The times., 1898-07-17

The history Of Porto Rico differs hard
iy al all from that Of all other unhappy
islands under the Spanish rule. II was
discovered by Columbus on November 6,
1893. and seven years later Ponce de Leon
formed there the first Spanish settle
ment II Is the most eastern of the
Greater Antilles. in the West Indies. It
is separated from Haiti on the west by a
strait Of seventy miles. From San Juan.
its capital city, 10 the Cape Verde Isl
ands the distance is 2,lOo miles, to Key
West I,050 miles and 20 Hampton Roads
40 miles. The island of Porto Rico is
Jos miles long and about 81 miles wide,
and has an area of 3400 square miles. 1t
IS divided unequally by a mountain range
from east 10 west. the northern section
being extremely rugged. Part of this
range is called Sierra Grande, or Bar
rios, the northeast spur is the Sierra de
LuguilIo. and that on the northwest the
Sierra LARGO. There are many caverns
IN the mountains. the most noteworthy
being Aguas Buenas and Ciales. Owing
10 the mountains the rainfall in the
north section is very heavy, while in the
south part irrigation is necessary to sue
cessful agriculture. There are 1900 riv-
ers in the island. of which forty are nav
ter is Of such a pure quality that it finds
G ready sale IN neighbOring islands.
The climate is more agreeable than oc-
casional thermometrical records would in
dicate. The mercury has marked III de-
Erees in the shade. but il is seldom that it
rises above 81 degrees in the hottest part
Of q Summer day. while at night ii sinks
10 6s degrees. Strangers from northern
countries soon learn to bear the climatic
conditions well The rainy season is from
August TO December, and devastating
floods are frequent. The characteristic
disea ses are yellow fever, elephantiasis Ga
swelling Of the ankles with a weakness of
the heartl marsh fever and dysentery,
but il is the opinion of medical men that
all Of these, and especially yellow fever,
could be rooted out by proper sanitary
precautions.
The soil is remarkably fertile, and the
leading industries are agriculture and
numbering. In the higher mountain re-
gions all the vegetable productions Of the
temperate zone can be grown. There are
no less than 500 varieties of native trees,
among them the palm, orange and other
fruit bearers The crops consist of tobac-
co, sugar, cocoa, coffee. cotton, rice,
maize. yams and plantains, only one
fourth Of the average crop being neces-
sary to supply the home demand. The
methods OF farming. as in the Philippines,
are prlmlllNe unCer Ine TepreSSlVe policy
Of Spain. No serious attempt has been
made 10 develop the gold, copper, iron,
zinc and coal resources, though some OF
these metals exist in paying quantities.
The extensive sponge fields have hardly
been touched, but would yield great profits
under American capital and energy. There
are Quarries of white stone. granite and
marble that have been neglected for lack
Of capital. At Guanica and Salinas, on the
south coast, and at Cape Rojo, on tbs
west, are salt works, the principal miner.
al interest of the island Hot springs anc
mineral waters are found at Juan Diaz
San Sebastian, San Lorenzo and Ponce
and particularly at Coamo, near the towI
OF Santa Isabel.
All the pestiferous insects that make
shc life of the visitor a burden in Cuba
abound here. The most predatory OF the
native animals is the Wild Cog, whose
chief prey Is the domestic pig. But foI
the snakes. some OF which are nine feet
bong, the mice would be intolerable. Poul.
try is abundant and the rivers contain
many fine varieties Of fish.
As Spain has demanded extravagani