The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-13

Uncle SANS Agents Forced tn Dust
ManipuIntOrs of "a Lottery.

UncIc SANS Agents Forced tn Dust
ManipuIatOrs of Lottery.
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
SAN JUAN DE PUERTO RICO, Oct Is
The establishment Of the United States post
office in San Juan was effected twenty-four
hours after the flag was raised on Oct. IS
Before the day of occupation ii had been de-
cided that the Offices of the old Porto Rican
Lottery Company were best adapted for the
uses of our postal service, but the lottery
company with nUmberless boxes of docu-
ments and much confusion, was still in pos
session Of it's quarters. The officers would
not allow our postal men inside their doors
10 take measurements for the compartments
necessary to mail distribution, so these men
were forced to impatiently await the stroke
of noon Of the 18th. The lottery is a gov
eminent concern; it occupies offices in a
public building, which at noon of that day
passed into American possession. The post
Office had vast accumulation of mail to
distribute and the Americans were anxious
TO get It. But the lottery people also had
Etill much work to do and were really very
sorry, but they did not see how they could
leave the American building for several
days to come. Soon after this statement
an American army officer from headquar-
lottery company by the business remark
that the building would have to be vacated
in one hours time. Impossible. The officer
was joking; but he was not, and when the
lottery people found this out they marched
from their building in brave, Outbound uni
fosms, injured silence and within the hour.
This was at o'clock on the afternoon of
the 18th At noon of the 10th the American
postoffice began TO do rushing business.
Among the new citizens who crowded up to
buy large quantities of stamps was one
woman most anxious TO have cashed an old
lottery ticket that in days gone by had
drawn $500.
There is a class of Porto Ricans who are
prone TO kick" they seek every chance so
10 do. and the fact that Porto Rico pays to-
uay higher postal rate than il did under
spain has been an open field for those who
chronicaliy object. Formerly 1t cost ) cents
local money to send a letter to countries in
the Postal Union and cents for an island
delivery Now they must pay ) cents gold
or 10 cents local money for foreign letter,
and z cents gold or cents local money for
an island delivery. They Go not stop to
realize that they viii eventually get a much
better service than formerly, a service
worth To them much more than this differ
ence In rates. So there have been unrea-
sonable complaints about the postal service
Mr.; van Allstyne, postmaster at San Juan.
and his assistants are doing excellent work:
they have energetically taken hold of a diff
neult problem and there is no doubt that
Mr.. van Allstyne will shortly organize an
excellent service. An appreciation of some
of our postmaster's difficulties and an OBJ
scrvance of what he is doing to overcome
them can now be seen among the more rea-
sohable toWnspeOple; they are disposed to
give him fair show and his ways and
methods are already scoring.
A branch of the West Indian and South
american service of the United States
Weather Bureau is being established in San
Juan. DR.: NJ w Harrington is in charge
OF this office; his assistant in the work is
Mr.. clyde Lemon, and Mr.. F. r. Randolph
is aiding in the establishment of the bll-
reau Mr. Randolph has been active in the
opening OF many of the offices of the same
service in other parts of the West Indies.
and as soon as his work here is completed
he will return home.
eGltor OF the Independent and now Pres-
dent Mckinley's special commissioner to
Carroll Will do here what Mr.. Porter did in
CUBA. Mr.. Carroll will make a personal in
ytstigation into the laws, customs and man.
mers of the country he will study the agri-
cultural, commercial and financial questions.
and he will inform himself upon the ques-
tons Of government, both municipal and
Will come into contact with all
classes of Porto Ricans and CLEAN
from them the best suggestions and
IDEAS they have concerning their own af-
fairs. Mr.. Carroll approaches his task with
clear and unprejudiced mind. The result
OF his labors. which Will be handed in re-
port to President Mckinley will have much
influence upon Porto Rico's future, and the
islanders deem themselves fortunate in hav-
ing sent to them a man of Mr.. CAROLS
standing and reputation. His work will oc-
cupy several months and during his stay
he Will visit every town of any Importance
on the island. Mr. Carroll has already
opened an office in San Juan
The Spaniards have all gone General
Ortoga and the last troops sailed on the
transport MonteVideO Sunday, and the New
ark saluted the generals departing vessel
with thirteen guns. San Juan is quiet.
When the departing Spanish troops were in
town they were busy changing their Porto
J'ican money into the coinage of the penin-
sula, by which transaction they lost heavily.
and they bought many things to remind
them of the last four four hundred years.
After them came the Americans-the Sixth
Jnmunes coming in and the Sixth Massa-
ehuSetts going out-and the American SOL
der is free spender. The retail business
of San Juan doomed during those days and
now the shopkeepers are wishing the troops
were back. What if they did wear out the
money and it was the natives business to
get it. an obligation to which they strictly
attended.
The band of the Eleventh Infantry has
begun its regular Openair Sunday night con-
certs in the plaza. The music has been en-
Enthusiastically received These concerts have
always been popular. and their immediate
and polite move. Last Sunday evening saw
the proverbial crowd of proverbialy beau
tiful senoritas on the plaza. When, at the
end of the concert. the band played the
Porto Rican national song, la Borrin-
uuiena" followed by 1.-The Star-spangled
Banner" the applause was prolonged and
pleasing.