The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-19

harbor Is qulet and safe for any craft. A
broad parade ground Is inclosed within
the walls. westward from the citadel, and
not far of is the oldest house in the city.
no less structure than the ancient castle
CT Ponce de Leon. one time governor here
and dlscoverer of F,lof,dt. His ashes are
also kept here, in a leaden case, fer Ponce
the Lion Hearted was n great man in his
day and cleaned out the lndiars of this
Island with a thoroughness that eafnsd
him an exceeding great reward.
just under the northern wall Of the
castle is the public cemetery. the gate 10
il oyerhung 10y an ornate sentry box, and
the bones OF eyicted tenants of graves
whose terms of rental have expired are
Piled in the corners Of the Enclosure. This
cemetery alone is enough TO breed a. pes
thence, and it IS to be hoped that our
sailors when they anchor of the harbor
mouth will be favored with breeze in
shore most OF the time. The prevailing
winds by day are from the sea lanuward:
by night from the island mountains toward
the coast. Far inland rises the conical
summit of the great Luquillo, mountain
about 1000 feet in height. and from whose
sides descend streams that fertaae the
island.
1t Is about ninety miles from San Juan
10 Ponce. the southern port, by "a fine
road d.agonaliy asrcss the Island. The
Spanisrds generally are poor road build
ers, but in this island they have done bet
ter than In Cuba, and one may travel here
with fair amount Of comfort to the miIA
There are several Ines OF railroads build
Ing. q system being projected around thu
island $40 miles In length. The area OF
Puerto Rico n about $500 square miles
with a population Of 100 GO, of which near
iy one-haIf are black or colored. and eoo,-
900 cannot read or write The city Of
Ponce is the largest, with a population Of
about 3selo. and an export trade OF vast
extent. II Is the chief siIgar~sh.ppsng port
though il has no good harbor. and lies
nearly three niles from the sea II L. a
rather finer city, with pretty plaza and
a grand cathedral, and lis houses, like
thcse Of San Juan. are all built Of stone
Other harDors are. On the cast coast
Fa5arfio and Humaeao. on the north b.
sides San Juan. Arrecibo. on the west
Aguad;isa and Mayaguez. a the former az
which Columbus wateresi bis c8raveis I'm
1870. and where the original spring siill
auEhea forth.
Going with Puerto Rico. If we should
acquire If. are two small Islands cailed
Culebra and Vfe1ue, mainly Inhabited by
fishermen, hal with fine forests IF dye and
cabinet woods 10 be exploited. II is said.
The commerce Of the stand il mainly with
the limited States. We gained sitssl.Fss, n
ycar In exports TO this Island IN ihe last
ten years. and nearly s3.8@6,is0 I'm imports.
With a stable government and under wise
control Puerto Rico wogild more nearly
attain IN its fun pro19etiFeDess than IL
sfoea now As II is. the annual sugar yield
81 estimated as near Te.o9 tons: that of
cnffeA Il. essa tons. hanaass nearly 2fsf{s@ 90,
rCeoaruts aOsaeaa and tobacco 1000 M
Mounds Cold was originally abundant
here. and copper. Iron and lead have been
found With enterprise and protection 10
life and properly they could be probably
exng9stef The climate ix superb, Fith
no great extreme ~ heat. ana tB the hills,
where ths coffee is grown. IL IL giorioua
-rhk,aeo Record