The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-12-07
FROM PORTO RICO.
Capt. hardacre Mrltcs About Gil
mate. and Country.

mate and Country.
Capt. Geo. w. Hardacre, division
superintendent in the st. Paul post
Office, who was lately assigned to San
Juan, Porto Rico; to establish the
United States postal service there,
writes an extended letter to his old
friend, Capt. w. P. Huntington of
this city, which, through the courtesv
of the latter, we are permitted to
publish. Capt. Hardacre writes:
My DEAR CAPTAIN: Yours: dated
the 3lst ultimo was received yester-
day and believe me when say was
pleased to hear from you and our
friends at my home, "The Windsor" at
St. Paul. It seems to me I have been
picked up from civilization and trans
planted in Mars, or some other planet
yet uncivilized. I have been here
since Oct. 25th, and it seems nearly
six months. I have not been out in
the country very much, though find
the natives and Spaniards have raised
the price of real estate from 100 to
800 per cent. since the evacuation by
the Spanish army. The country is
mountainous with beautiful valleys.
There are already American promoters
and spectators travelling over the
country getting options on land and
mineral sites. Land which sold for
$40 per acre, Oct. LIST is now held at
$75 to 500. Coffee, bananas and
cocoanuts are the chief articles raised
on this east end of the island, tobacco
on the west end and sugar-cane on
the south side. The central part is .
combination of all. I am engaged
here in this postoffce. Had I time I
would take a trip along the north
side of the Island to Aricibo, and on
to Mayaguez on the west end, with
the view to locating and buying to-
bacco plantation. l find Q very good
tobacco raised here, which makes up
in,o cigars, long filless, and sells for
one dollar per hundred, q much bet
Ter cigar than can be bought in the
States for five dollars. $50 per thous-
and is the highest priced cigar have
found here. II can get '.lug" of
tobacco through as sample, will
send you some (lesf tobacco.)
Business here does not amount to
much yet, for the reason that the ma
tives have no money and there are
not enough Americans here. Some
few have started saloons, restaurants,
etc., and make money out Of the sail
ors aud soldiers. An ice plant, steam
laundry, ready-made, cheap summer
clothing store, chicken raising, dairy,
or an American grocery, with Ameri-
can goods, would pay here. We have
no butter and nothing but boiled
milk. There is one ice-plant which
does not supply the demand, which is
increasing. Ice sells for Is cents pei
hundred.
This city is an island of itself. The
ocean on the north, and an inlet on
the east and west with the bay or
harbor on the south. It is we'll forti.
fed. Ramparts, entrenchments, and
breastworks innumerable, with the
two big forts. Castle Moro and San
Cristobol, apparently impregnable
boldly fronting the ocean. Sampson'f
shells bored big holes into the Span.
ish barracks, now occupied by United
States troops, one or two cathedrals
some private buildings, etc. His aim
was not to do the town much damage
but to drive from the harbor or des-
troy any Spanish gun boats which
might be there, end therein rained &
|shower of shells-so the natives tel
me. The city is solidly built of stone
brick and cement. Buildings one t<
two stories high, with walls 18 TO &
inches thick, built 50 on account o.
the earthquake shocks, tornadoes sne
hurricanes. of which there are bu
few. The streets are only 25 fee
wide including q 30 inch side wall
on each side. Houses are built fusl
with side walk, plastered and paintee
outside. And no windows, all door
opening on the streets of pri
vste houses are the back doors
The front doors open on an insid,
court where the people live. Cisterr
water is the only drinking water, bu
Fit is pretty we'll filtered through stone
filters. It makes q fellow feel like