The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-29
PORTO RICO.
It's Climate, Population, Trade and
Strategic IMPORTANCE.

Strategic points in the war thus far
have been points which. geographically
are not well known, and just now Porto
Rico IS one Of the most interesting of
these. 1t IS rather out of the line OF
southern tourist travel, and except TO
the people whose busLs-ss takes them
there it is almost unknown. From the
present indications Porto Rico may be
the strategic point Of the next naval
battle, and in view OF this fact the Army
and Navy Journal has just published
some information about 1t that is OF
general interest
Porto Rico Is seventy miles east OF
Hayt, LOS miles from Key West, 800
miles from the east coast OF Cuba. 100
miles from New York, and 1900 miles
from Norfolk. whore our flying squadron
has its base Of supplies. From Cape
Verde, the rendezvous Of the Spanish
fleet, il Is 2400 miles, and from the
Canaries 900 miles. 1t is about 1900
miles from Cadiz. BY occupying it, it is
believed the United States will control
the situation I'm the North Atlantic. The
Army and Navy Journal says:
Porto Rico IS about 1O3 miles long by
thirty-seven wide. It's area is about three
and one-half times that Of Rhode Island,
being $3.50 square miles. It's geograph-
ical contour is that Of an irregular pa
ralelogram its physical conditions are
those OF most islands I'm tropical coun-
tries ]. e., mountains I'm the centre and
a moderate belt OF level land on the
coast The average height Of the noun
tain ranges, which run east and west,
Is about 1900 feet. The highest peak FL
Yungue, In the Sierra de Loquillo. in the
northeast is 1900 feet In height. The low
coast land ranges from five to ten miles
I'm width. The island is well watered.
having about 1900 streams, nearly fifty
Of which are considerable rivers. The
climate is hot. but not unhealthy and
the island free from beasts OF prey and
serpents, although infested with rats,
centipedes. and mosquitoes.
THE rainy season in Porto Rico does
not begin until September and lasts until
March. Owing 10 the hills the northern
lowlands have n superbundance OF mois-
ture. while the south suffers from
drought q resultant OF the prevailing
winds. It is extremely fertile. its staples
being sugar. coffee and other tropical
products. tobacco, cotton, rice. vans,
p'anta,ns. &c. Large herds of cattle are
raised. and It has undeveloped mines OF
r.-a ropper. coal and salt. Its exports
ave about double those of Jamaica. and
amounted in 1896 IN the four principal
Items of coffee, sugar, molasses and to-
b,cco. 10 about $500 900. It's exports to
Spain in 1895 were over Sc 900 600: its i'm
IOffS from II QDoul s',NflrNNo. luiillb
1895 OF vessels, about 1000 900 tons, en-
tered at the various ports. Its popula-
ton IS somewhat over 100000. half white,
one-third creoles. and the rest negroes.
THE island has about 470 miles OF
telegraph, lS7 OF railway, and 10 miles
projected. The railroads run. first, from
Aouadlla in the northwest southerly
through Mayaguez to San German: sec
ond. from Ponce on the south 10 Coamo
eastward In the interior. and third. from
San Juan Bautesta on the northeast d.
rectly across the island southerly to
Guayama By building about thirty
miles from san German 10 Ponce, twenty
miles from Coamo 10 Guyana, the ISL
and would be thoroughly in railroad con-
nectien. II IS probable that this has been
contemplated in the 10 miles projected.
It's four principal harbors are San Juan
On the north, Ponce on the south, Maya
suez on the west. and Maquabo on the
east. San Juan. the capital on the
northeast, is situated on an Island called
MORO. connected with the mainland by
bridges. Its population Is 2i.coo. Tha
harbor is one OF the best In the West