We are the treasure keepers of Steve's parents' photos. In that collection is a series of images from the time his dad, Ross, was stationed in Puerto Rico. I thought it would be interesting to share the agricultural history of Sugar via photos taken in 1955. These are just too incredible.
During the first decades of the 20th century, the sugar industry continued to develop and reached its peak. Despite the establishment of huge sugar trading businesses, some mills backed by Puerto Rican capital also showed considerable production capacity. By 1930, there were 44 mills in operation.
In the 1940s, however, the mills began to weaken, due to various factors. The fall in the price of sugar, mismanagement by some administrators, the restriction of credit to independent farmers, as well as the strikes by workers, created conflict and conditions that led to the decline and eventual closure of many of the mills in the subsequent decades.
Following the record sugar cane harvest of 1952, the industry experienced an accelerated deterioration. Additionally, the production of sugar took a lower priority as the government undertook to industrialize the island. Between 1951 and 1968, 17 mills ceased operations. At the end of the 1960s, the government tried to rescue the industry through a recovery program. The Land Authority acquired a significant number of mills and in 1973 created the Sugar Corporation.
Despite the fact that the government became the principal sugar producer in Puerto Rico, the mills, both privately and publicly funded, were shut down, one by one.
How incredible that Ross had the opportunity to witness this tradition and documented it so well in photos. Treasures indeed!
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4 comments:
Great photos and memories. I'm chuckling that you had that research done before leaving town. That's the Denise I know and love :) I remember when we first started going to Kauai 30 years ago, all the sugar cane trucks driving up and down the road. Those days are long gone.
The photos are incredible!
Ross had some interesting adventures!!
Thank you for sharing these photos from your father-in-law! Using this to show changes in the sugar industry to my AP World History students.
I am so happy to share those photos with you. What a wonderful series of that history. I wish you the best with it all.
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