AGRICULTURE AND MINES.

The subject of agriculture is of prime importance to the people of Porto Rico. The wealth of the island, lies in the soil. Given good roads, the enrichment-and with or without roads-the comfort, happiness, indeed, the very existence, of the masses depend upon the proper planting, care, and cultivation of the soil. This fact was certainly as apparent to the authorities throughout the centuries of Spanish rule as it is now; yet the records fail to show any real attempts to enlighten, instruct, or encourage the agriculturists. Hence we find them poor farmers, without knowledge of the adaptability of products to soil, selection of seed, correct methods of cultivation, or proper implements. Sugar cane, coffee, and tobacco have received most attention, but the production of these has been by ancient methods. Fruits and vegetables, upon which I believe the wealth and prosperity of the island will rest in the near future, have grown wild or been cultivated but poorly for home consumption only.

The report of the chief, bureau of agriculture and mines (Exhibit C)— unfortunately a bureau in name only as yet, because of lack of means to operate its functions-presents the condition and needs of the agricultural interests of the island ably and clearly. It is to be regretted that the way did not seem open for the granting of the small appropriation asked for to permit the bureau to circulate information of value to the tillers of the soil.

I sincerely hope, however, that the anticipation of an appropriation by the Congress for the establishment of one or more experiment stations on the island, and which constituted the alleged bar to appropriating insular funds, may be speedily realized and the teaching of agriculturists the arts of preparing soil, selecting right kinds of plants and seeds, proper planting, correct cultivation, and profitable harvesting and marketing will be begun. With a population bordering on 1,000,000 people, we can not hope to drive poverty and want from Porto Rico by any other means. The mining interests of the island have not proved of value, but future exploiting may develop rich deposits.

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PUBLIC LANDS AND FORESTS.

The matter of public lands and the difficulties of the situation concerning them are treated in my report to the Secretary of the Interior, inclosed; and on pages 8 to 11, inclusive, will be found the list of such lands and lots determined to that date. By the treaty of Paris all so-called Crown or public lands in Porto Rico were transferred to the United States. The act to establish civil government in Porto Rico provides that the commissioner of the interior “shall have charge of all public buildings, grounds, and lands, except those belonging to the United States." This department has not, therefore, undertaken to determine accurately the location and extent of public lands.

I have discovered a distinction between "Crown" and "state" lands, the latter meaning lands belonging to the island, and in the event of efforts to classify the public lands there may arise questions for judicial adjustment. I have therefore directed careful inquiry into all cases of "discovery" of public lands in the possession of individuals, whatever their claim, and have caused the records and papers in all such cases to be classified and arranged. This work is being done with much care in the division of lands and forests and will prove of value in the final adjustment of the land question.

THE TELEGRAPH SERVICE,

On February 1, 1901, the telegraph system of Porto Rico, pursuant to previous agreement, was turned over to the insular government, and by your order was taken charge of by this department and denominated the bureau of insular telegraph.

Prior to American occupation the telegraph system of the island belonged to the Government and was an elaborate and expensive organization. At the time of invasion the United States Signal Corps took charge of the stations as the army advanced and of the whole system finally, retaining control until the transfer, as above stated. The old tape instruments were displaced by sound instruments and the American Morse alphabet was substituted for the Continental Morse alphabet.

The news of the contemplated transfer was the signal for numbers of those who had been employed as operators under the old system to make a rush for positions. But as only a few claimed to understand the alphabet in use or to read by sound, and feeling that they were entitled to preference, I considered the question of restoring the old instruments. I discovered, however, that the instruments, except about a dozen, had been destroyed when the offices were abandoned, or had been carried away. I was unable to find any inventory or list of the telegraph property turned over and was assured that none. had ever been made. New instruments of the pattern used are expensive, and, as they would have to be ordered from France, there was not time to order and receive them before the date of transfer. There was also objection made by the best patrons of the lines to a change from approved modern methods to an antiquated system. I therefore determined to retain the system as conducted, but I gave notice that all native operators who could prove a reasonable degree of proficiency in the operation of the instruments, or were willing to learn, would have employment. Some were given places, others are practicing, and to all who wish to learn every possible facility of instruction will be given. In order to continue service without interruption I retained enough signal-service operators, who took their discharges, to man the important offices, but without any guaranty whatever of permanent employment. As they drop out I anticipate filling

their places with natives who by attention and practice have become competent.

