The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-29
SOME FACTS ABOUT PORTO RICO
The Most Densely Peopled and Pros
porous Of the Greater Antilles.

Some OF the interesting things about
Porto Rico are not generally known. in
size IL ranks only as the fourth OF the
Greater Antilles. but In point Of density
Of population and general prosperity II
takes the first place. 10 is one OF the few
countries I'm tropical America where the
whites outnumber the other races. The
best harbor in the island is Guanica, the
most western port on the south coast,
where coo OF our troops landed on Mon
day evening. The largest city IS Ponce.
which may already be I'm the possession
of our forces. yellow fever never scourges
Porto Rico as a. does parts OF Cuba, and
although most Of it is low-lying. and may
be said to be very hily rather than noun
famous IL Is one Of the most healthtul
of tropical islands
Though the harbor Of Guanica, whore
our troops landed. IS the best TN the
island. 70 IS not visited by much snip
ming. The district Immediately around
10 is low and swampy. and. unless inn
provemcnts have been made within the
past two or three years the roads are
not equal i'm quality 90 the main roads
marked on the map. Guanica Is the out
let for the produce Of s. German. Sabana
Grande. and TO some extent Of Nauco,
which Is on the railroad. Porto Rican
"rehels" have been particularly numerous
en- the western and southwestern dis
tricts. and many thousands Of people
there will welcome the day Of General
Miles coming as the greatest I'm their
lives
The largest city and the commercial
capital Of the island IS Ponce. which lies
three miles north Of the port Of Ponce.
on a rich plain surrounded by gardens
and plantations There are hot springs
I'm the neghborhood which are highly
appreciated by invalids. Along the playa
or beach in front OF the port are extensive
depots I'm which the produce Of the inte-
rior forwarded through Ponce. the trad
ing centre. is stored for shipment At
the last enumeration Ponce had a popu-
lation of $3.50 while san Juan, the cap
ital on the north coast had only q. 44 in-
habitants. Ponce has a numter OF fine
buildings among which are the Town
Hall. the theatre. two churches the
Charity and the Women's asylums. the
barracks. the Cuban House. and the
market The road between the city and
the seaside is a beautiful promenade.
The main highway Of central Porto
Rico runs from Ponce 10 San Juan In a
northesterlv course through Juana Diaz
Coamo and Aibonto. where 1t goes almost
eastward 70 Cayey. there 70 take a wind
ing course 10 the north as far as Caguas.
where IL turns west TO Aguas Buenas
and then goes decidedly north TO san
Juan through Guaynabo and Rio Piedras
making in all distance Of about eighty
FIVE miles The distance from Ponce 10
San Juan in a straight line is only forty
FIVE miles.
The eastern part Of the island Is less
denseIv peopled than the western. and as
the east coast Is on the windward side
and offers less protection for shipping IL
is not 90 conveniently situated for trade
Here all the larger towns Of the east lie
inland. or al least some distance from
the coast These towns are in the hilly
region amid rich coffee and extensive
grazing lands.
The harbor Of San Juan. the capital. IS
deep enough to admit large vessels. but
its channel communicating with the sea
IS winding and difficult and can be navi-
gated safely only with the aid Of a
pilot.
one Of the leading seaports Of the island
Is Aguadina on the west coast. which
has the advantage of a spacious bay shell
tered from the trade winds Here are
shipped the sugar and coffee OF the north
west part Of the island. There are seven
or eight ports Of lesser importance.
over 5000 people live in Porto Rico.
and about two-thirds Of them are white.
cuba is thirteen times larger than Porto
Rico. and its population was not double
that OF the smaller island even before
Weyler exterminated a third OF the ma
tive Cubans. Besides Ponce and San
Juan. the largest towns on the island are
Areeibo $4,000 inhabitants). Utuado (sl.-
OOO. Mayaguez (2S.0oo). San German CO.
0O0). Yauco (25.cO0). Juana Diaz t2i .00O.
and there are about ten other towns with
a population 90 1900 or over.
In the past nifty years half the popuin-
ton has gravitated 70 and around the
towns. particularly those OF the seaboard.
Thay nya In comfortable holraea and