Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-08-17
PORTO RICO.
UNCLE SANS NEW ISLAND IN
THE WEST INDIES.
PEN PICTURE OF TRIP ALONG THE
MILITARY ROAD FROM SAN
JUAN TO AIBONITO.



from the north as the sudden appearance
of exuberant tropical vegetation which
presents itself to view on entering the
exquisite harbor of San Juan. The
steamer swings around the Notifications
of old MORO Castle, skirting Isle de Cuba,
on which is established the quarantine
station, and disclosing the picturesque
shore, the rest perched upon the back
lying hills and commanding an extensive
vista of the land-locked bay.
Landing in small boats which have an
awning over the stern to protect the tray
eler from the rays of an implacable sun,
we ascend a slight eminence and find our
selves in the historic city, whose soil 400
years ago was first trodden by the hidalgo
Ponce de Leon. The streets are well
paved, and the one-story yellow or blue
painted houses are typically Spanish.
Modern architecture, however, has begun
to assert itself, and an occasional two
story building shows up in bold contrast
to the fatroofed dwellings surround
ing it.
The military walls surrounding the city
have lately been razed, giving the city a
chance to expand, and when "our friends,
the enemy, take possession, doubtless the
land agent will soon be offering suburban
lots on monthly payments. Numerous
street vendors, some selling lottery tick
cts, others guarapo-the unfermented
juice Of the sugar cane-enliven the streets
by their quaint appearance and sonorous
cries.
Strange to say, no cabs ply for hire, and
street cars are conspicuous by their alb
sence. The city is connected by railroad
of about fifteen miles with the town of
Rio Piedras, by another branch with
Arecibo and Carolinas. A French COM
pany has the concession for a line to cir
cumnavigate the island, but has never
completed its contract. Travellers to other
parts of the island must make use of the
military macadam road traversing Porto
Rico from north to south. This road,
owing to official peculation, cost the rate
payers $751; 600 per kilometre, and is the
only one. Others are mere mule tracks.
NOT UNHEALTHY.
The report has been spread, especially
by foreigners, that Porto Rico is very I'M
from slight fevers, such as are to be met
with in all tropical countries, and are only
acclimating In effect, every epidemic can
be traced to official incompetence and the
lack of ordinary sanitary precautions, as
the following examples will show:
steamer of the Trans Atlantica company,
leaving Cadiz for Cuba, via San Juan and
carrying troops to the number of about
800, arrived at this port with well-de
veloped cases of small pox among the sol
diers.
The so-called sanitary board opposed
the landing of the infected cases, but the
consignee called on the governor, ex
planned the trouble and expense that this
ruling would subject them to. As they
represent powerful Spanish interests, and
have the means to make their arguments
carry weight, the governor ordered the de-
barkation of the patients, who We're car
ried through the town on open litters,
passing through the principal streets to
the hospital.
Again in Ponce, some troops sent to get
acclimatzed were located over a school
house. Yellow fever broke out among
them and some deaths resulted. The
straw mattresses of the men who had died
were thrown into the courtyard, and the
children were allowed to play with them,
which they did, in all the innocence of
childhood. With proper hygienic methods
strictly enforced, Porto Rico can be made
as healthy as Jamaica or St. Thomas.
ACROSS THE ISLAND.
The day after landing we set out on our
journey across the island. Our choice
of conveyance was limited to the dill
gencia, with its crowded, comfortable
seats, or a four seated carriage for the hire
of which we were asked $50. We chose
the latter, as it would enable us to enjoy
the scenery which we had been told was
unrivalled.
Starting at O'Clock in the morning we
first made the suburb of Santurce, where
the Weather elias 'es pass their leisure
hours after business in the capital. The
first relief of Rio Piedras was reached an
hour later, and was made memorable by a
cup of coffee, made only as the natives
make it, and bringing to memory the fra
grant Mocha of the Ara bian Nights.
On leaving Rio Piedras to the left, upon
hill is the reservoir for supplying water
to the city. AS usual, with Spanish enter
prises, it is still in construction, and prob
ably will remain so, until foreign capital
steps in and completes the work. Sugar
estates were now enclosing the road on
both sides, and now and again the breeze
would watt the smell of molasses from
the boiling houses hidden behind the
horizon.
An occasional peasant attending his
patch of plantains of maize would well
come us with his pleasant "Buenos dias',
half spoken, half chanted, to which our
punctilious driver invariably replied in
kind. Now and again palm branch
hnt sk irtad the roadside and trOOpS of