Prior to American occupation nearly every town and hamlet on the island had a telegraph office. The hurricane of 1899 destroyed the lines generally, and the Signal Corps restored communication only with the large towns, so that the system was, and is now, very much reduced from its former magnitude. Arrangements are being perfected to open up some abandoned offices, but places that can furnish no revenue can not now be favored.

In receiving the telegraph system it was well understood that the receipts could not be made to pay the expense. It has been organized on the most economical basis conceivable and will be so conducted, yet there will be a monthly deficit unless the business largely increases from causes not now contemplated. I submit (Exhibit D) the report of the superintendent of telegraph for the month of February, 1901, giving in detail the organization of the system and a statement of receipts and expenditures.

INSULAR ARCHIVES.

In the organization of this department the public archives were committed to its care. The order covered not merely the piles of ancient documents, irregularly arranged, worm eaten and soiled, and filling several rooms in the intendencia building, but included all the archives to the date of American occupation at the several customhouses of the island.

These were accordingly forwarded in boxes and bundles, and in various stages of wreck and demoralization. It seemed a hopeless task to endeavor to bring order out of such chaos as the mass repreBut the labor of cleaning, examining, restoring, classifying, arranging, filing, and indexing has been steadily pursued, and, although the end is not yet in sight, good progress has been made and the records will soon be in shape for ready reference. True, many of the documents, because of the former methods employed in the conduct of official business, will be of no future value, but it was deemed prudent to care for everything, at least for the time being.

Generally speaking, the public business relating to the several branches of this department has been satisfactorily cared for and results are encouraging. I have been well pleased with the fine spirit, the zeal and fidelity displayed by the employees of the department, nearly all of whom are natives and but few of them able to speak or understand the English language.

Very respectfully,

Hon. CHAS. H. ALLEN,

W. H. ELLIOTT, Commissioner of Interior..

Governor of Porto Rico, San Juan, P. R.

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EXHIBIT A.

BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS OF PORTO RICO,
San Juan, P. R., March 1, 1901.

SIR: In compliance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit herewith a report upon the operations of the board of public works of Porto Rico for the period from May 1, 1900, to date.

Before entering into a detailed statement of the main subjects of the report it will not be amiss to give a short retrospective account of the public works.

Up to about the year 1860 the public works, then of comparatively small extent and principally military in character, were under the supervision of military officers of the Spanish army assisted by civilians, the chief of the latter possessing the title of director. It appears that the first organization took place about 1865, the civil engineers assuming entire control except as to military works, with the director as head of the department.

The organization of the public works remained thereafter under the secretary for the colonies (ministerio de ultramar), the governor-general of the island, and engineer in chief of the public works (jefatura de obras publicas) until the autonomical constitution of the island was promulgated, in February, 1898, when the public works were directly under the secretary of the public works and communications of the insular government.

By a royal order dated May 21, 1881, general laws of public works were enforced, similar to those in existence on the peninsula, which were very elaborate and lucid, though somewhat cumbersome, appertaining to the plans, construction, operation, and preservation of works, mines, telegraphs, and forests.

The creation and execution of these works were left to four different bodies of administration, subject to a general supervision of the colonies, the governorgeneral of the island, and the chief engineer of public works. Their classification was as follows:

First. Works in charge of the state, which embraced high roads and military roads constructed with general funds; the improvement of navigable rivers; harbors of general interest, of refuge, and of military expediency; light-houses and buoys; drainage of marshes, lakes, and inlets; construction, preservation, and operation of railroads of national interest and of general interest, exercising a supervision over the plans, construction, and operation of the same; and civil buildings of the state administration.

