The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-09
sAvANNAH1AN IN PORTO RICO.
VIII Return to the states Soon and
Says He VIII Stay Here.

Says He VIII Stay Here.
Mayguez, Porto Rico, Sept. 18.-Editor
Morning News: Before leaving Savannah
quite number of people asked me to
write them about Porto Rico. l heard a
great many people speak of going TO
Porto Rico while l was in the States, but
those who do go will no doubt regret IT,
as there is no chance for Americans yet.
Besides, the merchants here sell goods
cheaper than the Americans can import
them
left Savannah Aug. 13 via New York
steamer After waiting three weeks in
New York, sailed for Porto Rico. 1t
took eight days to reach here.
San Juan, the capital, is a very quaint
city. with very narrow streets high on
a bluff overlooking the ocean and island,
with TWO Morros to defend 1t. We lay
in harbor discharging freight four days.
| went ashore quite often. The Spaniards
were courteous, and the Porto Ricans
very glad to sec me. From San Juan
to Ponce there Is a very good road, 1856
miles between the two cities.
took q few ffteen-mile rides on my
wheel from San Juan. There are few
good cocoanut groves and banana fields
along the fOd0. Inc COIlEG anu Hub al
plantations are further in the interior.
There is a narrow-gauge railway from San
Juan to Arecibo, which is quite a novel;
" in railways ] raced the train with
my wheel for half a mile and found It
easy TO beat.
San Juan has a population of about &,-
900: The houses are built very compact,
and the city takes up a very small area.
our next stop was Arecibo. a great
sugar and coffee port, thirty-two miles
west of San Juan. The city is
quite scattered, and has about 1900
population. Our next stop was Maygue1,
ffty-two miles southwest Of Arecibo. It
IS a very pretty city, right at the foot
of large mountains, with gas, electric
lights and one ice factory which makes
six tons day at $50 per ton There are
quite number of plantations around
there. There are some Americans who ex-
pected to invest and will return to the
States by the first steamer.
There are also some who came here,
thinking to find plenty to do, who are
anxious to get back.
The customs are so different from those
OF the States that Americans win find
IL quite difficult 10 get into the way of
the natives The city has population OF
% 900 The Spanish prisoners of war were
sent from here to-day 10 Arecibo and
there they embark for Spain There Is
fifteen batteries of heavy artillery They
are the troops which took Mayguez, and
from what / hear from them, they have
had an awful hard time crossing the
country. They are quartered in the Span
ish barracks which they took
There are a good many troops in Ponce,
which city ! expect 70 reach next week
My trip from Savannah and return win
cost about 5000 The fare from New York
to San Juan Ia s65. As soon as finish my
business with the troops I shall return
20 the States, and be satisfied to stay
there.
The island is very fertile, but it will
take American capital to develop it be-
fore it will amount to anything At pres
ent there are some rich merchants who
control everything. The poor native has
nothing. and al present there Is no chance
for Americans. and If they will take my
advice they win steer clear OF the island
yet awhile. Ponce is quite a business cen
ter at present. The population is about
5000. Trusting you will find space for
this in your paper for the benefit of your
patrons and the public at large.
J. o. Bewan