The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26
PORTO RICO HAS
 MADE PROGRESS Wonderful Results of Amer
 ican Rule
A FEW STATS TICS
External Commerce Quadrupled in 10 Years-Islanders Are Affected With HookwOrm-Scienti
 Seeking a Remedy
By SIDNEY EsPEY

Washington, May 25.-(special. )--In advocating the passage of a bill which would establish a department of agri- culture in Porto Rico, a prominent citi- zen of that island told the House com mittee on insular affairs that during its few years under American govern ment Porto Rico has advanced in civili- zation further than it has done during the preceding 400 years. He said that the establishment of department of agriculture will necessitate an executive council. of which seven members should be Americans and five Porto Ricans, but stated that the people of the island arc not worrying over giving additional power to the citizens of the United States.
 We have no criticism for Americans in Porto Rico" he said. They have done and are doing and will do great good. The department, which this bill would create. is very necessary 10 the welfare of the island"
 According to figures furnished by the department of commerce and labor, the external commerce of Porto Rico quadrupled in the years between 1901 and 1911 and Is still increasing at a rapid rate It now amounts to nearly $SO 100000 a year. Seven -eighths of this trade is with the United States, and in 1911 only 12 others countries bought more goods of the American manufacturers than Porto Rico. Internal business has fourished also Taxable values in seven. years have in- creased from less than $90,0o0,000 to $l6O,- 000 GOO. Agriculture also has enjoyed an unprecedented expansion. Sugar exports have quintupled, and now approximates 340O0O tons a years Exports of cigars last year were If times greater than d decade ago. Today 150,0OO school children are en- rolled. This Is six times greater than when the United states unfurled the flag of freedom there. Then the masses of the people were iliterate, now a thorough system of education has been instituted, greatly to the advantage of the rising generation.
 Under the old regime the Porto Ricans had the poorest food and the cheapest clothing, Now the people have plenty of good food and are blessed with shoes and apparel appropriate to the climate. This was rendered possible by an ad- vance in wages, which averages some thing like 300 per cent, and the shifting of taxation to those best able to bear 1.-the sugar barons. These planters and 1fldnuIdclulelS pay pIdCtiSdliy olic-hoiA Oi the lnsular budget of Porto Rico. or SS,- S00000 year. Out of this sum $l,2O0,O0O is spent on education.
 The great majority of Porto Ricans de- sire to become citizens of the United States. They feel that they should have a definite status. A law to this effect has already been passed by the United States House of Representatives but has not as yet been sanctioned by the Senate. If the Senate concurs with the House on the bill 1t is believed the Porto Ricans will make even greater progress in the next decade than they have in the last 10 years.
 An article on Caribbean politics says. "The death rate of the island has been cut down from 40 per thousand In 1901 to 22 per thousand in 1911. In other words there would have been more than 10000 additional deaths in Porto Rico last year had the death rate of 1901 continued to this timei''
 The hookworm disease has been great curse to these islanders It is estimated that 90 out of every 100 working people are infected Over SO0,00O eases of this wasting disease have been cured, but there are still 300,Go0 cases in the island. It is a disease which makes Of llfe living death.
 Tn this connection it may prove inter- esting to the readers of this article to note that a group or scientists unuer tue auspices of the United States government will meet in Washington next september for the purpose of adopting systematic campaign against this scourge.
 Statistics prepared by the Rockefeller sanitary commission show that hookworm infection belts the earth in zone about 66 degrees wide, extending from parallel 36 north to parallel 30 south. or the for eign countries from which the commission received reports 54 are infected. In six of these countries-Wales, Germany, Nether- lands Belgium, France and Spain-the h. lection is wholly or chiefly confined to mines. In at least 46 countries the infec- ton is general and widespread, These countries have an area of II, i6i,15S square miles with nearly billion inhabitants
 In addition, the report of the commits sion shows that Il of our own states with a population in excess of 20o0o,000 are also in the infected belt, and that of the total population of the world-about l. 6OO,O00 people, 96-160ths of that number live in countries where hookworm disease is prevalent.
 Hygienic experts declare they have run the hookworm to it's lair, and that the forthcoming Congress on hygiene and demography will Illustrate what has been accomplished by the preventive measures suggested at their last congress, held in Berlin in September, 1903.
 Undoubtedly the inhabitants of Porto Rico are vitally concerned and will watch the deliberations of the congress with intense interest.
 
 Six Years Building a Clock