The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-06
LIFE IN PORTO RICO.
Customs on the IsIand-Why Ameri-
can Invaders Were Cheered.


According to a Porto Rican now in New
YORK the latest estimates of the popula
ZION OF the island put it at ABOUT 900,0O0,
OF WhOm no. 600 are peninsulares or natives
OF spain, and from 1900 and 14,0J1 for
, elsners, mostly Freuchmen, Italians, Ger
mans Englishmen and Americans, other
nalonahties being very little represen ted
Inc native population is composed of two
IhiruS whites, descendants of Spaniards
ana people of other European countries
ana one-third negroes and mulattoes, or
people of mixed blood
Inc mode of life is very similar to that
Oh the European countries except for some
sIisnt dlfSrences due TO the hot climate
fashions for men and women alike are
Introduced from Spain, and especially from
faris and London. The well-to-do in the
principal towns dress just like people in
european countries, men wearing wooden
clothSs al the year round The young
women dress very elaborated and all
wear hats, the Spanish mantilla being
worn only by elderly women. In the small
towns men dress after the fashion of the
cues, put wear linen fabrics, as wooden
clotneS are very uncomfortable are con-
sacred luxury, and are worn on holy
Gays ana Sundays only Laborers and
farm handS do not wear coats or shoes
They do not care to do so, and if they
did, they could not afford TO, as their wa
ges are very small
Life at San Juan and other principal
towns is very monOtonOus, the only amuse.
ments being retreta or concert by the mill
tary bands twice a week and theatrical
performances. three or four evenings a
week, matinees being given very seldom
Inc theaters are owned by the cities and
rented TO European companies travelling
through the island at so much an even
ing
The principal towns of the island are San
Juan, the capital, on the north coast with
$3.50 inhabitants, Ponce on the south
coast, with 1850 Inhabitants; Mayaguez.
on the west coast. with 20, 500 inhabitants;
Aguaditla, on the same coast, but more to
the north, with 1900; Arecibo, on the
north coast, with $500 Inhabitants HUI
macao, Arroyo and Fajardo. all seaports.
Other important inland towns are San
German Yauco and Guyana. The popu-
lation of San Juan IS that of the town and
It's suburbs, but that of the other towns
named includes all the inhab itants of the
districts, that is to say, the country
around the town. San Juan built on a
small island connected with the mainland
by the San Antonio bridge, is quite a
beautiful city, with straight but narrow
streets and many fine buildings. 1t has
several public institutions and colleges
several churches and seven small parks,
among them the Plazuela de Santiago with
a very good statue of Columbus The city
is lighted by gas supplied by an English
company and by electricity supplied by a
local corporation. There are eleven news
papers of all kinds, the principal one be-
ing La Correspondence a daily political
paper, with a circulation of about 1000
copies, which is equal to that of the other
papers combined There is a local tele-
phone company but no water except that
OF the cisterns. A, reservoir was projected
and the plan was approved by the govern
Vvye
the manana system it has not been finished
yet.
The history of the Spanish administra-
ton i'm the island is one of cruelty and cor
ruption The Spaniards began by EXTERN
mating the native Indian population
which some historians place as large as
100000, in less than a century. Every
branch of the administration of the island
is conducted under a system of corruption
the law Is constantly violated by the Span-
iards and the natives are deprived of their
rights. At elections the Spanish or Con-
servattve party always wins, notwith-
standing the fact that it is in a large
minority.
The liberty of the press is unknown Ar
tleIes printed in the Madrid or other Span
ism papers attacking the government can
not be reproduced by any Porto Rican pa-
per without the editors being punished
even if the article in question has not
been considered ground for prosecution by
the authorities in Spain.
No more than nineteen persons are al
lowed TO meet in any place on the Island
without special permission of the govern,
ment' and representative of the MAYOR
OF the town must attend meetings to see
that nothing is done or said against the
integrity of the nation"
Licenses are required for everything
even for a dancing party.
These are some of the things which
caused the people at Ponce to cheer the
Americans who took possession of the
town.