Second. Works in charge of the province, which included roads constructed with provincial funds-nearly of the same class as military roads; provincial ports not for commerce of general interest; the sanitation of lakes, marshes, and inundated lands, of special importance only to the province, and public buildings for the service of provincial administration.

Third. Works in charge of municipalities, including local (county) roads; water supply of towns; the drainage of lakes and unhealthy lands; ports of merely local interest; the construction and preservation of buildings of municipal administration, and the maintenance of streets, squares, and boulevards as thoroughfares.

Fourth. Works that might be undertaken by individuals or companies, by special provision under the general law, as highroads and railroads; ports; irrigation and navigation cana's; drainage of lakes and marshes; sanitation of unhealthy lands, and water supply of towns.

This shows at once the wide extent and scope of the organization, and when the Americans took possession of the island all public works enumerated in the above schedule were either projected and executed by the jefatura of public works or more or less controlled by its personnel.

After the American occupation the public works were reorganized under General Brooke, the first military governor of the island, and by the secretary of the

interior, under the same title, "jefatura de obras publicas." Since then, and from time to time as the contingencies of the state of finances required, and mainly, however, to "introduce American methods of business and progress,” as General Henry puts it in one of his general orders, many modifications were made in the organization of the public works, all tending more or less to a simplification of the work and to a more centralized administration, the result being a considerable decrease in its former manifold duties.

The light-house service was separated from the public works and placed in charge of the United States Navy by General Order No. 4, dated January 17, 1899, issued by the second military governor, General Henry.

On February 9, 1899, by General Order No. 15, Maj. Francis L. Hills was appointed chief of the bureau of public works under the newly appointed head of the department of the interior, of which the public works were to be a subdivision. By General Order No. 21, 1899, the "junta de obras de puerto de San Juan,” having had charge of the harbor works since about 1882, under the supervision of the public works department, was abolished as "not being compatible with American methods," and its duties were transferred to a navy officer and to an engineer officer of the Army, as inspector and engineer, respectively.

To "still simplify administration and reduce expenses "General Order No. 116, published August 12, 1899, discontinued the department of the interior with which the bureau of public works was connected, and placed the latter under the control of a board of public works to which were assigned duties respecting the construction, repair, and maintenance of military and country roads, including bridges, and of public buildings used for civil purposes; also the improvement and maintenance of harbors and establishment of harbor lines, the supervision of construction of wharves, docks, and slips, and the construction, repair, and maintenance of light-houses and beacons. The harbor works were also discontinued as a separately organized body and were retransferred to the public works, but the inspection of light-houses and buoys remained in the hands of the United States Navy.

The board of public works constituted under this order consisted of Capt. W. V. Judson, United States Corps of Engineers, as president, and Mr. F. L. Hills and Mr. Juan B. Rodriguez, civil engineers, as advisory members. Mr. Hills shortly after resigned on account of ill health and Mr. P. Fernandez, principal assistant engineer, was assigned to his place.

Many extensive and elaborate improvements were inaugurated by this board. With the exception of a few Spanish contracts all other contracts for new roads and bridges-of which a detailed statement is given below-that were completed during the present year, or that are now in force, were made under its direction. the personnel of the board remaining unchanged until the advent of the civil government on May 1, last, when the undersigned, by General Order No. 102, dated April 30, 1900, was appointed president of the board.

By the Foraker bill, which became a law on May 1, 1900, the light-houses, buoys, harbor areas, and navigable rivers, heretofore in charge of the public works, were transferred to United States authorities, the new civil government retaining control of public bridges, road houses, water powers, highways, unnavigable streams and the beds thereof, subterranean waters, mines or minerals under the surface of private lands, property of various harbor boards, harbor shores, slips, docks, and reclaimed lands.

Of these works, public roads, bridges, and buildings, harbor lands and shores, and the duties, responsibilities, records, and employees of the board of public works, with duties as now, were transferred to the newly-created department of the interior by General Order No. 102, dated April 30, 1900, to constitute henceforth a subordinate bureau of the same.

With its former duties very much abrogated the work assigned to the board