The Red Cloud chief., 1912-05-30

able funds permit new buildings are
being erected for school purposes. ~
having been built during the last year.
An enrolment Of 1924 pupils In night
schools throughout the island. and a
large proportion being adults employ
cd during the day, Ia evidence or the
general desire for education that now
prevails.
business seems to be In healthy
condition and shows rapid growth.
The last two years have shown sat
isfactory advances In the prices TOT
all local products. with tho natural
result that hitherto unimproved lands
have been placed under cultivation.
producing large quantities Of tobacco.
sugar cane and fruits OF various kinds.
Production figures show the sugar
crop Of 1911 to have been 346,785 tons.
an increase Of about 25 per cent. over
the previous year. There was an out
put Of 244.000.0OO cigars and 100000.
900 cigarettes, a large increase over
the previous year, and for all Of which
a satisfactory market was found.
| The expectation of coffee amounted
to 100000 pounds. and this was an
increase in production over 1910. The
coffee industry in this island 10 one OF
great possibilities. and has not here
tofore received the attention II o.
serves. but the better prices now pre-
vailing will certainly encourage In
creased production.
The fruit industry 10 enlarging. Last
year the declared value of shipments
Of fruits reached the figure Of $685.
817, while the value of the home con.
eumption-which was large-cannot
be ascertained.
New Capital Invested.
Much new capital Is being invested
In the fruit. tobacco and sugar dis.
tricts; virgin lands are being brought
under cultivation. and all these indus
tries will show important advances
from year to year. There 10 no bet
ter grapefruit than the Porto Rican
product. and the expectation. as we'll
as that Of pineapples. cocoanuts. to-
bacco, coffee and sugar. will increase
in volume and value as the new lands
are brought under cultivation. There
are many kinds Of fruits produced on
this island. some Of which are too deli
cate to admit Of shipment.
There has been a wonderful in.
crease in the external commerce Of
Porto Rico within the last few years.
During the last fiscal year the external
commerce OF the island reached the
sum Of $6S.595,O7 representing an In.
crease Of 40 per cent. over the exter.
nal trade OF 1901 and approximately 81
per cent. over the year ending Juno
80, 1910. This trade consisted OF ex.
ports valued at $37.960.219 and i'm.
ports at $30.634. .S66. the former being
larger by Is per cent. and the latter
BY IL per cent. than during the previ'
Gus year. This indicates . greater In
crease In sales Of home products
abroad than In purchases OF supplies
from without. and shows balance Of
trade In favor Of the island to: the
amount Of &7.326.616.
This 10 Q creditable showing when II
10 considered that agriculture 10 the
principal basis Of prosperity In the
island-that a large proportion Of the
available lands are ~ yet uncultivat
ed. and that only feeble attempt hal
been made at intensive farming OF the
lands now being titled.
, The opportunities here for capable
! and energetic men who have q knowl
, edge Of and feel an interest In thu
growing Of fruits under favorable eli
: matte conditions. are excellent. ant
! are likely to prove profitable. Land
: the strong virgin soil-can be had .
! prices that are not excessive and with
reasonable amount OF capital and Al
: abundance Of energy there can b
only q small chance Of failure for tn,
J intelligent and persistent grower o.
fruits, tobacco and sugar cane. Fros
, | 10 unknown, and for this reason thu
, slogan Of the island 10. "Winter IL al
r ways summer" While this 10 true. 4
. ID equally a. true that there 10 no win
, ter In the summer.
!: The island of Porto Rico 10 charm
= Ing winter resort. In the middle o.
!. winter may be seen cocoa. orange
!. lemon, mango and almond trees. eacl
' bearing fruit Only . short distanc,
, In other directions are fields Of grape
!. fruit and pineapples. while still farther
D on are great plantations OF sugar can,
3 and tobacco. Many kinds OF fruits
z the names OF which are unknown II
r the states. grow here In wild profu
sion and without cultivation. II woult
4 be possible to sustain life the yea,
Q through ON what 10 found growing OF
5 bush and vine and tree every mont
J. In the year.