392 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



aggregate 157.7 miles, and cost approximately $3,485,000, or at the 

 mean rate of about $22,000 per mile. (See PI. XXXIV, figs. 1 and 2.) 



This is all first-class road, but fully one-third of it is on nearly level 

 country, and required very little grading. The roadbed is macadam 

 and of excellent surface, but is usually only sufficiently wide for 

 ox carts to pass. Since American occupancy, about $1,000,000 have 

 been spent on roads under the military government, and the present 

 insular budget carries an appropriation of about $700,000 for roads out 

 of a total appropriation for all running expenses of the government 

 amounting to only $2,000,000. 



The system of roads as now planned, including those already con- 

 structed, embraces 874 miles. On the basis of the former cost, $22,000 

 per mile, it will require about $14,000,000 to complete the system. 

 Under the present management, however, and in view of the fact that 

 part of these roads are second and third class, the total cost will prob- 

 ably be much reduced. It would seem advisable that, for the exten- 

 sion of this system so as to reach all the people, the island be divided 

 into road districts, with a superintendent in charge of each. There 

 should be a poll tax, with the option of working out the same on the 

 roads under the direction of the superintendent. A small amount of 

 labor on the present bridle paths might at least make them passable, 

 whereas they are now at times impassible on account of the lack of 

 care. The interior of the island is filled with idle men who could wojrk 

 almost any number of days on the roads with very little inconven- 

 ience to themselves, and much to their own and the island's ultimate 

 advancement. 



In railways the island is quite as deficient as in roads. The steam 

 railways consist of disconnected sections, as follows: From San Juan 

 to Carolina, San Juan to Camuey, Aguadilla to Hormigueros, Ponce 

 to Yauco, aggregating in all 135 miles. There is an electric-car line 

 from San Juan to Rio Piedras, 7 miles distant, and a horse tramway 

 in the town of Mayaguez. 



There are now areas aggregating 50,000 acres of land in a body for 

 which there are no means of getting their produce to market except on 

 the heads of peons or backs of mules and horses. No road passable by 

 even an ox cart is accessible to them. Such conditions place a handi- 

 cap on agricultural development and confines it to lines requiring the 

 minimum amount of interior transportation. 



LAND VALUES AND TAXATION. 



Under Spanish regime most of the revenues were acquired by a con- 

 sumption tax, and was therefore borne by the poorer classes. Under 

 an American administration, however, it was found advisable to make 

 a radical change in this respect, and therefore a property tax has been 



