Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-06-26

in time of peace, and so luxurious are the
people that in one year 100000 of goods
We're carried i'll the island. These con-
sisted mostly Of manufactured products,
such as clothing and household wares.
Sheep. which thrive in a hot country,
grow big and fat in Porto Rico, and fresh
lamb and mutton is constantly shipped
from there A very large class of people
are shepherds, and these live upon NUT
ton and a kind of highland rice which is
very easily prepared for food.
Amid so much richness one would think
that the Lord would have endowed Porto
Rico no more heavily, yet it is a fact
that on one end of the island gold mines
exist, and iron, copper, coal and salt are
found in plenty. The vegetable produc-
lions are, however, so valuable that the
minerals have been neglected in order to
cultivate the vegetables.
Porto Rico is older than the United
States and was discovered as early as
100. Ponce d e Leon paid a visit there
and admired the island, so he killed off
all the natives he could find and took
possession of the rest as slaves. So
slavery was established in Porto Rico
and fourished there until 1873, when
free and equal. Meanwhile the people
had been settling their towns and living
happy life.
Porto Rico is SO situated that it is
terror to those who attempt to crowd
ont the natives. At certain time of the
year a hurricane blows up the north
coast and destroys all shipping. Har-
bors have been built wherein natives
pack their possessions this time of year,
and should Porto Rico belong to the
United States. our sailors would be taught
by them knowledge of the when and
why of the hurricane season.
In some respects Porto Rico is like
New Jersey, which has malaria and
mosquitoes ''to burn" But the agri-
cultural advantages outweigh these ter
rors. and Porto Rico, like Jersey and
southern California, is lovely enough to
make one forget its disadvantages.
The capital of Porto Rico is San Juan,
city of $780, 600 people. The inhabitants
are Roman Catholics and are devout peo-
pie who speak Spanish, of course and
Sre highly educated, most of them know
Ing English. The women are of middle
size and are exquisitey formed. They
have all the coquetry of the women of
the tropics, and their beauty, gentleness
ana grace is the talk of all who visit
our new island.
The harbor of San Juan is the best
N the West Indies, and has been the
scene Of many a battle. 1t was sacked
by Drake in 1895, and later by the Duke
OF Cumberland. The English tried to
lake It in 1915 and again in 1878 In 1875,
ihe English seeing the great advantage
OF owning the harbor of San Juan, seized
II and for three days tried to take it,
but We're repulsed.
One of the principal sources of revnue
OF Porto Rico is It's water supply. More
IMAM twenty islands of the West Indies
send to Porto Rico for water. Little boats
SAL up the harbor of San Juan, load
Their tanks with water and sail away
again. The scourge of Havana is its lack
OF fresh water, but the Island of Porto
4uoo has al the water it can use and
enough to supply nefghboring islands
hundreds of miles away.
Poverty is unknown in the enchanted
isle Of Porto Rico. for every man owns
MS horse and every woman has her
chickens. The principal sport of the
island is cock fighting, and the men of
Porto Rico fight with game cocks as
Madrid people indulge in bull fights.
There Is nothing but hospitality on the
island. and the traveller who hands out
money offends his host
Although situated in hot latitude, 1t
Is very cool in Porto Rico; and at night
there is a pleasant breeze, bringing sweet
fragrance all along the northern coast
and sending the zephyrs across the At
lantic.
feature which strikes the traveller
y the ROOT gardens; for ali Porto Rico