Evening star., 1938-06-13
Defends Reconstruction
Progress in Puerto Rico
To the Editor Of The Star:

TO the Editor OF The Star:
have read with considerable interest
and-as would be expected, with some
sappointment-the article 1.-THE New
Deal in Puerto Rico" which appeared in
the May 20 issue Of The Star.
This article, well written indeed, at
tempts to present certain Of the economic
and social problems of the island and
comments rather officially on the al
legged failure of the Puerto Rico Recon-
| struction Administration to effect their
| solution in the two and one half years
| Of its operation.
The need for continental taxpayers to
know what is being done with Federal
funds is so important and there is such
a need to enlighten the general public
about this island that one must be ap-
preciative Of the attention given it by
| The Star. This does not minimize the
fact that, before attempting to analyze
the islands problems or to criticize the
P. r. r. A., the writer of the article in
question apparently did not look too
deeply into the subject.
1t would be intruding upon the in
dulgence Of your readers to attempt in
| this letter to set the writer straight on
the P. r. r. A. program, since such would
| involve an analysis of the socio-economic
| problems OF the island which he un-
doubtedly surveyed, but the important
points OF which he unfortunately missed
altogether in several instances The
searching socio-economic analysis which
he suggests should be made has been
| made. So far as the law appropriating
the monies allotted to the p. r. r. A.
will permit the program is proceeding
along the lines revealed by this survey.
| The so-called new program" (Which he
| feels is no better than the "old") is
simply reappraisal of the limitations
| Of the present organization. Plans for
the future-which incidentally are hoped
to aid the tourist program-extend quite
way beyond the manufacture of paper
and glass, which he feels is impracti-
cable.
Because of it's colonial status its Pc
culiar agricultural economy, which has
resulted IN the concentration of the best
lands and the biggest business in a rela-
lively small number of hands, the island s
wealth has been steadily increasing, and
yet-the lot OF 30 per cent of its popula-
ton has grown steadily worse. The
problems OF Puerto Rico, including that
OF overpopulation, will be solved only
when the wealth Of the island is more
equltably distributed; when the great
mass OF the people is lifted from a state
OF poverty unparalleled under the Ameri-
can nag; when the thousands of waste
| acres OF land are put into cultivation:
when food crops and livestock take their
proper place in the islands agricultural
picture; when other crops supplement
or substitute coffee and tobacco: when
found fpr
| the manufacture OF sugar, and when the
lndustrlalization OF these crops will fill
| the island with opportunities for employ
ment. Men must work in order to live
| this is fundamental. Until this problem
is solved slums, diseases, increasing pop
ulation and consequent relief burden
| are inevitable in Puerto Rico.
The Puerto Rico Reconstruction Ad-
ministration is working on such a pro-
gram. There is abundant evidence that
it can claim success, even though II is
readily recognized that it will take years
to undo that which has been decades in
developing. No one in this organization
entertains any illusions that the P, R.
r. A. will reclaim all the land, build all
the houses, initiate all the new industries
or crops needed. The conditions existing
have resulted from slowly developing
economic and social trends It is to be
hoped that perhaps the Puerto Rico Re-
construction Administration may assist,
with the aid of insular forces and an
aroused insular consciousness, In arrest
Ing these trends and in guiding them into
more equitable channels II SO, 1t should
merit the support Of all thinking persons,
MILES H. FAIRBANK,
Assistant Administrator.
Puerto Rico Reconstruction
Administration.