The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-08-11

among which are The Tasn Hall, the
thsstsr. two ehurchos, the Charity aud
womens ssylums, the hairself, The
Cuban House, sud The market The road
between the ei,y and The seaside ia q
besutiiul promenade
The main highway OF central Porto
Rico runs from Ponoe 10 san Jnan 10 .
northeaslerly course thfoash Jusns DsG
Coamc, and Aibouito. where /, goes vi
most eastward 10 Cyey. there 10 take 9
winding course to the north ~ i.r a.
Cssusf, where II turns west TO Aguas
Buepas. and then goes decidedly north 10
San Juan through uuuynsbo and Rio
vledras. making 10 all q distance OF =
boa, eishiy.hse mice. The distance from
Ponce 10 San Juan in . straight line is
only forty y.tiye miles.
The eastern part OF the island is less
densely peopled than the western, and as
The east coast is on the windward side aud
oiisrs less protection Tor shipping Il Is not
so conveniently Situssva ros t,sae, uefe
all the largest towns OF the east lie inland
or st leas, some distance from the coast.
These towns are In the billy region amid
rich coilee and extensive grazing lands.
The hsrbor Of San Juan, the capital, is
deep enough to admit large vessels, but
its channel communicating with the sea is
winding aud difficult and can be nsyigat
ed safely only with the aid ola pilot.
One OF the leading sesports OF the island
is Agnsdills on the west coast, which has
the advantage Of sspscious bay sheltered
from the trade winds. Here are shipped
the sugar and coffee OF the northwest part
OF the island. There are seven or eight
ports OF lesser Importance.
ln the past fifty years about halt the
population have gravitsted to and around
the towns, particularly those OF the ses
board: They live in comfortable houses
and many OF them have the means TO pur
chase ell the wares OF tho civilized world.
Porto Rico sbounds in sugar, coiiee,
tocscco, honey aud wsI, which have en-
riched the island, and msay OF the people
are well.to do. A very large part OF the
islands trade has been carried on With
the Uaited States, whose corn, -four, salt
meat fish and lumber are imported In re
turu for sugar, molasses and coffee The
natives have little taste for sea iaring and
most OF their foreign trade is carried IN
foreign bottoms.
Porto Rico is rich in natural blessings,
and for 9 tropical region is very healthy.
For some inRcrnlshle reason Spain has
given the inhabitants far better treatment
than she has the natives OF Cuba. She
has dealt with the Island as though 1t
we're q Spanish province instead OF mere
ly 9 colony TO be bled by Spanish officials
for the enrichment OF themselves and the
mother country. In fact, the island has
been politically province OF SPAN for
over twenty years, Spain has had little to
do directly with International improve
ments in the island, but che has so far
kept her heavy hand of the people that
there was opportunity for the spirit OF en-
terprise to develope. Tue result is ths'
Porto Rico has about 100 miles OF railroad
and as much more under construction,
and . system OF wagon roads lending to
oil the important trading centers that sur
pass anything Of the sort seen IN most
parts OF Spain herself. The sketches OF
railroad parallel with the coasts are long
links 10 the line that is TO make the entire
circuit OF the Island, with short branches
10 oil the sesports and the inland markets.