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Show Porlo Rico Farmers Hid Money Cleverly About the middle of the Nineteenth century Important business houses made their first appearance In San Juan and other towns of the Island of Porto Rico. Then the rich farmers deposited their savings with these houses nnd also obtained from them financing for their sugar mills. Throughout the Nineteenth century a great struggle went on for the establishment estab-lishment of a bank In the Island. The Idea was successful in the year 1S80 when the Banco Espanol, now Banco Commercial de Puerto Uteo, was established. es-tablished. Money also was kept In silk stockings stock-ings and handmade hosiery. It was the custom of some persons to hide their pesos and gold pieces In the beams of the roofing. There Is an old story of an usurer in Areclbo who used to hide his money In a hollow wooden statue of Saint Bias two feet high. The statue of the saint was placed on a corner stnnd In his room and It was his custom to keep an oil lamp burning before It. Not until his death, when his heirs took possession of his belongings, was the hiding place discovered. |