PORTO RICO 



4775 



PORTO RICO 



tered in 1916. About one-fourth of these were 

 for the purpose of establishing manufacturing 

 industries. 



Transportation and Communication. There 

 are about 1,000 miles of macadamized roads in 

 Porto Rico, and old roads are being improved 

 rapidly as a result of an annual government 

 appropriation for the construction of highways. 

 A railroad line encircling the island has long 

 been planned, of which about 300 miles have 

 been completed. This railroad has several 

 short branches connecting with various centers 

 of industry, and a new line across the island is 

 being projected. In the wide streets of San 

 Juan and Ponce one sees both oxcarts and 

 ric cars. The residents of these cities enjoy 

 the convenience of private telephones, and 

 telegraphic communication is enjoyed through- 

 out the island, there being about 600 miles of 

 postal telegraph wire. The mail is distributed 

 through eighty post offices. The Postoffice De- 

 ment of the United States controls the 

 railway mail and postal service. 

 Government and Religion. For about two 

 n following the cession of the island to the 

 Tinted States, Porto Rico was under the juris- 

 diction of American military governors. The 

 act providing for civil government of the 

 i-land was passed by Congress in 1900, and this 

 law. with slight amendments, was in force until 

 1917. No provision, however, was made for 

 making the Porto Ricans American citizens, 

 t he law in* this respect was not satisfactory. 

 In 1917 the Congress passed another act for 

 the- government of the Porto Ricans. Accord- 

 ing to this act Porto Ricans have full rights as 

 < -itixi -n< of the United States, though such citi- 

 zenship is not obligatory. The former ap- 

 pointive executive council is replaced by a sen- 

 ' omposed of nineteen members, chosen by 

 ballot by the people of Porto Rico. The lower 

 branch of the legislative department consists 

 of a house of representatives, also elected by 

 'In- people. The governor, who is appointed by 

 President, appoints the following heads of 

 departments: commissioners of in- 

 terior, education, agriculture and labor, and 

 h Commissioners of justice and of 

 : ice the attorney-general and treasurer- 

 are appointed by the President. The leu 



elects a delegate to the United States 

 Congress. The laws passed by the legislature 

 arc subject to the approval of Congress and 

 President. In July, 1917, the Porto Ricans, 

 by a majority of over two to one, adopted pro- 

 hibition for the island. 



Outline and Questions 

 on Porto Rico 



I. Position and Sice 



( 1 ) In West Indies proup 



(2) Distance from United States 



(3) Area 



(a) Actual 3,435 square miles 



(b) Comparative 



II. People 



(1) Population 



(2) Cities 



(3) Races 



( 4 ) Occupations 



(5) Religion 



(6) Education 



III. Geography of the Island 



( 1 ) Central range of hills 



(2) Coastal lowlands 



(3) Rivers 



(a) Importance of water power 



(4) Climate 



IV. i :.-.,, ii r,-,. s and Industries 



(1) Minerals 



(2) Agriculture 



(a) Primary importance 



(b) Chief crops 



(3) Manufactures 



(a) Dependence on agriculture 



V. Commerce and Traniiportatlon 



( 1 ) Value of trade 



(2) Railroads 



(3) Roads 



VI. Government and H tutor? 



(1) Governor appointed by President 



(2) Legislative department 



(3) History 



(a) Discovery 



(b) Settlement 



(c) Spanish rule 



(d) Spanish- American War and 



American dominion 



Questions 



What do the public buildings of Porto 

 Rico indicate as to the mineral re- 

 sources of the Islam I? 



Show that the manufactures of Porto 

 Rico are directly dependent on its agri- 

 culture. 



If the United States were as densely 

 populated as Is this island posst^ 

 how many Inhabitants would It have? 



Why Is the rainfall heavier in the 

 northern part of the island than in the 

 south? 



How does the value of t! 

 compare with the combined values of 

 the three next most Important crops? 



How large a proportion of tin- l.m.l 

 is Improved farm lamiv 

 . How does the law for the government 

 of Porto Rico passed In 1917 differ fr.-ni 

 the earlier one under which the Islaixl 

 \\.is K"\>rn. <!'.' 



What language Is spoken in the 

 schools of Porto Rico? 



How far from the sea Is the farthest 

 Inland p<>i 



What objections can he ndva; 

 the continued growth of the sugar in- 

 dustry and the planting of greater 



BM to that profitable crop? 



