The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-06-28

O:-Can you tell me when the formal possession of Porto
Rico undertaken first Civil Government was
established Also, which important cities
minerals and agriculture? What "bene6ts'' has the IT, S.
extended to Porto Rico?
A:The island of Porto Rico which the flag of the
United States raised in token formal possession on
October 49, 1885, is the of the Antilles
the West Indies and separated the from the
island of ST. Thomas BY distance of about fifty miles and
from Hay the by the Mona passages seventy miles
wide Distances from San Juan, the capital, important
points follows: New York. All miles; Charleston, c.,
1900 miles, Key West, Fla, 1850 miles, Havana 900 miles,
The island is paaeogram in general outline, 108 miles
from the east to the wes and from 81 43 miles the
being about 6O4 miles, somewhat less half
that of the State of New Jersey Delaware has 1850 square
miles and Connecticut 400 square miles,. The population
according enumeration made by the United Govern
men in 1909 is $685. 243 of which 589,426 white and
363,SH coloed The density 200 to the square mile
in 1000; 1872 of the population could read The
population in 1910 is estimated 1,11S,Ol2
Porto Rico is unusually FERTILE and its dominant industries
agriculture and NUMBERING In elevated regions the
vegetation of the temperate is unknown There
than 500 varieties of found the forests and the
plains full of PALM oranges and other The principal
crops sugar, Coffee tobacco and maize but oranges
bananas RICE pneappes and many other fruits important
products The largest article of from Porto Rico
sugar The tobacco Other exports
Coffee fruits, moasses cattle, timber and hides.
The principal minerals found in Porto Rico gold,
carbonate and suphid copper magnetic oxide
large quantities. Ignite found Utuado and Moca and
also yellow amber. large variety of marbles mestones.
and other building deposited the island but these
very undeveloped. There salt works
Guanica and Satina the south and Cape Roo
the west and these constitute principal mineral industries
Porto Rico.
The principal cities Mayaguez, with 18, 739; Ponce,
35O27 inhabtan and San Juan, the capital with 49, 76
The shipments of domestic merchandise from the United States
in Porto Rico, ending June 3d. f9l5 $780, 4S64
The exports domestic merchandise the United States
$42 36635O The foreign trade ending June TO- 1915,
Imports $2,954, 4b5; EXPORTS SO, O449S7 Exports of
sugar United States in year ending June &c. 1915,
$27, 277, 839.
An act providing civil government Porto
passed by the Fysxh Congress and received the
of the President April H. 1900 President Roosevelt in his
message Congress December 1906, recommended the
granting of United States citizenship the Porto Rcans and
bill introduced in the Congress providing
for the same but failed to reach a final vote.
Under this civil government established which
into effect May l, 1900. There Legislature
chambers, the Executive Council upper house, composed
of the Government Secretary, Attorney General Treasurer,
Auditor Commissioner of the INTERIOR and Commissioner of
Education five citizens appointed by the President and
the House of Delegates clover house, consisting of IS
members elected by the people, The island represented in
the Congress of the United States by Resident Commissioner
The Legislature in 1914 authorized issue of bonds in
the of ST. 000 900 for the construction of public i'm
povemens and further of bonds in the of $500
for additional work the irrigation systems, and provided for
secondary railroads subvenoned by the Government of Porto
Rico.
In 1915 made eligible for membership school
boards designated Mothers Day. established system of
juvenile courts authorized the sale abore certain public
and granted former of real sold for
subsequent July 1901 any interested therein;
the right of redemption and provided for the protection OF
Porto Rico cigars from fraudulent Misrepresentation.