The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-18
PONCE DE Icons ISLE.
Puerto Rico Is a Fertile and
Healthy Country.
HOW THE ISLAND Is GOVERNED.
It's Climate, Agricultural Products and
the Island Is Divided-Principa Towns
and Fortifications-The Early Inhabit-
ants and Their Spanish Conquerors.

and Fortlfcations-The Early Inhabit-
ants and Their Spanish Conquerors.
The island Of Puerto Rico is the
smaller of SPANS two remaining colo
mics in West Indian waters IL lies so
miles TO the east of Haiti. and close be-
side it 20 the westward lies the group
comprising the Virgin islands Puerto
Rico's general shape is that of a paral-
telegram. It's length is los miles and its
breadth in its widest part is 81 A
range of hills traverses the island from
east TO west some distance from the
southern coast. These hills-the high
est, FL Yunque, being 3, 800 feet high
intercept the northeast trade winds, and
the northern lowlands have oftentimes
an overabundant supply of water, while
severe droughts often are experienced in
the south, making it necessary 10 have
recourse 70 artificial irrigation. In gen.
eral, however, the island is well water
ed. The coast line is indented with
many bays and creeks, several of which
can be used by ships of heavy burden.
In accordance with the situation of the
mountain chain, the rivers which flow
toward the northern coast are longer
and deeper than those ON the opposite
side, and several of the former allow
coasting vessels TO enter five or six miles
The climate of Puerto Rico is sup
posed TO be less unhealthy for Europeans
than in most of the Antilles, and the
heat, even in the months of summer, is
not so severe as in other parts of the
West Indies. The lack of good roads
and of bridges in many parts of the is
land has been one cause of the failure
of the island to develop its real value
as a producer of agricultural products.
In late years, however, the government
has done much TO increase the islands
resources. Gold, coal, copper, iron and
salt are found, but the last alone is
mined. Sugar and coffee are the staple
products, the former being grown for
the most part on the southern coast. On
the fertile plains 10 the north Of the
hills tobacco, cotton, maize and tropical
fruits grow readily. Rice, the principal
food, is a mountain variety, needing
little rain. Much of the tobacco is sent
to Havana for manufacture. The noun
yield valuable dyes and hard woods for
export.
Cattle raising is another profitable in
dustry to the inhabitants, and the pas
ture lands in the north and east are SUI
perior TO any others in the West Indies
A large traffic has been carried on with
the neighboring French, English and
Danish possessions Exports CT various
kinds which in 1850 amounted to about
S11, 900, 900, had in 1891 reached to-
tai Of nearly 81, 600, 900.
Seven departments, each under the
command Of Spanish colonel, make
up the island. Bayamon, in which is
San Juan, the capital Arecibo and
Aguadilla are On the northern side of
the range. Mayaguez covers the south
west part Ponce and Guyana are on
the southern side, and the eastern part
is taken up with Humacao. The island
of Bieque, 70 the east makes an eighth
department which is used as a military
penal station. The population of the is
land-which in 1880 was only $40, 600
Numbered 754, 3l3, OF whom 1924, $40
Were colored. The total population at
present numbers about 900, 600. The
people Of European origin are Spaniards,
Germans, Swedes, Danes Russians,
Frenchmen and Chuetas, or descendants
of the Moorish Jews of Majorca. There
are also some Chinese. The small land
holders in the country districts are call
ed gibaros and are of Spanish origin,
modified by Indian blood
San Juan, the capital and chief sea-
port. lies on MORO island, on the north
coast, and is connected with the main
land by bridges. The ground rises to-
ward the ocean in low hills, and the
city lies directly behind the highest one
at the harbor's entrance. Notifications,
some of them of an obsolete type, pro-
tect the city from an attack on the
land side, while ON the bluffs front
ing the ocean new batteries of Krupp
guns are said TO have been placed,
from which plunging fire can be
directed on approaching vessels The
channel at the eastern end of the
island has depth Of only a fathoms,
but two batteries have been mounted
here TO prevent the landing of troops for
a shore attack. The bay is of an oval
shape and admits ships Of heavy ton
mage. Opposite MORO Castle, where the
new guns are said 70 have been mounted,
lies Carras island, but il is not known
whether this has also been fortified. The
chart shows small fort, apparently a
floating battery, just behind Carras at
the bays mouth
In the old fort of Santa Catalina are
the governors palace and a cathedral,
a town house, a theater and an old palace
built by Ponce dc Leon are among the
sights Of the town 1t has population
Of about 20, Ponce, ON the south
coast, has population Of about 40, 600.
Private houses are built of wood. and
only the government buildings are con-
structed Of brick and stone. There are
town hail. public hospital aud an
English Episcopal church in the city,
which is lighted throughout by gas sup
piled by an English company Maya
Al. A -