Evening star., 1936-05-10
ands clipping above the $5o,o0o,0oo


mark.
These great centrals not only own
and control the sugar land of Puerto
Rico, but take an additional toll from
the island through the grinding of
sugar cane for the Independent grow
ers It is estimated that their mills
grind 25 per cent of the remaining so
land. Seventy-five per cent of the
sugar cane production of the island,
therefore, goes through their mills one
way or the other. And the small
grower, or colono, pays the mills price
for this grinding contract that is
never favorable to himself.
For he must take the mills test for
the sucrose content of his cane. Fun
mel system" he calls it, he getting the
little end Of the funnel. For he has
already had the expense of cultivation,
of interest on borrowed money to
finance his crop, taxes on his land
and the hazards Of nature incident to
its growing.
Storms Take Toll.
It would be unjust, however, to sad
die ali Of Puerto Rico's ills upon the
sugar exploitation of the island. There
are other contributing factors. Chief
of these is the hurricane which sweeps
the island from time to time. Two of
these in recent years have virtually
wiped out coffee production on the
island-1928 and 1882. In those years
coffee production sank to the lowest
levels ever known on the island, 5,000,-
900 and 5000. 900 pounds, respectively.
Previously the annual production Of
Puerto Rican coffee ran between 30,-
600, 900 and 100000 pounds.
With the passing Of the years, how
ever, and the replanting Of the coffee
plantations, coffee is beginning to
come back into the picture. Last year
the production was around 1000 900
pounds, with a rise to 10000, 900 and
II ,000, 900 for the two years preceding.
This years crop is estimated at near
20. .000, 900 pounds. But foreign quotas
are making this figure valueless for
additional revenue to the island.
Tobacco production for the years
around 25,000,0o0 pounds annually
remains fairly constant:
What, in detail, is Federal aid doing
for Puerto Rico?
"A readjustment Of economic and
social conditions in Puerto Rico,
says the Puerto Rican Relief Admin
istration, requires the restoration of
the devastation wrought by tropical
storms, the sterilization Of agricul-
ture, the establishment of markets,
the creation Of employment and social
education. Puerto Rico is pre- DOM
inantly agricultural and absentee
ownership has driven those formerly
dependant upon the soil to the al
ready congested urban areas which
are lacking in proper and adequate
housing facilities. Consequently, it is
of the utmost Importance to encourage
the return to the rural areas Of the
farmers and farm workers by restor-
ing farm lands to them"
Follows Same Pattern.
Rural rehabilitat therefore, fol-
lows the same general line that 1t fol-
lows in the States and elsewhere.
There is the construction of COM
munity centers and the establishment
Of subsistence farms. There Is re-
settlement Of the poor native back on
marginal sugar lands, the making of
it possible for him to own q small
acreage, decent living quarters for
himself and family, an opportunity to
regain that independence which was
once his, though not fleshed greatly
with worldly goods.
With the purchase of this land goes
loans for the purchase of farm tools
and farm equipment to make it pos
sible for the worker to raise him some
sugar cans, coffee, tobacco, pineapple
or cotton
Rural electrification in thk, island