The Red Cloud chief., 1912-05-30

winter IL always summer,
and the summer months--as
" far as temperature IL con.
cerned---do not vary mucn |
from those of winter. II Is certainly
an ideal resort for those who wish to
escape the cold.
The climate, however, is not the
only attraction. The customs. cos
tunes and habits Of the Spanish peo-
pie have not been entirely obliterated
after IL years Of American control.
and the observant visitor finds much
to amuse and instruct during brief
stay. While there are many Ameri'
cans here, some In official positions.
others engaged In commercial pur-
suits. the Spanish language Ia largely
used, and especially so in all business
transactions. A nation may be con-
quered and annexed. the people may
be reconciled to the change In govern
ment, but they will cling to their ma
tive tongue until It 10 gradually oblit'
Grated by generations Of time and the
influence OF schools on the children.
writes d. w. Grubb. in the Indianapo-
liz News.
The civil government of Porto Rico
consists OF q governor. an executive
council (the upper house), and the
house Of delegates (the lower house).
The upper house has membership OF
II. all appointed by the president. and
six Of these must be native born
Americans. and Ave citizens and resi-.
dents Of the island. The lower house
has a membership Of IS. all chosen By
popular vote in the various districts.
Some idea may be had Of the prepon-
derance Of the native voter and Of his
loyalty to those Of his own race. when
| It 10 known that only one native Oorn
American holds membership In the
lower house-which Is elective-while
in the upper house-appointed by the
president-six Americans and five
Porto Ricans make up the entire mem.
bership.
Certainly tho natives have no rea.
son for complaint as to their influence
In the legislative department. In the
legislature and In the courts the Span
ish language is used, and all the pub
| lie records are made up in that Ian.
guage. II no greater progress Is made
here than was the case in the state
Of New Mexico. this island will be
Spanish--as far as language is con.
cerned-for sixty or more years to
come. Education. however. is doing
more for the people Of Porto Rico than
It did for those in New Mexico. The
system Of public schools here 10 fair
ly good and is being improved and ex.
tended from year to year. There are
good school buildings In nearly all the
school districts. and many Of them arc
Of class that would be credit to
some Of the large cities Of the north.
iIlltsraey on Decrease.
At the time Of the American occu.
pancy Of this island the illiteracy Of
the population was 81 per cent. Today
among the adults-the percentage
Of illiteracy 10 still great. but Of those
under fifteen years. there are few who
cannot read and WRITE OF course, In
some of the remote and sparsely set.
tied districts schools are scarce. and
possibly not up to date. but. ON the
whole, progress has been made and ID
still being made and results have been
satisfactory.
OAicial records Of 1899 give the
number of children enrolled II
schools at that time as 25.79S. There
was only one schoolhouse In the ibland
built for school purposes. Scarcely
half a dozen schools were taught In
public buildings, and the remainder
were, a. q rule. conducted In rented
houses. many Of them unsanitary. In
adequate In size. having no propel
equipment. and often providing but
scant protection from the inclemenciei
OF the weather.
The number Of pupils has mor<
than quadrupled. During the tel
years, beginning with the fiscal yeal
1901. there has been expended In thu
, educational activities Of Porto Rict
$9,3S9. .121.97. divided as follows
, Buildings. &903. 3.62s.1s; books. equip
. ment, administration. ETC.. $3.50.
! 2SS. 90, and instruction. including sal
aries and scholarships. $4.S05. 1903 80
! The continuation Of progress is showI
by an increase from 105.125 pupils en-
: rolled during the fiscal year 1909, I,
IN enrolment OF 121.463 during tn,
, last year in all public schools. beini
! an increase OF approximately II Pc
, cent. for the year.
There are now S31 buildings use,
for rural schools. and 204 for school,
0 In cities and towns. . total OF 1.O2
!. schoolhouses. AZ rapidly - avail