New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-24
MAKING A PORTO RICO ROAD.
GENERAL STONES QUICK WORK AND
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
PORTO RrcAN NATIVES SHOW THEMSELVES
GOOD woRKMEN-A MULE TRACK MADE
READY FOR WAGON TRAINS IN
RRIEF TINE.

GOOD woRKMEN-A MULE TRACK MADE
READY FOR WAGON TRAINS IN
BRIEF TIME.
[FRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBrNE.l
Utuado Porto Rico. Aug H-Tlie sasy- going
natives Of Uncle Sans latest territorial acquisi-
ton have recently been treated to an exhibition
OF what American brains backed b. American
energy and American money. can do In an
emergency. The particular instance Is the con-
struction of wagon road along the sides Of the
mountains on the east side of the Rio Grande.
the main branch of the stream that is called at
it's mouth the Rio de Arecbo. When General
Miles two weeks ago decided to advance on
Arecibo. and move thence upon San Juan by
rail. he sent accommodating parties from Ponce
to Adjuntas and this town The road to Ad-
jrntas is mainly a thoroughfare equal TO any
in the States. 1t rolls along the sides Of noun
tains which rise at times to height Of 1000
feet, and crosses on the way innumerable
streams which empty into the deep verdure-cov-
cred chasm on the other side. Every one OF
these streams is spanned by stone bridge. so
sody constructed as to defy the freshets that
continually occur during the rainy season Of
Ave months. The roadbed is OF macadam,
rolled so as to present a crown, or rounded ele-
walton in the middle, for the purpose Of drain
ing the roadway into the bitches on either side.
This road intended TO be continuation Of
the excellent thoroughfare between San Juan
and Ponce Its construction cost millions OF
dollars. and. II native banker IL to be believed,
was a source Of great profit to the Spanish om-
Gals who had 1t in charge. In fact. many land
owners and sugar and coffee planters are still
suffering from the heavy taxes imposed for the
building OF the highway. though 1t was finished
ten years ago. This. of course, is situation
not unknown to New Workers OF the present
generation. When the road was built to dis
ance Of twelve miles the treasury gave out and
road building came to end. For most OF the
remainder Of the distance to Adjuntas the road
Is a natural one, with high grades and many
curves. but on the whole 1t is a fair highway.
Between Adjuntas and this town the road was
found to be no more than mule track In some
places only two feet wide. with sharp angles.
Large powders impeded progress in hundreds
Of places. and streams Of various sizes inter-
sected the roadway at intervals Of few hun
dred feet. making miry spots that would I'M
peril the existence Of even such substantial
structures Porto Rcan OK cart. For fully
one-third Of the distance. 1t is safe to say. the
road was practically impossible, save for the
little native pack-horses. Besides. there were
TWO Iorus, where tHe water III tHe loWest spolS
would reach the bellies OF ordinary-szed horses.
When the condition Of this road was reported
to General Miles he ordered Major Black. of the
Engineer Corps 10 make detailed report on
the possibility Of placing the road in a condition
suitable for immediate by wagon trains.
Major Blacks report was most discouraging
one He sure. he said that 1t would require
at least two weeks to make the thoroughfare
Fai for mules and
that a month could we'll be spent In blasting
away rock and filling In depressions and mud
holes The commanding General then sent Cen
eral Roy Stone out with a small accommodating
party to investigate the condition OF the roads
In the direction OF Lares. where Spanish force
was believed TO be rendezvousing. General
Stone found the road to be In fair condition.
and. knowing Major Blacks report on the road
70 Utuado. he asked permission TO attempt TO re-
build II. saying that II he had the money he
could finish the Job In a week. He argued so
we'll that General Miles gave his permission. and
told General Stone 10 employ as many natives
as he thought necessary. AS many tools as
could be found were placed at General stones
disposal. but he found that he did not have
more than half the number he needed. Without
waiting a moment General Stone started out on
a search for men and implements. and within
few hours he had engaged over thousand OF the
wiry little Porto Ricans OF Ponce. AdJuutas.
Utuado and the immediate vicinity TO begin the
task From a man who had built roads for the
Spanish authorities he obtained lot Of tools.
and he induced the natives to bring such OF
their primitive farming implements could be
used With the assistance Of a number OF in
terpreters and foremen he at once began opera
lions Trees were feled and temporary abut-
ments were built at points where widening was
possible by falling in. and at other points rock
was blasted away. Drains were put in at inter-
walls. and small streams were deepened and
planks laid over them so as TO provide for the
passage OF troops in columns of twos. In the
mudholes trunks OF banana trees were thrown
together with such small stones could be
found near by. and thousands Of barrowloads OF
earth were used 10 great advantage.
So far had the work proceeded yesterday the
sixth day OF General Stones allotted ten that
two battallons Of the 9th Massa chusetts volun-
teer Infantry under their new commander. Colo
mel Edward Rice marched from Adjuntas to this
place In less than seven hours. and that with
each man carrying in addition TO his pack one
hundred rounds OF ammunition and five days
rations An extremely heavy storm on Friday
delayed the progress OF the road building. and
added an hour 10 the time consumed by the
Massachusetts, men. whose performance under
the conditions was an extremely creditable one.
with the blasting. which will be completed In
another day. General Stone will have accom-
plished a task that one Of the best engineer
officers in the Army had deemed TO be almost
impracticable A few days Of finishing would
make the road. a whole, equal to almost any
dirt road In the United States.
General Henry and his staff rode over the road
yesterday. and they did not stint their praise Of
the work done by General Stone and his Porto
Rican workmen. They all conceded that the
lob was a most thorough one. and they felt that
the end Of the ten days would find the task
completed.