The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-05
PONCE AN IMPORTANT TOWN

Flr,, CITY Captured by Americans in
Porto Rice has PLENTY Ofsoeial and Bus
Military Notes ON tOrto Rico" pre-
pared by the war department for the
information OF the army, contains the
following description Of Ponce:
A city OF 22,OOO inhabitants, with a
jurisdiction numbering 1900. It Is sit
uated on the south coast OF the island,
ON a plain, about two miles from the
seaboard. It Is the chief town OF the
judicial district OF lta name, and ia SEN
enty miles from San Juan. 1t 10 regu-
larly built, the central part almost ex-
rluslyeIy OF brick houses and the sub
urbs Of wood. It is the residence of
the military commander, and the seat
OF an official chamber Of commerce.
There is an appellate criminal court,
besides other courts; two churches, one
PROTESTANT, said to be the only one in
The Spanish West 1ndiest two hospitals
besides the military hospital, home
of refuge for old and poor, two ceme-
teries, three asylums, several casinos,
three theatres, q market, municipal
public library, three hrst-ciass hotels'
three barracks, park. gas works,
perfectly equipped fire department.,
hank thermal and natural baths, etc,
Commercially, Ponce is the second
city OF Importance on the island. A hne
road leads 20 the port (Playa), where
nil the import and export trade Is trans
acted. Playa has about 5000 inhabit-
ants. and here are situated the custom
house, the office Of the captain OF the
mort, md all the consular ofhceS. The
mort Is spactousNand will hold vessels
OF twenty-five feet draft.
The climate, on account OF the sea
brcezes during the day and land breezes
nj night, Is not oppressive, but hot ana
dry; and, as water for all purposes, in
Guiding the fire department, Is amply
supplied by m aqueduct 4,442 yards long,
II is said that the city Of Ponce Is per-
hnps the healthlest place In the whole
island. There Is stage coach 70 San
Juan, MayAguez, Guyana, etc. There
Is a rnilroad TO Yauco, postohce ana
a telegraph station.
1t is believed that Ponce was founded
in 1900; Il WINS given the title Of villa
IN lS4S. and in 1871 that OF city. OF Its
thIrty-four streets the best are Mayor,
Salud Villa, Wives, Matina and Conner
clio. The best squares are Principal and
Las DeIlclas. which are separated by
the church Of Nuestra Sonora de Quad
aIupe. The church, as old as the town
itself began to be reconstructed In 1888
and was finished In 1897. 1t Is eighty
six yards long by forty-three broad and
has Two steeples, rich affairs. and fine
ornaments. The Protestant church is
OF gothic architecture, OF galvanized
iron outside and wood within; Il was
built In 1874. ~
The town hall. which salso serves as
iail Is n good two-story binding OF ma
sonry. and was finished in 1877. There
arc two barracks, one for infantry, with
capacity for 700 men, and another for
cavalry. The Former was constructed
IN IS4S and Is two stories high, while
the latter is one-story structure be.
longing to the municipal council
The military hospital, Of masonry, IL
situated on Castillo street. and has q
capacity for seventy patients. The
smallpox and pestllentlal hospitals are
situated outside the city limits. The
albergue de TricOche ChospitaD, was
built with money left by Valenttn Tri-
coche for this purpose In 1863. II Is In
the northern part Of the town, Is built
OF masonry on the doric order. 1t has
a capacity for sixty persons.
The Damus Asylum Is built OF mason
~, with an elegant porch, Iron gate and
garden at its,entrance. 1t Is maintained
by money loft by various persons and
by other charitable means. and will ac-
ccmmadate twelve men and twelve wo-
men, having besides four beds designed
for sick seamen.
The theatre is called the Pearl and it
deserves this name. for 1t is the finest
on the island. It has sculptured porch,
on the Byzantine order. with graceful
columns It is mostly built Of Iron and
marble, and cost 1000 pesos. II Is fifty
two yards deep and twenty-nine wide.
The inside Is beautiful, the boxes and
seats Toomy and nicely decorated. It
may, by a mechanical arrangement, be
converted into a dancing hall.
About one and one-elghth miles north
east OF the town are the Qulntana Their
nal baths. In building surrounded by
pretty gardens. They are visited by
sufferers from rheumatism and various
other diseases.
The city OF Ponce proper has no MILL
tary defenscs but in the hills TO the
north of the town series Of earth In
trenchments have lately been construct
ed. West OF Ponce, where the railroad
and military road touch the shore,
earthworks have been constructed to
guard this strategic point, There are
about thirty mountain howitze.s in
Ponce available for defense OF he city
and the railroad.