The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-22
From the New York World.

FROM the New Ofk MOTlu.
The climate is not unlike that of New
York in July as thermometer registers it,
and an agreeable popularity of it is that
strangers are quickly and easily acclimat-
ed. Although it is nearer the equator than
our new possessions in the other great
ocean, Hawaii, this climatic agreeableness
has brought to Porto Rico people of north
ern races who have Stunned the Pacific
islands Germans Russians, French, Danes
and Swedes being among the 25,0G0 foreign
population which thrives and prospers
there These foreigners are found prin-
cipally in San Juan-which as to be our
first point of attack-on the northeast
coast and in San German a town larger
than San Juan, the capital, and situated
in the district of MayagueZ, on the western
end Of the island.
Politically the islands, divided into seven
districts called departments. These are
Iayamon containing the capital. San
JUAN, Arecibo Aguadilla, Mayaguez (con-
tanning San German, where our troops will
find gas-lghted streets and cafes and a
considerable foreign club 10 entertain our
ofIicers), Ponce with its town of the same
name, also gas-ighted and supporting an
English Episcopal Church,, and Guayama.
An eighth department includes the island
of VieQuez, which is a penal and military
settlement.
Excluding its dependent islands, Porto
Rico contains $3.50 square mies-a very
small territory to support more than $780,.
00G people, judged by our conditions. Yet
all authorities agree in the seeming para
dox that the resources of the island where
by population may be supported have been
but little drawn upon comparatively, While
the density of population to the acre eX
ceeds that of any country In the New
DVlI .af = 1af 1
under a system only lltt'e improved over
those which antedaied Columbus will help
TO explain.
The annual coffee yield as stated in the
latest published report on the island, is
$500 tons; sugar, 1900 tons; tobacco. T.
100000 pocnds, 1877 10000 plantains; 6,500000
oranges and 2,5O0000 cocoanuts. Rice, which
Is the principal food of a great majority
OF the Inhabitants, grows there on the
mountain sides without flooding, as is ne
CCssNry in most countries and in such
quantity that there is a surplus for eX-
port. The tobacco Is nearly all sent to Ha-
Nana. where il is made into high priced
Havana" cigars, so excellent is its quail
ity These are only a few of the products
OF the wonderful littlc island. Cattle OF
line breed are raised with little trouble in
the foothills. and in exportable quantity.
Nearly 100000 worth of honey Is exported
annually.
Inc productive CLASS VI the pOpuldlAOD,
the small hndholders and laborers, are of
very Old Spanish stock. which was mixed
centuries ago with the native Indian blood.
This class called Gioaros are peaceful,
contentCd ana, as the virtue Is measur-
ed in Porto Rico industrious. They are the
farmers and herders. and are content to
pack their product 10 mill or market on
mulcback; and il is well it Is so far ma
jority Of them have only mule-packs by
which to reach market. The foreigners are
the traders aud middemen, and are most
ly found in Ponce, san German and San
Juan.
The monetary unit on the island is the
silver peso, not to be confused with It's
much less reliable peseta, and is worth
about 90 cents in our currency. But an un-
derstanding of the peso win not end the
confusion of our troops when they begin
TO shop and make change there. They will
also have to bother their heads with dob
ion, gold piece worth about $5-may they
have much such bother!-the onza az pc
Gos). the media onza, the escuda, the es-
cudito and the real fuerte, to say nothing
OF the centen, worth $50.