Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-10
s,a,lp Sennebee 3our1
PORTO RICO.
Sketch Of the Island Prepd Z
Professor Wilson.
Fine CIimate--Big Make,


professor Wilson, of the Pm lph,"
museum. has prepared somd ~ .
ing data about Porto Rico n ~
witch has never been ~ pu'
svarvthing about Porto Ridoi sen-
enl interest just now. Tn n.a
tistics are new and aut
lessor Wilson's paper follq ,
Porto Rico is the most r.,
of the Greater Antilles I'M .,,,.
dies On the east the i..
sweep in a great bow toy iln''e ':.
on the South American
on the windward the 'o.'n
OF these st. Thomas. Hhish 's''.u
and coalng station, is rea'ei So
egical Importance.
from the capital of No. "''
,ion r,;,es away rait of seven
ty miles separates 'ahu VI -
on the west The
Juan from other STU eicai i'oi,''' go
21O0 miles to Cape ue ie'al,u9' WV
to Key West and ~ ~
pnas rhara ora sfer islands which
hn,ana - the coIof Especially on the
eastern coast, bu3es "
Importance.
mr. ,,oir ;s,o lis a parallelogram
=, rororoI outI;,} hos miles from the
=, ,ho r.os Ind from 81 to 43
,,;,os ooross 1T has an area COM
puted at $3.50 sqFe miles, of not pui'e
ha1f mot of NeGersey. The little is
,ard on tha a,yof Viequez, on which
is the town Of apel oeSuiioa' - Il
military penagatioh' -
1856. of whtn 474,s33 We're white
24e.s mula ties and 1906 negroes
Slavery was bolished in 1873, three
years after " colony was declared to
be repre- ssntative province of Spain
and dividedinto seven departments.
PoRTsAND ADVANTAGES.
Cane sarJuan is in the northeastern
corner ofthe island. Going thence
southwark along the east coast the
bort of pajardo is reached, which is
nothing but a channel sheltered
by the small islands of Obispo,
Zancudo and Ramos, There are
other ports and anchorages on this
coast, where the sea is generally calm.
prevailing winds being the easterly
trades. Near the northeast coast runs
the Sierra de Loquillo, in which the
peak of Ell Yunque reaches the high
est elevation on the island $500 feet.)
Here the coast is broken and forbid
ding. The north shore is almost
straight and presents no shelter be-
tween Cape San Juan and the port of
the same name. thirty miles west,
which is described further on. Here
the sea is full of rocks, over which the
swell tumbles in heavy breakers Fur
Their wes lie the town and port of
Manati, With 5000 inhabitants. 1t is the
Least dangerous port between San Juan
and AHcibo. although it is an open
roadstead, and in the windy season
vessels cannot reach the shore Round
ing Punta de Brequen. which is the
corner of the island.
Aguadilla, or San Carlos de Aguadilla.
is reached on the west coast. 1t is on
the banks of a fine stream of water
1t is one of the busiest ports in the is
land and affords a fine anchorage in
close to shore, but in winter it
S unsafe.
Passing Punta San Francisco. the
most western point of the island, there
comes into view Punta Algarrobo, the
shores of which form the northern
boundary of the Bay of Mayaguez. TIL
'ity of this name lies inland a few
niles, near Il river, at the mouth OF
which its port is located. 1t has Il, 600
military barracks. an iron
ridge. good trade. gaslight and
here are sixteen feet of water in it's
larbor, hut the entrance is difficult.
Punta Guanajibo forms the southern
hore, Pilots are needed all along this
cast
Cape Agulla is the southwestern ex-
remlty Of the island. Between this
ma the Morrillos of Cape Roio is the
say OF Salinas, with from zen to TWEEN
y teet of water but not we'll protec-
-ed. Navigation along the southern
coast requires great care. Between
ape RoJo and Punta de la Brea is n
''hs line of cliffs. called De la MIR
surlte' between which and the mann
ana are inlets, like the coast thorough
ares of Maine or New Jersey. afford
INK many good anchorages, but these
'anhot be reached without pilot.
PORT OF GUANICO.
he port of Guanico, the largest an
-hoiaSe ground on the southern coast
y iorto Rico, lies fifteen miles east of
ape RoJo, with fifteen feet to thirty
IN ce ieet of water over a bottom of
9oo ana broken rock. The coast pre-
'ents no further interest until we come
y once, which port is one of the most
IMPORTANT on the island. Still further
. '''' IS Huayama. with the port of
>ii"sa near by on the south coast.
o'to kico is traversed from east TO
vest by a mountain range DIVIDING tbo
'"itu mo two unequal portions, by
"' the longest slope being on the north
W mat the rivers on that coast are
''"rh the longer From this chain sey.
i'i branches diverge toward the north
v"s' giving it a rugged appearance.
"'' Of the main range is called Sierra
"""e or Barros; it's northeast spur
N','Wh as the Sierra de Loquilo. that
- ~, ,"e northwest is the Sierra Larec.
ne most Of the population is located
- "a Tue ioWlands at the sea front of the
'iN for lack of roads the interior is
, e'sipie only by mule trails or sad
ie pains, and it is covered with vast
orests
INTERESTING CAVES.
mere are interesting caves in the
IOulltalnS thncn a,f crlnc R,,o,nn-a. -. i