“En 1910 los siguientes extranjeros eran agricultures de piña en el barrio de Coto Sur: Robert Day, William Hill, Nathaniel Tyler y Edward Bailey……
Bailey era un propietario adyacente al Pueblito, no muy lejos de Palo Alto, de acuerdo a los mayores del lugar. Su casa estaba en un monte cercano a Las Papayas, una urbanización nueva. Subía al monte por medio de un carro eléctrico que corría por una vía férrea, especialmente construida con ese propósito. Con el tiempo, los agricultores extranjeros se retiraron a sus estados de origen. Entró a la escena un agricultor local, Francisco Vázquez, empresario menor que gradualmente compró todas las fincas que pudo, hasta formar un emporio que a lo último se extendía desde Pugnado Afuera de Vega Baja hasta las vegas de Matrullas, no muy lejanas del pueblo de Manatí…..”
Source / Fuente –
“Pineapple, Sunday, October 01, 2006.” N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
http://agro-pineapple.blogspot.com/2006/10/los-nombres-aborgenes-de-la-pia-eran.html (“Cultivo de piñas.” 26 Dec. 2006)
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PR RR Historian (Dave Deyo):
This is the pineapple plantation of Mr. William Hill, who with four other investors from England, owned the largest such a farm on the Island. Mr. Hill had a stately home atop one of the hills in the background area, and had a unique railroad powered by electricity
to reach this home from the flatlands below. There is no record of what kind of equipment was owned, and if the railroad played any part in the operation of the properties. The land was later sold to Sr. Francisco Vasquez and Mr. Hill returned to his native country.
Apparently he was the only one residing in Puerto Rico and the other four partners were absentee owners. This vast expanse of land was located between Manati and Vega Baja along PR Route #2, and the area may have been called Barrio Coto Laurel according
to one source. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/fredandrebecca/3842389497/. 27 Feb 2015).