ~ Pc
blnuss win The sStsnKlou of iatepavs Nee
AETigainIAl mSthO1s- -. ----.s e.