The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-09

tured by gunooat Newport.-Ou ia
on the south side. while on the north it
is swampy. with many laGoons- Small
as the Island is. as many as 1900 streams
have been found IN 1t. forty-seven OF
which are large enough TO be called riv-
ers. The argest Of them flow northward.
owing to the slope of the mountains. the
highest of which. in the northeast rises
tn an altitude Of 5000 feet.
IN the northern lowlands the climate
is extremely damp. while on the south
side there is such dearth OF moisture
in the air that droughts often occur. and
artificial irrigation is necessary to secure
| satisfactory agricultural results. During
the rainy season. from September to
March. the general climate is enervating
and unhealthfuH The higher mountains
are covered with a dense growth OF for
ests. in which there are strange fern
trees, varieties Of trees with large. beau
/ tiful flowers and many trees that yield
valuable hard wood. coloring matter.
/ fibre. gums. etc In the cultivated regions
| cOcoanuts, oranges, and other tropical
| fruits are grown. In the mountains
! special variety of rice. the principal food
/ Of the laboring classes. can be grown
! without irrigation. In the lowlands sugar
and coffee aare the main products OF az
riculture, and there are extensive pas
| lures on which cattle are raised not
only for home consumption. but for other
markets of the West Indies In general
Porto Rico has been described as being
extremely fertile. its exports being more
than twice the value OF Jamaica's These
exports-chiefy of tobacco (whih Is sent
to Havana. sugar. molasses. coffee. cot
ton. hides. and rum-had increased from
about s1l.Ooo.000 in 1850 to SIC SCI 765 in 1891.
The latest estimate OF the population is
sos 700. The island is greatly in need OF
roads, and of bridges over the numerous
streams. The hills can ony be crossed
on horseback, and wheeled traffic Is liable
TO interruption even along he level coast
Among the imports are -four, potatoes.
fish. meat. rice. manufactured articles
and coal. Horses are abundant on the
island; less 50 sheep. hogs and goats
Among the mineral products gold. iron.
lead. copper. silver and sulphur are OF
there are numerous troublesome insects.
The only safe harbors at all times OF
the year are those Of San Juan. Hovas.
and GUancia- They are regularly visited
by English, American ard German steam
ers. In 1891 100 vessels entered these
harbors. One OF the principal towns f.
the capital. 81. Johns. with over q 90
inhabitants. II lies on the small Island
Of Moro. which Is connected with the
large island by bridges. Il has an execei-
lent harbor. well CERTIFIED the water r.
the wharves being ten 20 foruteen and
one-haf feet deep. Ponce has about 40 ~
inhabitants. andj lies three miles from
the south coast. AIayaruez has perhaps
20 90 inhabitants and r. provided with
military barracks. TITS habor is accessible
o vessels drawing less than sixteen feet
The seaports Of Porto Rico are St Johns
Ponce. Mayaguez. Saguabo Fajardo.
AguadilIa, Viequez
Porto Rico was discovered on November
=. 1913. by Counbus. IN 1s09 Ponce De
Leon was appointed governor BY the
King Of Spain and founded the arst get
Element on the island now known ~
Puerto yiejo. The original name q the
island was Boriquen or Burenquen. Co +
lumbus called 81 Tsa 5e san Juan Bautlata
The native Carihs whose number was put
at the extravaFsnt figure Of el0 no. were
treated 50 cruelty IN the mines thar
bloody uprlsings rcsuitesd. ~ c9uas- .
quenes % which they were gradually ex-
terminated Interesting relics % them
are preserved 81 the Smithsonian irsif-
tuition ~ washington ard the Berlin Elm
biological museum Tor q long time the
island was gsed chiefly as p-nzl cafong
and was subject ~ frequent attacks -
tie EnZllssh and French nzvles ard ~
pirates II i7ss Spain FIRST began 20 pay
greater afteuica 20 she .rias1. when
first rose . prosperity un5er ERE RUE -
Captain General Miguel &c "a Tore. iu
1s-l An unssecsssfll afterap, az De-
Iaratlon ~ ia9sDea1~aoe h4s been rasiss
tlre.ly eliminated in Is-1
The aslssd r. divided info ssvsa 1epzrt-
ments the island a ylsquez being at
tachsd as an elzha and 1ssa a. military
penal colony ststao-- TIE prr-ent pspz-
iation - very mixed. f1cl8tsuz bss5o-s
Cshar1s. who have some - fse stsorfFs-
raj IEdiaa BLOOD II taeir vesrs sssaia-fa
Cs-rz-s. Rua=ssss. scaall-astsas. cat
nsse Xooraa Jews aas C4a4sy lalsa-