Evening star., 1950-02-12

in the political deVelopment OF the
island.
In the social and economic fields
the new Governor has tackled the
most difficult problem confronting
any county or community in the
Americas. That is how to make
the most overcrowded and densely
populated island this side of Japan
some 600 inhabitants to the
square mile-more self-supporting
Naturally, if left to its own local
resources Puerto Rico could never
even supply itself with the barest
necessities of life.
SLUMS CLEANED UP
In spite of this grim outlook,
under Munoz' leadership some of
the largest slum- m-clearance and
housing projects ever attempted
in Latin America have already
been undertaken and completed.
Although these were started previ-
GUS to the beginning of his COVER
norship. it was after he had be-
come the head of the dominant
party and the leader Of all legis-
lative activities. Health and sani-
tation facilities in the cities have
been expanded. New hospitals and
schools, both urban and rural, have
been built. Notwithstanding the
fact that the population increases
so rapidly it is like keeping a leaky
bucket filled with water, more and
better medical services are being
provided for the children and
poorer people of the small towns
throughout the island.
But the part of the Muno2
program that has created the
greatest interest in the other Ca
ribbean islands and countries is
the ambitious industrialization
campaign. The dream Of indus
trialization obsesses the mind OF
every politician. business man and
labor leader in Latin America
But few of them have devised
anything like the practical plans
or provided such attractive in
ducements to bring it about. Most
competent observers will tell you
that except for those of Uruguay
and one or two other southern
countries the Puerto Rican gov
ernment is the only one that has
created what the State Depart
ment has described as "a favor
able climate" for outside private
investment.
In order to do this no govern
ment has worked against greater
odds. Puerto Rico not only lacks
land, room to accommodate its
vast population, but it has prac-
tically no natural resources. The
only natural asset it has is people,
great reservoir of labor. Work
ing against all the handicaps of a
poor and overpopulated land it
has managed, with the help of the
United States of course, to give
more people higher standard of
living than any other Caribbean
island. And it already has a more
diversified manufacturing industry
than any of it's neighbors, not ex-
cepting Cuba or the fabulously
Oil rich country of Venezuela.
PROGRESS IN INDUSTRY
Under the Munoz program of in
dustrialization more than fifty
new factories, ranging from ce-
ment plants to rayon mills, have
been established. Only five Of
these are government owned ano
operated, including cement
plant, a glass bottle factory, a
shoe factory, ceramic plant ano
a cardboard factory. Two OF
these, the cement and glass-bottle
plants, are already making g
handsome profit. Yet they were
built largely as experiments to
prove htaPuerto Rican labor
and management could do the
job, as well as to supply island
necessities.
AS an inducement to private
capital. local and foreign, to joir
in the procession, the govern
ment offers a 10-year tax-exemp-
tion on all new plants and pro-
ductive investments. 1t has built
factory buildings, and even
equipped some of them for sale
or lease at low cost to private
companies. Some Is of these are
now in operation. More i'm
portant still. private capital itself
has established % different plants
large and small, within the past
two years. In all cases the gov
eminent has encouraged, fur
nished guidance and even assisted
in providing and training labor
and personnel.
Today more than 1875 different
commodities are processed anc
manufactured, or assembled or
the island. These products cover
a wide range of things in every
day use-automobile bodies, bath
tubs, blankets, cigarettes. eye
glasses, furniture. hats, mirrors
radio receivers. soap, textiles and
Zippers. More than 20 various
items are produced for export to
the United States. These include
such things as radio sets, rugs
chinaware, buttons, lace. card
board and fur coats.
LOW LABOR COSTS
Among the principal advantages
in manufacturing for export to
the mainland is low labor cost
Not that there is any such evil as
"sweated labor" in Puerto Rico
Wages and salaries are less, OF
course, but it costs much less to
live in the tropics-no heat, heavy
clothing or other costly winter
necessities. Also, there is a great
er supply of labor.
At any rate, here is one COM
munity of people, a community OF