The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-20
PORTO RICO AND ITS PEOPLE.
IAUL LIE HARDY's OBSERVATION
IN UNCLE SAINTS NEW DOMAIN.

Thu. Climate Not So Bad as 1t Has
Been resented-PFoducts of the
Enthusiastically Advantages I'm
securing Porto Rican Trade-Ef-
feet of Spanish Rule on Commerce.
Natives Are Ready for Anything
After Having Suffered the Span
iard's Long N1isrule.
DR.. J. c. LeHardy received a letter yes
terday from MIR. Paul LeHardy of Savan-
nah. now with the corps of United States
engineers in Porto Rico. giving a descrip-
ton of the island. the products that
abound and the possibilities it holds out to
Americans The letter is dated Rio Pie
lrss. Porto Rico, Oct g. and is as fol-
lows
AN article in the News of Sept IA came
to me as a reminder that l must report
nv whereabouts and condition 10 the
health officer, who so earnestly devotes
his energies to the welfare of Savannah.
We have now been on the island two
months the first was spent on the south
eru. the last up here on the northern
slope; the time spent in transit between
the two shores was three days. The de-
biIitating influence of the mild climate
has not yet made me its victim. 1 am as
ready as ever to take a lively tramp of
ten or fifteen miles on the hottest day
When the folks here are told 1 walked
four and half miles to place and back
again. they exclaim, 'Walkedp and looked
dismayed at the unspeakable energy of an
American.
1t is difficult to say what part of the
island one likes best. 1 have seen, of
course. but very little of it as yet, and
barring the filth and squalor in the towns,
it is all very beautiful, fertile. fresh, de-
nshtfuL Tropics? In vegetation, rather,
in heat, no, for I have suffered from heat
ten times more in Savannah than here
I had been told that the heat was that
of a steam boiler and that the rains were
like cloudbursts; that one needed a large
strong umbrella, gum clothes and boots.
Being of that reckless nature indicated
by my name, needed not, and came along
provided with only the lightest and most
wetable clothing, and although occupied
frequently for days at a time in explora-
lions and surveys, l have been caught in
showers only twice, and was then only
partially drenched. 1 have frequently been
and far more uncomfortaby wetted, nearly
Bay on a crowded platform of a Savannah
street car. Though showers have been
abundant and frequent there has been
more sunshine than rain by far.
There is not much difference i'm the
general appearance of the country between
the north slope and the south slope, except
that the mountains are nearer the coast
on the south side. These are
quite high and steep, deeply fur
rowed, but everywhere green much
the greater area is in pasture, great
nigh, juicy grass, dotted With trees nearly
all of them bearing some sort of useful
irult. The country is well watered. The
handsomest tree that adorns these pas
lures is that which bears the mango. it
assumes large rounded form and gives
dense shade. Next in size and beauty
OF shape is the Tamarind. The banana
and plantain are extensively grown and
apparently no ground is too steep for
them; indeed in some places the cultvat-
or has to tie himself to a plant while
working the soil around it. The banana
IS obtanable at all times. It is seen in
all stages of growth. The plantain, when
ripe, IS most excellent fried in butter, bak-
ca IN ashes or as an ingredient in an
omelette We have now in abundance a
small yellow banana, called the apple
banana; also large, thick. chunky ba-
mana both most excellent but the best of
all Nannies you have at home!
Perhaps the most important crop is the
colee. The tree grows 10 a hight of
ABOUT ten feet only and requires shade.
IT IS therefore, largely planted among the
banana. The coffee is of fine appearance,
ana of superlative quality. Its cost,
however, has seemed, so far, too high
for the American buyer. The new crop
Is now coming in and sells at from II to
~ Porto Rican dollars, 85 cents of our
money-$l.0O here) per 100 pounds. The
pulk of the crop goes TO Europe.
Orfa mo- ies he tNlNo
Is largely grown in some portions of the
island, especially in the interior, and is
oI very superior quality. Until now the
greater proportion of this tobacco has
been' 1t is said, sent to Cuba (bought by
the Cuban manufacturers, to be made
into the best of Habana' and 'Vuelta
ApaJo Tobacco is cheap here. l can
nave fine 'Regalia Londre, made to or
der here of the best tobacco obtainable
al $l.5O per 100, something less than 1c
piece
"Piueapples are said to be extra fine and
sweet We arrived when their season was
ABOUT over, and although / saw several,
neither bought or ate any. The few
mat did see which were brought to
Town Tor sale, were unripe. When l in
CURED the reason for this, indicating my
ptAet that fruits would be better If allow
ea TO mature on tree or plant, l was told
mat II left to ripen the fruit would be
stolen and so the good people hereabout
were somewhat surprised when | asked
aSaln, Since people buy and sell unripe
Hu'ts' what is that unseen power which
prevents the thieves from also appropriate
ing the fruit while it is green; what is it
Whch gives the owner the sole, inestima-
uie privilege of harvesting green fruits
ana relieves him of that valuable fran
Nnlse If he delays day or two?' This,
perhaps, impudent question was a stun
Her' at any rate it has remained unau-
r"tied. The folks have appealed to the
No'A Tor an inspired answer, but it takes
"a Ions time to hear from there.
inns ISLAND, though so mountainous, so
lui OF extensive pasture, and vast plains
vi sugar cane Il neglected to mention
."'l the sugar industry is a very impor-
lauI one perhaps, the great
SS' on the island. is quite
1en.e'y populated, compares with Belgium
~ iaat respect and as commerce and in
Hus'[y have both been kept very low I'M