WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 147

increasing population, no employment and certain lines of industry,
excess of population, nonemployment, and a densely agricultural
population.
Mr. GiBson. Is the condition prevailing there the result, in a
degree, to the disastrous hurricane you had there?
Mr. Davina. It was partly due to that and partly to the economical
conditions. Economical conditions were not satisfactory before the
hurricane.
Mr. Gieson. And they are improving there now?
Mr. Davina. Yes. Governor Roosevelt is devoting all his energy
to the economic reconstruction of the island. We are very anxious
to help, and are giving him full cooperation.
The CHAIRMAN. Your population is Spanish-speaking? ‘
Mr. Davita. Yes, sir; Spanish-speaking.
The CuarrmMAaN. And always has been?
Mr. Daviva. Yes, sir; always has been.
The CuairMaNn. Can you tell me what your population was 100
years ago?
Mr, Daviva. One hundred years ago, I think it was about 330,000.
Thirty years ago it was nearly 1,000,000. I know these bills do not
apply to Porto Rico, but I have appeared to dissipate any doubts in
the island to their scope.
The CuarrMaN. We thank you, Mr. Davila.
Now, who is to be your next witness?
Mr. Moore. The next witness we have, Mr. Chairman, is Mr.
Palomares.

STATEMENT OF FRANK J. PALOMARES, MANAGER, AGRICUL-TURAL
 LABOR BUREAU OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Mr. Pavomares. My name is F. J. Palomares, and I live at Fresno,
Calif. I am manager of the Agricultural Labor Bureau of the San
Joaquin Valley, whose territory embraces the six counties, from
Merced County to Kern County, both inclusive. From 1917 to 1919
{ was special agent for the Latin races for the State Commission of
Immigration and Housing in California. For the six following years
I was manager of the labor department of the Spreckels Sugar Co.
of California; and thereafter for one year served as labor representative
 of the Arizona Cotton Growers Association in California, with
headquarters at Los Angeles.
The Agricultural Labor Bureau of the San Joaquin Valley, which
[ am here to represent, is a service organization, a labor insurance
policy. In its membership are the county chambers of commerce
and county farm bureaus of the aforesaid counties, together with a
representative each of the fresh fruit, dried fruit, and cotton industries.
We have between 850,000 and 900,000 acres of seasonal crops which
must be harvested between the 1st of July, and the 1st of February,
of which grapes and cotton are the major industries; over 422,000
acres in grapes and last season 252,000 acres in cotton, not counting
the cereal and root crops. However, seasonal labor is also employed
In the harvesting of our peach, fig, and apricot crops, which com-Price
 an acreage of approximately 120,000 acres.
In order to harvest our crops in record time, that our growers may
take advantage of the early prices and complete the harvest before
inclement weather, we require between 25,000 and 30,000 seasonal