The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-30

The capital of the island, San Juan de
Puerto Rico, 1892 inhabitants, is on the
north coast on an islet united to the large
island by the bridge of San Antonio 1t
has three Notifications on whose bastions
are mounted ancient, cannon and sixteen
KruppS, caliber and 4.
The entrance to the harbor is defended
by MORO Castle an old fortress of stone
and plaster.
Other important towns are Ponce Maya
guez, Aguadilla, San German and Arecbo
Mayaguez and Ponce have some feeble
There are on the island some AGO miles of
telegraph lines. The island is crossed by
five highways said to be first-class eight
second-class and fifteen side roads.
The coast service is composed OF schoon-
ers, sloops and two steamships.
There is q semaphore In Juan, and eleven
revolving lights on the following points,
MORO, Punta de ROrinquen, Aguadilla
Punta de San. Francisco, MorriIlo, Cabo
Pascua. Isla Culebrita, La Mona and Gable
zas de San Juan, on the island of that name.
There are two islands to the east-IAa
Culebra, three miles wide by six long, and
Vicques, as large as the Danish island Of
Santa Cruz. These two islands belong to
Spain.
OF the total population 4SO267 are whites.
77,751 are negroes and 24S, $50 are mulattoes
The Spanish residents on the island number
The inhabitants of Porto Rico are, as a
rule, illiterate Only 96,S67 know how to
read and write 1451S can read and 695,S2S
do not know how to read or write.
According to recent statistics the exports
of Porto Rico amount to about $40 900 600 and
the imports to about $1S000,O00.
The public expenditures of the island
amount to A,S74S73.67 and the receipts to $4,-
10000.
SUPPORTS SPANISH NAVY.
During the last few years the surplus has
been devoted to the increase Of the Spanish
navy.
The expenses are classed as follows: Cen
eral obligations, including the debts, PEN
sions and colonial offices at Madrid, $685.
$3.50; justice and clergy, $37s, 74O5O; war,
1,066 $3.50; navy, $l5O,160,66; public works,
$272,21402, and civil government, $719,31526
The military force Of the island under the
command of the captain general is COM
posed Of one battalion Of artillery stationed
at the capital, with a section OF mountain
artillery, four battalions OF infantry and a
cavalry escort for the captain general
sanitary brigade and a battalion of civil
guards, making in all 1868 regular soldiers.
The corps of police in the island consists
Of 500 men. There are also fourteen bat
talions of volunteers, with a contingent of
5000 men. The regulars are armed with
Mauser rifles. The volunteers have Rem
ington rifles Both regulars and volunteers
are Spaniards, the natives not being called
Porto Rico has cable communications
with the outside world By means Of the
West Indies and Panama Telegraph Com
pany, which has a landing at Ponce. An
other company connects the capital city of
the island With st. Thomas and Jamaica.
There are few railroads In Porto Rico. A
narrow gauge line runs from the capital 10
A1ecibo and Camuy, distance of some iif-
ty miles another line goes from Ponce to
Yanco, twenty miles and another from
Mayagdez to Aquadila, twenty-five miles.
The principal highway. which connects
the capital on the north with Ponce on the
south, is military road protected by some
twenty forts.
In recent pamphlet upon the Island of
Porto Rico DIR. j. j. de Henna. chairman
Of the islands revolutionary party in this
city, says;
THE natives of Porto Rico are peacefully
inclined and laborious. But the same
causes or dtscontent-an immoral admins
tration and a despotc military govern
ment--that have produced in Cuba frequent
rebellions and formidable revolutions have
also created in Porto Rico the intense desire
OF shaking off the ignominious yoke of
Spain. If the instruction has not until now
ostensibly manifested itself. IL is, neverthe-
less, Wall-knOwn fact that it, exists in the
hearts of all the natives.
The smallness Of the territory, the pro-
fusion of cities and towns we'll gaFrisoned.
the abundance of highways protected by
stations and small forts well guarded and
watched, the easily watched maritime Cir
cult which precludes the possibility OF in