Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-09
POINTS or INrERE ST II PORTO RICO.

POINTS OF INTERE
They know that every day weakens the
AGGRESSIVE power OF Spain; that the war
h Cuba. and the Instruction In tAe
f~rDoine Islands have demoralized hel
finances. that the fighting matellal %
trr mother country has been drawn upon
almost 10 tho last man, ana that the
navy IS fully employed In the wars on
opposite sides Of the world.
Long ago the Cuban leaders urged the
Porto Ricans 20 begin the STRIFE ana l"'
c.sant pressure has been eKeIteu ui'o''
them for more than year but the Porto
Pr1us want 10 make quick work OF the
r.mrrIe. They prefer 90 wait until CUBA
has completed the Generalization or the
-.arfsr forces and then, they argue, the
task will be- an easy one. The CUBAN
LADDERS claim they would have driven the
SPANISH out Of the island long ago had
Porto Rico began the contest al an early
sst- for the two rebellions would h.,Ve
divided the fighting strength Oh 'He
enemy.
T1E TIME is NEAR AT HAND.
The repeated failures Of the Spanish
De- ers TO accomplish anything IN the
PHILIPPINES or Cuba. and particularly tie
showing made by General Weyler lh lne
P.ar del Rio campaign, have had the ei-
frt OF Fastening the work Of the PORTO
r.-au struggle. The leaders OF the latter
l5 not intend to wait until the insure re,
ton is ended In either Cuba or the HH-
frines their policy being 20 strike When
e.afn Is al her greatest disadvantage. TINS
Cine has now come. IL BE- Thought so lhe
lorg-threatencd struggle may begin DeIoIe
the end OF this year.
should Spain lose Cuba ana Porto hlCo'
p viii be the absolute end Of her once
fr o. Western
stere. one by one she has lost all OF the
Countries which now make up the south
America republics Cuba and Porto RICO
being the only ones left. Cuba has almost
finished the task OF breaking the spanish
yoke. and Porto Rico counts upon o. snort
struggle
For it's size Porto Rico IS one OF the
richest islands OF the world. ana us loss
O. spain would be a serious matter. IL 10
he smallest and most easterly OF the
Greater Antilles. being separated from
Cuba by the Island OF Haiti, whose peo-
Ole have long enjoyed the liberties Of a
tgu0lic.
4 FERTILE COUNTRY.
10 IS rectangular In outline and IS some
what under one hundred miles long BY
Forty miles wide. A low range 81 noun
aims. the Sierra Cayey traverses the IS
and from east 10 west eliminating 10
49, Yunque, al an altitude OF 1913 feet
above the sea. Between the numerous
ranches Of the range lie fertile and we'll
Faterod valleys. while near the coast are
1rCad plains Of equal fertility.
Almost tho whole area rs now under
cultivation. although a few mountains are
sull covered with timber. The pasture
lands Of tho northern and eastern parts
are unoqualled ia the West Indies Iropi-
al fruits grow Ia perfection, but the pov-
'riy " fora and fauna is remarkable. Nc
mines OF Importance are worked. Agricui-
.gre Is largely in the hands Of the natives
sugar. coffee, tobacco, and cabinet woods
are the chief exports. on a smaller scale
pre- Included mOlasses. cattle. and hides
Maize Is grown FOR home consumption
while manufactures Of cloth or iron are
imported
IS THICKLY POPULATED.
The exports IN 1881 were valued at
NVla,E i. Of which this country took the
mons share; the imports. amounting 10
Ne.is80S. were divided chiefly among
Great Britain. Spain. the United States.
France. and Germany. The number Of
Inhabitants on December 81. 1881, was
s5.@7, or about ZIG 20 the square mile;
The ISLAND Is. therefore. one Of the most
.hickiy populated regions Of the Western
hemisphere. Owing 20 the salubrity OF