AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OP PORTO RICO. 25 



cheese, or sweet potatoes and fish. Where the plantation boards the 

 hands, as sometimes occurs in the sugar-harvest season, board con- 

 sists in furnishing daily one-half pound of rice and one-fourth pound 

 of beans, or 3 pounds of sweet potatoes and half a pound of fish 

 (dried), or 1 pound of bread and one-fourth of a pound of cheese. 

 The laborers on coffee estates rarely eat meat, except on Sunday. 

 Many laborers eat nothing till the close of the day. 



The customary wages were 30 cents (gold) per day prior to the 

 changes in currency, but, instead of money, in most cases the pay- 

 ment was made by giTing an order on the store, which reduced the 

 value at least 33 percent. In coffee-picking time the -women were 

 able to earn 15 to 25 cents per day. Coffee planters are generally lib- 

 eral in allowing their laborers to use the bananas on the farm, and in 

 giving them the iise of small tracts for vegetables if they will use them. 

 The laborers complained that they had no time to make a garden. 

 Many laborers were unemployed in the coffee districts because the 

 plantations were uncultivated and had remained so since the hurri- 

 cane of last year. In the tobacco and sugar districts labor was in a 

 much better condition. Tobacco culture gives more employment to 

 women and children. On the sugar plantations higher wages have 

 usually been paid during sugar making, which continues for four or 

 five months. This better condition is shown more by the personal 

 appearance of the laborers than bj^ improvement in their houses and 

 home surroundings. The constant efforts of the insular government 

 since the island came under American control have been directed to 

 the relief of the labor situation. 



(1) All personal taxes have been removed from laborers. 



(2) The oppressive consumers' taxes on food and articles of neces- 

 sity have been abolished. 



(3) The change of the money standard, which took effect August 1, 

 1900, has benefited labor. In many cases laborers are now receiving 

 in gold what they formerly received in silver. 



(4) Thousands of laborers in the coffee districts have been given 

 employment on the public roads now in process of construction by the 

 insular government. 



(5) The Porto Rican tariff on flour, corn, and rice was forraeiiy very 

 high; now they are admitted free. 



(6) Indirectly labor has been benefited by the removal of the export 

 taxes on sugar, coffee, and tobacco, and by the repeal of the law levy- 

 ing royal dues and taxes on importing agricultural implements. 



Character of the Laboring Classes. 



The laboring classes have surprisingly active minds, considering 

 the conditions under which they have lived. They are mechanically 

 inclined, kindly disposed, and respond readily to fair treatment. 

 With opportunities and reasonable encouragement they will rapidly 

 improve. Many American employers of Porto Rican laborers gave a 

 very encouraging report of their industry and faithfulness. It was 

 gratifying to note the desire to be self-supporting. The Women's 

 Aid Society of Porto Rico gives partial employment to aboiit 400 poor 

 women, many of whom are from the country. Garments are given to 

 the very poor. Only 3 per cent of the women employed, however, 

 accept alms, preferring to pay for their garments by installments at 

 the rate of 5 cents per week. Their average earnings are 15 cents per 

 week. 



