The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-05-11
Will Porto Rico be Ours?
A Desireable Possession of Spain
that May Fall into the Hands of
the United States.


the United States.
The war between the United States
and Spain over Cuba makes worth
while to consider what would happen
to Spain's West India possessions.
That Cuba will eventually be wholly
lost to Spain is not a question out
side of Spain. But will Porto Rico
be allowed to remain under the
Spanish flag, if We make Cuba free!
1t is not probable. The eastern
island will offer a most inviting field
for attack and copquests in case
Spain forces US to fight her. It is
therefore worth while to inform our.
selves in regard to ''the most health
full of all the Antilles" which may be
a pant of tie United States even be-
fore Cuba becomes our territory.
Porto Rico. lying seventy miles TO
the eastward of Hayti. has less than
a tenth of The area of Cuba, but has
much more than half as many people.
Its $3.50 square miles sustained as
long ago as 1887 a population OF
over 100000 people, or PIG to the
square mile. In size it is about five
seventbs the size Of Connecticut.
Practically the whole island is under
cultivation, it is said, yet at last &C
counts there was only twelve miles
Of railroad in the whole island. 10
shape Porto Rico is an irregular
parallelogram, with an easternly and
westerply dimensions Of 109 miles
and q northernly and southernly one
81 miles. There is a considerable
range of hills running from east to
west near the sonrtbe,n coast, so
that the streams flowing to the north
are much longer than those which
flow in the other direction. The
highest elevation in the island is FL
Yupgue. near the no, theast corner,
which rises to height of 5000 feet.
The fertility of Porto rico ia proved
hv the fact that it has no less than
1900 streams, OF which DO less than
At are considerable rivers. The
higher bills are still covered with
forest. and the island is said to be
beautiful throughout. Some of the
forest trees show va,i-colored fol.
iaee, and there are flower bearing
trees which ere most attractive to
;he eye, but of wild flowers the whole
island is 81 d to be as destitute as it
is Of binds and wild animals.
Something more than 400 600 OF
the people are white, and there are
descendants Of various European
aces but are, Of course, chic fly
Spsniards and the Spanish language
ia spoken ~ ell. The colored people
were emancipated in 1873 and seem
to be peaceful and steady in their
habits While Spain has been tor
mented with rel elliops in tie Philli
pines and in Cuba, she has had TO
send no soldiers to suppress ipsurrec-
tions in this beautiful land, which is
ruled By Spanish governor, like the
other colonies. In 1887, the last
wear for which we have the returns,
the exports from the island amounted
to S1O,OC0,OOO, and the imports were
of equal amount. Porto Rico raises
a great deal of excellent tobacco.
which has usually been sent to
Havana and made into cigars. In
1878 the value of the sugar and mo-
lasses produced in the island was
mora than s5.0O0.On0. but this has
been largely reduced by the TALL in
the price Of these articles. Neatly
s5.OOo.OO of coffee was produced in
the same year. The people subslst
largely on rice ard the tropical wits!
and the cost of living is very low.
MANY cattle are raised and theie is
an extensive export of cattle TO the
other West India islands.
Pro REQ has 10 less than seven
seaports OF which the CHIEF is st.
Johns or San Juan on the por,h coast.
This place has population OF rs" U
and a very fine hartor with a depth
of water at low tide CT 10 feet or
more. The island could be invaded
easily enough at almost any point,
but like all Spanish 70 sessions, it is
almost entirely destitute OF roads,
and military force would have hard
..,,,, - oross tho island or even to
90 far from The coast. There is evl-
d.ptly magnificent opportunity tor
q system of cl' ctric railroads in the
island. With such large population
and products, railroad system pepe,
tratipg to all parts of the island and
also encirc?iug it would be ce't tain to
pav handsomely. The limit OF either
population or Of productivity has by
no means been reached, and good
dose of American energy and Ameri-
can capital wonld produce marvel
Gus results there. The healthfulness
of Porto Rico and the fact that
foreigners easily become accllmated
would make it much more inviting
place for our people than Cuba. One
reason why we should have to sena
war; hips there is that the Spanish
telegraph cable connects there ana
could be most easily cut at that point.
San Juan has some defenses' but
they would soon be demolished by
our rifsd guns if resistance was
made. The Spaniards may to'nk
hat they could Go TREMENDOUS cam
age to our ships but they must ex
pect to part with Porto Rico earl, Ii
the conflict. aid while most Amerl-
cans will much prefer to see Cuba
independent as veil as free it by DO
means follows that We shall not want
TO keep tie Unrtd States fig way
lpg over rich uuu Ieitile Porto II
,ot