floors.
The lower one was dedicated to agriculture, mines, forestry, and a few
of the manufactures exhibits. On the second floor were the liberal arts
and manufactures exhibits and the offices of the commission; also the
needlework display, which was collected and exhibited by the Women's Aid
Society, San Juan, and the Benevolent Society, Ponce.

The commission that represented Porto Rico at the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition was composed of the following:

Mr. Jaime Annexy, president; Mr. Gutsavo Preston, commissioner; Mr.
Antonio Mariani, commissioner; Mr. L.A. Castro, assistant secretary;
Mrs. R.A. Miller, honorary commissioner; Mrs. Hortensia Y. de Annexy,
honorary commissioner; Miss Maria Stahl, representative Women's Aid
Society of San Juan; Mrs. David A. Skinner, representative of Benevolent
Society of Ponce; Miss Pearl Magehan, superintendent of education; Mr.
Nicolas Hernandez, attache.

The president of the commission was for some months in personal charge
of everything concerning the exhibit. To his efforts the credit for the
Porto Rico exhibit is due. Mr. Annexy is an industrial engineer and
occupies a prominent position in his native country. Porto Rican coffee
was considered the most extensive exhibit and was awarded the highest
honors. The coffee produced in Porto Rico is almost all exported to
Europe. In the year 1902 to 1903 coffee was exported to European
countries to the value of $3,252,043, and the export to the United
States was only $718,531. The total exports of the same year to foreign
countries was $3,956,893 and to the United States $10,909,147. The
exhibition of coffee was the most important aim of the Porto Rico
commission, and it was distributed free in the Porto Rico Pagoda. It was
also given away green, roasted, and powdered, in bags of different
sizes.

Sugar was the next most extensive display and was awarded a gold medal.
The export of sugar to the United States in the year 1902 to 1903 was
$376,757 and to foreign countries $2,543. Many millions of dollars have
been spent to import the latest machinery for the manufacture of sugar
and all modern improvements in transportation are rapidly being adopted.

Tobacco leaf and manufactured tobacco comprised an excellent display.
Different American concerns have undertaken in the last seven years the
introduction of Porto Rican cigars and cigarettes into the United
States, and there are few places in America where they can not be found.
Po