The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-25

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Luis. % miles distant, with a branch to
Altosongo u miles in length. 1t is
largely owned and controlled by citi-
zens of the United States. Santiago is
the headquarters for three large min
ing plants owned by United States
citizens viz, the Jurugua, the Span
ish-American and the Sigua, together
representing the investment of about
IS, 600, 900; the last named are not in 0p-
Grafton. Santiago is the capital of the
province and oriental region. There are
a number of tobacco factories, but the
chief business is THE expectation of
raw materials and the Importation of
manufactured goods and provisions.
Sugar, iron ore, manganese, mahogany,
hides, wax, cedar and tobacco are ex-
ported TO the United States.
The information given in respect to
San Juan de Porto Rico is fuller and
more interesting. The report says:
San Juan is situated on a long and
narrow island, separated from the
mainland by a shallow arm of the sea,
over which is a bridge connecting it
with the mainland. which runs out at
this point in long, sandy spit, some
nine miles in length, apparently to
meet the smaller island; at the other
or promontory. some hundred feet high
and three-fourths of a mile distant
from the main island. This prOmOntory
is crowned by MORO castle. the princi-
pal fertilization of the town. At this
end of the island is the entrance to the
harbor, with a narrow channel and
rocky bottom, so close under the head
land that one can almost leap ashore
from passing vessel. The water here
ic q
unacquainted with the locality, or when
norther is blowing, this entrance is
one of difficulty and danger.
After rounding the bluff, one finds a
broad and beautiful bay, landlocked,
and with a good depth of water, which
is being increased by dredging. 1t is
by far the best harbor in Porto Rico,
and probably as good a one as can be
found in the West Indies. However. it
has it's drawbacks. Sailing vessels are
frequently detained by the northerly
winds during the winter months and
even steamers with a draught of over
20 feet are sometimes delayed. but these
occasions are rare. When they do oc-
cur the 'boca," or entrance TO the har-
Dor, is mass of seething, foaming
water, and presents an imposing spec
tacle To see steamers of 16 to
eighteen feet draught enter in a severe
norther is a sight TO be remembered.
as the great waves lift them up and
seem about to hurl them forward to de-
At such times there is need
of a stailnch vessel, steady nerves and
a captain well acquainted with the
channel, as no pilot will venture out.
The island upon which the city stands
is shaped much like an arm and hand
il is about two and one-quarter miles
long, and averages less than one-quar-
ter of a mile in width. The greatest
width is a little over half mile in the
portion representing the hand, which
also contains the major part of the
city.
San Juan is a perfect specimen of a
walled town, with portcul!is. moat,
gates and battlements. Built over $50
years ago, it is still in good condition
and repair. The walls are picturesque,
and represent stupendOus work and |
cost in themselves. Inside the walls, |
the city is laid off in regular squares, |
six parallel streets running in the di- |
rection of the length of the island and |
seven at right angles. The houses are |
closely and cOmpactly built of brick, |
usually of two stories, struccoed on the |
outside and painted in a variety of col |
1rs. The upper floors are occupied by |
he more respectable people, While the !
ground floors, almost without eXcep- |
lion, are given up to negroes and the |
poorer classes, who crowd one upon |
another in the most appalling manner. |
The population within the walls is es
.imated at 10000 and most of it lives /
IN the ground floors. In one small room, !
With a fiimsy partition, a whole fam
" will reside.
The ground floors of the whole town
,eeks with filth. and conditions are |
most unsanitary. In tropical coun /
ry, where disease readily prevails, the |
of such herding may be |
,asily inferred There is no running /
water in the town. The entire popula-
ion depends on rainwater caught on |
he fat roofs of the buildings and con-
Iucted to the cistern. which occupies |
he greater part of the courtyard that
S an essential part of Spanish houses
ne world over. but that here. on ac-
cunt of the crowded conditions. is
mall. There is no sewerage, except
or surface water and sinks, while
'aults are in every house and occupy
whatever remaining space there may
,e in the patios not taken up by the
isterns. The risk of communicating the
vater is great. and in dry seasons the
upply is entirely exhausted. Epidemcs
re frequent, ard the town iss alive with
ermin. fieas, cocir0aches, mosquitoes
nd dogs.
The streets are wider than in the old
+ part of Havana, and viii admit two
arriages abreast. The sidewalks are
arrow. and in places will accommo-
ate one person. The pavements are
f q composition manufactured in En-
land from Stag. pleasant and even and
urabe when no heavy strain is
rought to bear upon them. but easily
rokea and unfit for heavy traffic. The
treets are swept once a day by hand,
nd, strange to say are kept very
lean. From its typographical situation
h town should be healthy. but it is
OF. The soil under the city is clay
liked with lime. so hard as to be al
lost like rock. 1t is consequently i'm II
ervious to water and furnishes a good
atural drainage. The trade wind
lows strong and fresh, and through
ne harbor runs stream of sea water
/ speed of not less than three miles
n hour With these conditions. no
ontagious diseases, if properly taken /