Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-30
PONCE AN IMPORTANT CITY.
Description from n Publication of
the War Departments.

the War Departments.
Military Notes on Porto Rico" book
let issued recently by the adjutant-gene-
raj of the army, contains a full descrip-
ton of the city Of Ponce. which Is now
under our flag. 1t is as follows:
Ponce is a city OF 1850 Inhabitants. with
a Jurisdiction numbering 1900. 1t Is situ-
ated on the south coast of the island, or
a plain, about two miles from the sea-
board 1t is the chief town of the judicial
district OF it's name, and Is seventy miles
from San Juan. 1t is regularly built. the
central part almost exclusively OF brick
houses and the suburbs of wood 1t is the
residence of the military commander, and
the seat OF an official Chamber of Com
merce. There is an appellate Criminal
Court, besides other courts; two churches,
one Protestant, said to be the only one in
the Spanish West indies; two hospitals
besides the military hospital, a home OF
refuge for old and poor, two cemeteries,
three asyluns, several casinos, three
theatres, q market. a municipal public
library, three first-class hotels, three bar
racks, a park, gas-works, perfectly
equipped fire department, bank, thermal
and natural baths. &c.
Commercially, Ponce is the second city
of importance on the island. A fine road
leads to the port playa, where all the
import and export tralv Is transacted.
Playa has about 5000 Inhabitants, and
here are situated the custom-house the
office of the captain of the port, and all
the consular offices. The port is spacious,
and will hold vessels of % feet draft. The
climate, on account of the sea breezes
4 Irna of afcrhf
is not oppressive, but very hot and dry;
and as water for all purposes. including
the fire departments is amply supplied
by an aqueduct 4.442 yards long. 1t is said
that the city of Ponce is perhaps the
healthiest place in the whole island. There
is a stage coach to San Juan, MayagueZ,
Guayama, &c. There is a railroad to
Yauce, a post office, and telegraph sta
rIon.
FOUNDED IN 1900.
1t is believed that Ponce was founded In
1900; it was given the title of villa in 1SiS,
and in 1877 that of city. OF its thirty-four
streets the best are Mayor, Salud, villa,
Wives, Mariana, and Comercio The best
squares are Principal and Las Delicias,
which are separated by the Church or
Nuestra Sonora de Guadalupe. The
church. as old as the town itself, began
TO be reconstructed in 1888 and was fin
ished in 1917. 1t is Sc yards long by 4S
broad, and has two steeples, rich altars,
and fine ornaments.
The Protestant church Is OF gothic
architecture, of galvanized-iron outside.
and wood within; it was built in 1874 The
Town Hall, which also serves as jail,
is a good two-story building of masonry,
and was finished in 1871. There are two
barracks-one for infantry. with capa-
city for 100 men, and another for cavalry.
The former was constructed in 1Si9, and
Is two stories high. while the latter Is
one-story structure, belonging to the
Municipal Council.
The military hospital, OF masonry, is
situated on Castillo street, and has a ca
pacity for seventy patients. The small
pox and pestilential hospitals are more
simple. and are situated outside the city
limits. The albergue de Trioche (hospitaD
was built with money left by Valentin
Trioche for this purpose In 1853 1t Is In
the northern part Of the town, is built
of masonry on the doric order, with
porch supported by doric columns 1t has
a capacity for sixty persons.
The Damas Asylum is built of mason
nv. with an elegant porch, iron gate. and
garden at its entrance. Ii Is maintained
py money left by various persons, and
by other charitable means, and Will ac-
ccmmodate twelve men, twelve women,
having besides four beds designated for
sick seamen.
FINE THEATRE.
The Theatre is called the Pearl. and 1t
deserves this name, for II is the finest on
tfle island 1t has a sculptured porch, OF
the Byzantine order, with very graceful
columns. Ii is mostly built OF iron and
marble. and cost 10000 pesos. 1t is 81 yards
deep by 20 wide. The inside Is beautiful.
the boxes and seats roomy and nicely
decorated. Ii may, by a mechanical ar
rangement, be converted into dancing
hall.
About one and one-eighth miles north
east OF the town are the Quintana ther-
mai baths. in a building surrounded by
pretty gardens. They, are visited by suf-
ferers from rheumatism and various
other diseases.
The city Of Ponce proper has no mill
tarv defences, but In the hills to the north
OF the town a series OF earth entrench-
ments have lately been constructed.
West of Ponce, where the railroad and
military road touch the shore, earth
works have been constructed to guard this
strategic point. There are about thirty
mountain howitzers in Ponce available
for the defence OF the city and the rail