Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-08-23
FERTILE PORTO RICO
TIE ISLAND IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT
IS PRODUCTIVE.


Il R~s Thirteen Hundred Streams, |
weaith of Vegetation. Highly Cuitivsbls |
Soil and Vast Deposits of Mlnerais-Yew
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 Tho 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 "El
Yunque, or THE Anvil, variously
estimated at from 3, 600 to 4. 500 feet IN |
height. The 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 the main range lie innumerable
secluded valleys where the soil is OF
great fertility. The impressive features
of the landscape are the rounded sum.
mits Of the multitudinous hills, which
leave the coast in constantly rising bill |
lows that finally break against the cor
dillera vertebra: yet all are cultivable,
and cultivated 10 their very crests,
though the higher mountain peaks are
forest clad
More than /, 300 streams. it Is said.
of which number perhaps 40 or so at
tain to the dignity Of rivers, rise in the
hills and seek the coasts, most OF them
running northerly. though the best har.
bors are in the west and south. But
Notwithstanding the great river flow
portions Of the island in the southwest
are afflicted with drought at times,
owing to the precipitation Of the north
east trades against the northern hills
The higher hills are clothed in tho
exuberant and diversified vegetation Of
the tropical forest, where tree ferns
flourish, and great gum trees and noun
tain palms tower aloft At lower levels
are the cedar and mahogany. walnut
and laurel. with many Others noted for
their useful woods Throughout the
island are found those trees and shrubs
valuable for their gums, rs tho mamey,
guaiacum and copal. while the list Of
medicinal plants includes most Of those,
invaluable 70 our pharmacop9ias.
which tropical America has given to
the world These are the silvestres, ma
lures wild children. but OF cultivated
plants there is no species peculiar to
the tropics that does not flourish here.
In the littoral levels. between the
mountains and the SEA, grows the sug-
ar cane, which may be cultivated up TO
an altitude Of 3. 600 feet. Ii was intro
duced here from Santo Domingo, hav-
ing been brought to America either
from Spain or the Canaries. The annu-
al yield of sugar Is estimated at about
20, 600 tons.
I'm these fertile lowlands also tobacco
does exceedingly well, and the annual
production is said to be quite 1000, 600
pounds. IL may be cultivated on the
hills. but the true mountain lover Is th'
coffee, which does not do well below
600 feet and is at its best / 900 feet
above the sea IL was first brought here
from Martinique in l722, and now
yields to the extent Of II, 600 tons an
nually Maize, the true Indian corn, is
indigenous, rs Is the yucca, the aborigi-
nal "staf Of life, and both grow ev-
erywhere. rs well as the pineapple,
which Is more reliable and more uni
versal than the peach Of our north tenn
perate zone Cotton and rice are iuEnd
at nearly all elevations. the latter,
which Is the chief food of many labot-
ers, being what is known Ia the noun.
tain variety
Bananas and plaintains are wonderful
" prolific, bearing fruit in ten months
from planting. The plants virtually
last 60 years, being equally long lived
with the cocoa palm, which produces
nuts in six or seven years aud there
after during the space Of an ordinary
life. its yield being reckoned at 100
nuts year The annual product OF
bananas Is given as 200, 900, 600 and of
cocoanuts 1000. 900. The entire range
Of tropical fruits is represented here,
such Us the guaya, lime, orange, aqua
cate, sapodilla and avocado pear while
all subtropic vegetables may be raised,
including those Of the south temperate
zone such, for instance. a. are grown
in Florida
The mineral kingdom has not been
SO exhaustively exploited as the vegeta-
bic, but more than traces have been
found OF copper. coal aud iron. us well
as vast deposits Of salt. The rivers at
one time ran To the sea over beds OF
golden sand, and from the streams to-
day tas in the neighboring island OF
Santo Domingo, where the first Ameri-
can gold was discovered) the natives
wash out nuggets by the crude proc
esses Of that distant day when Aguey-
naba went prospecting with his false
friend, Ponce de Leon
There are no native quadrupeds here
larger than the agouti and the armadil.
10, but birds are relatively numerous,
with few of fine song and some OF
brilliant plumage All domestic fowl
do well here. and the great pastures OF
the northeast and southeast suppott vast
herds Of cattle and horses which suffice
not only for the needs Of the island. but
are exported TO all parts Of the West
Indies, being held in high esteem.
There are no poisonous reptiles to be
feared, but insects Of questionable char.
acter are too numerous for comfort
This island indeed were parodise
without them. even with them the
inhabitants seem TO experience little
trouble The worst OF these are the
scorpions, centipeds, tarantulas. wasps.
mosquitoes, some species Of ants ticks,
chigoes and feas The heat Of tropical
climate like that of Porto Rico. which,
though rarely exceeding 30 degrees. is
continuous is conducive to the breed.
ing of insect pests Of all sorts
Quaint Fitz-James OBrien.
Mrs. M. Z. w. Sherwood relates in
the New York Times some amusing
sayings of Fitz. James o Brien. On Wis.,
iting a very patriotic lady on New
u