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

harbor is quiet and safe for any craft. A.
broad parade ground Is inclosed within
the walls. westward from the citadel. and
not far off Is the oldest house in the city,
no less structure than the ancient castle
of Ponce de Leon. one-time governor here
and diScoyerer OF Florida. His ashes are
also kept here. In leaden case for Ponce
the Lion-Hearted was great man in his
day and cleaned ont the Indians of this
island with a thoroughness that earned
him an exceeding great reward.
just under the northern wall OF the
castle is the public cemetery. the gate TO
II overhung by an ornate tntry box. and
the bones Of evicted tenants of graves
whose tern6 OF rental have expired are
Piled III the corners of the Enclosure. This
cemetery alone is enough to breed a pes
thence. and IL IS 10 be hoped that our
sailors when they anchor off the harbor
mouth Will be favored with a breeze In
shore most Of the time The prevailing
winds by day are from the sea iandward
by night from the island mountains toward
the coast. Far inland rises the concal
summit of the great Luquiilo, a mountain
about 1900 feet In height. and from whose
sides descend streams that feriI.ze the
island.
Ii is abou. ninety miles from San Juan
to Ponce. the southern port. by a fine
road diagonaliy across the island. The
Spanlards geheraliy are poor road-huild-
ers. but in this island they have done bet
ter than in Cuba. and one may travel here
with a fair amount of comfort To the mile
There are several Lines of railroads build
ing. r system being projected around the
island $40 miles in length. The area or
Puerto Rico IS about 3.6sD square miles,
with n population OF 100 CO., OF which near
iy one-half are black or colored, and &c.,
600 cannot read or write. The city OF
Ponce Is the largest, with population of
about $500. and an expert trade OF vast
extent. IL Is the chief sugar-sh.ppln port.
though II has no good harbor. and lies
nearly three miles from the sea- II is a
rather finer city, with pretty plaza and
"A grand cathedral. and its houses, Ike
thos, Of San Juan, are all built OF stone.
Other harbors are: On the east coast.
Faj3rdo and Humaeao; on the north be-
sides San Juan, Arrecibo. on the west.
Aguadilia and Mayaguez, at the former of
which Columbus waterei his caraveIs In
1888, and where the original spring still
gushes forth.
Going with Puerto Rico, IL We should
acquire II. are two small Islands called
Culebra and Fieque. mainly inhabited by
fishermen. but with fine forests OF dye and
cabinet woods 10 be exploited, Il Is SAID.
Tho commerce. of the Stand is mainly with
the United States. We gained 10000 a
ycar in exports to this island IN the last
zen years, ana nearly s3.HnHD IN imports.
With a stable government and under wise
control. Puerto Rico would more nearly
attain 10 its full protiuctiveness than IL
does now. As IL liz. the annual sugar yield
q estimated at near 10000 tons; that OF
coffee iT.0aa tons. bananas nearly %. 9n.0.'.
cocoanuts 2.9a.0D0. and tobacco 7.TS.a
pounds. Gold was originally abundant
here and copper. iron and lead have been
found. With enterprise and protection 10
"a arA tx fss1 srsf
exploited. The climate IL superb, with
no great extreme Of heat, and in the hills,
where the coffee IS grown. IL Is giorious
Chicago Record.