Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-09-15

Soil and Vast Deposits of Minerals-Few
Reptiles, but Many Insects.
Mr.. Frederick A. Ober, late commits.
sioner in Porto Rico OF the Columbian
exposition, contributes to The Century
an article on "The Island OF Porto
Rico" Mr.. Ober says:
In tho extreme northeast rises the
highest peak Of the central cordillera
in the Luquillo sierra, known as lei
Yunaue, or 1.-THE Anvil" variously
estimated at from 8, 600 to a, 500 feet In
height. Tho hills are of lesser elevation
toward the west and southwest, but
the whole north central country Is rug
ged and uneven. Between the spurs
from tho main range lie innumerable
secluded valleys, where the soil Is OF
great fertility. The impressive features
of tho landscape are tho rounded sum-
mits OF tho multitudinous hills, which
leave the coast in constantly rising bill
lows that finally break against tho cor
dillera vcrtcbra; yet all are cultivablo,
and cultivated to their very crosts,
though tho higher mountain peaks are
forest clad.
Moro than 1900 streams, it Is said,
of which number perhaps 40 or 30 at
tain to tho dignity of rivers rise in tho
hills and seek tho coasts, most OF them
running northorly, though the best har'
bors are In tho west and south But
Notwithstanding tho great river flow
portions of tho island In tho southwest
are afflicted with drought ut times,
owing to tho precipitation OF tho north
east trades" against the northern hills.
The higher hills are clothed in tho
exubcrant and diversified vegetation OF
tho tropical forest, where treo ferns
flourish, and great gum trees and moun-
tain palms tower aloft AT lower levels
are tho cedar and mahogany, walnut
and laurel, with many others noted for
their useful woods. Throughout tho
island arc found those trees and shrubs
valuable for thoir gums, M tho Nancy,
guaincum and copal, while tho list of
medicinal plants includes most Of those,
Invaluable to our pharmaoopmias,
which tropical America has given to
the world. These arc tho silyestres, ma
lures wild children, but OF cultivated
plants there Ia no species peculiar to
the tropics that does not flourish hero
In tho littoral levels between tho
mountains and tho son, grows tho sug-
ar cnno, which may DO cultivated up to
an altitude of Q, 600 foot. 1t was intro.
duoed hcro from Santo Domingo, hay
ing been brought to America either
from Spain or tho Canaries. Tho annu-
III yield of sugar is estimated ut about
10000 tons
In these fertile lowlands also tobacco
does exceedingly woll, and tho annual
production Is snid to DO quito 1000, 600
pounds, It may be cultivated on tho
hills, but the true mountain lover IL tho
coffee, which does not do we'll below
600 foet aud is ut Its best 1000 feet
above tho sea. 1t was first brought hero
from Martinique IN 1722 and now
yields to tho extent Of 1900 tons nm
nually. Maize, tho truo Indian corn, is
indigenous, as IL tho yucca, tho aborigi-
nnl staff of life" and both grow ov-
erywhero, as we'll AZ tho pineapple,
which IL moro reliable and moro uni
versal than tho peach of our north tom
perato zono. Cotton and rico arc found
at nearly all elevations, tho latter
which IL tho chief food of many labor.
ors, being what is known az tho noun
tain variety.
Bananas and plaintains AFRO wonderful
ly prolific, bearing fruit in ton months
from planting Tho plants virtually
Inst 60 years, being equally long livod
with tho cocoon palm, which produces
nuts in six or seven years and there
after during tho space of M ordinary,
life, its yield being rcckoned mt 100
nuts year. The annual product of
bananas is given rs 400, 900, 900 and Of
cocoanuts 3, 600, 600. Tho entire range
Of tropical fruits is represented here,
such as the guava, limo, orange, aqua
cate, sapodilla and avocado pear. while
NIL subtropio vegetables may DO raised,
including those of tho south temperate
zone, such, for instance, ms are grown
In Florida.
Tho mineral kingdom has not been
30 exhaustively exploited as tho vegetA.
bio, but moro than traces havo been
iouii Va NbipNi, 'bui anu llull, as WCil
rs vast deposits Of salt. Tho rivers at
one time ran to tho sen over beds of
golden sand, and from tho streams to-
day (as in tho neighboring island Of
Santo Domingo, whore tho first Ameri-
can gold was discovercd) tho natives
wash out nuggets by tho crude proc
esses of that distant day when Aguey.
naba went prospecting with his false
friend, Popco do Leon.
There arc no native quadrupeds hero
larger than tho agouti and tho armada.
10, but birds arc relatively humorous,
with Il few of fine song and some of
brilliant plumage, All domestic fowl
do we'll hero, and tho great pastures Of
tho northeast and southeast support vast
herds of cattle and horses, which suffice
not only for the needs of tho island, but
are exported to all parts of the West
Indies, being held i'll high esteem.
There nro no poisonous reptiles to be
feared, but insects of questionable char.