Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-10

my Piiueipai IhiIefal industry in Porto |
kico. Hot springs and mineral waters |
are found at Juan Daz, San Sebastian. |
san Lorenzo and Ponce, but the most
famous is at Coamo. near the town of |
Santa Isabel,
The climate is hot, but much allie |
waited by the prevailing northeast |
winds. A temperature as high III de- |
grees Fahrenheit has been recorded. |
but 1t seldom exceeds 81 degrees Fab
renheit in the shade during the hottest
hours; at night it sinks to 6S or SO de-
grees
the rainy season lasts from Angus.
to December, and the rainfall is at
times SO copious north of the noun
tains as to inundate cultivated fields
and produce swamps The rainfall for
1879 was 81 inches. Its mean annual
average is 64la inches.
The prevailing diseases are yellow
fever. elephantiasis tetanus, marsh
fever and dysentery.
IT'S PRODUCTS.
Porto Rico is unusually fertile. and
its dominant industries are agricultur-
al and numbering. In elevated regions
the vegetation of the temperate zone is
not unknown. There are more than
five hundred varieties of trees found IN
the forests, and the plains are full Of
palms, orange and other trees. The
principal crops are sugar. coffee. to-
bacco, cotton and maize, but bananas,
rice. pineapples and many other fruits
are important.
the wild dog is the most predacous
quadruped on the island, and he chiefly
attacks pigs and calves. Mice are a
pest, but they are kept down by thei'
natural enemies, the snakes. which
reach length of from six to nine feet
Numerous species of ants and bees ara
found. as well as fireflies, or cucuves.
They fly at times in great masses. pro.
ducing weird and splendid effects IN
the tropical nights. Poultry is album
dant, and the seas and rivers are full
of the finest of fish
Railways are in their infancy AMI
cart roads are deficient Telegraphie
lines connect the principal towns. while
submarine cables run from San Juan
to St. Thomas and Jamaica.
Porto Rico was sighted by Columbus
on Nov. 16, 1893. Three days later h
anchored in the bay, the description Of
which corresponds to that of Mayaguez
In 1910 to 1911 Ponce de Leon visited
the islands and founded a settlement
and gave it the name of San Juan Ban
tista. The island has had many vicis-
STUDIES, especially at the hands of enc
mics of Spain in times of war, partic-
nlarly the Dutch and English Bucca-
neers and pirates harassed its coasts
and plundered the people during a
large part of the eighteenth century
Landings We're effected by the English
in HOP at Areciho, in 1S43 at Ponce ami
in 1877 at the capital, but each time
they were repulsed by the Spaniards
An attempt of the people to obtain in
dependence after three years of turbu-
lence was frustrated in 1923. AS to the
Spanish administration of the island i.
differs but little, if "a ALL from that i'm
posed upon Cuba.
SAN JUAN
The capital of the province is San
Juan Bautiste, founded by Ponce de
Leon. as already stated II is located
at the small island of Moro. now cdn-
nected to the mainland by the San An
tonic bridge. The district of it's name
contains u 600 inhabitants. On the west
ern end of the island Ponce de Leon
| built the governors palace, enclosed
within the Santa Catalina fortifica-
tons, where also are the cathedral.
town house and theater. This portion
of the city is now called Pueblo Viejo.
1t is an Episcopal see. subordinate to
the archbishop of Santiago de Cuba
/ There are two tramways and also rail-
ways to Ponce and to two other places
Its principal exports are sugar, coffee
ard tobacco.
The harbor of San Juan is envelopcd
or the east and south by 5wamps. On
the west it is sheltered by the islands
of Cabra and Cabrita which sandbanli
practically connects with the mainland.
This site of the city comprises four
small bays and two rocks, of which the
one nearest the coast is a half mile west
of the Moro. 1t is strongly fortified
| for the defense of the entrance to the
other harbor. The interior harbor is
landlockcd, capacious and safe, and is
being dredged to uniform depth from
decks to anchorage Of twenty nine feet
-Four wards are comprised in the Old
| city. Three are outside of the fortifi-
cations, and. extending up the hillsides
ike an amphitheater represent pic
turesque panorama when seen from the
harbor
The houses are of stone, usually one
story high. and have roof gardens
from which fine marine views may be
enjoyed. Almost every house has a
garden in its patio, or court
STERN DEFENCES.
The defenses Of San Juan embrace
San Felipe del MORO at the entrance
to the harbor. 1t is the principal de
Tense against attacks from the sea; has
three rows of batteries. which can CON
verge their fire on any point in the mar
Dor. and is separated by strong wall
from the city at its rear. Within this
fortiiication are the lighthouse, bar
racks, large water tanks. stores, chap
el and the necessary offices. tunnel
giving access for troops and provis-
ions, communicates with the shore
and is defended by a battery.
San Cristobel defends the city from
the land side. and extends over the
whole width OF the island on which the
city is built. Firing can be effected in
all directions. TWO large barracks are
therein. Higher up the hill is the