The Republican., 1898-08-25

fhey know what the cond III ot1s la
Ethe island are to be before they faize
any risks.
FoRro Rrco'sc API1zL.
San Juan Founded Nearly Foar C6ntsaries
Ago BY Ponce De Leon
San Juan, or according to iii Old
Spanish name. San Juan Bautista.
the capital Of Porto Rico, is situated
on the little island Of MORO, on the
north coast of the main island The.
town, which with its suBerbs has
about ri 900 inhabitants, il connected
with the lnainland BY brisl4sz 'E,ssa'
ground rises toward the ocean in low
hills, and directly behind the highest
one, at the entrance to the harbor,
lies the city. 1t is place of consid-
cradle strength, especially on the side
toward the sea, for although some of
the Notifications in the rear, which
protect it from a land attack, are of
an obsolete type. new batteries of
Krupp guns are said to have been
placed on the bluffs fronting the
ocean.
The harbor has always been CON
| sidered one of the finest in the West
Indies. Its entrance is, or was de-
Tended by the Moro, or strong fort,
which commanded it. Just how
much damage Admiral SIMPSONS
ships inflicted upon this fort in the
bombardment of May 70, and how far
the destruction has been repaired are
not accurately known, but it is be-
lieved that the fort was almost de-
stroyed. Within its precincts were
the lighthouse, the barracks, large
water tanks and great quantity of
| stores and ammunition. \ tunnel,
giving access for troops and provi-
sions, communicated with the shore
and was defended by battery.
The inner harbor is land-locked,
capacious and safe. Heretofore the
maximum depth of water in it along
the wharves has been thirteen feet
at low tide and fourteen and one-half
feet at high water, but it is now be-
ing dredged to a uniform depth from
docks to anchorage of twenty nine
feet.
San Juan was founded in 1910 by
( sance, De eIeon. In the western part
of the city stands the Governors
palace, built by him. 1t is inclosed
within the ancient Notifications of
Santa Catalina, where also are the
cathedral, the town house and the
theatre. This part of the city is call
ed the Pueblo Viejo, or Old Town.
1t is an episcopal see, subordinate to
the Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba.
There are two street railways in
San Juan, and most of the roads in
and near the city are admirable, be-
ing of smooth, hard macadam. Sew
eral of the bridges are handsome
pieces of stonework. The houses,
usually one story high, are of stone,
and have roof gardens, from which
beautiful marine views may be en-
joyed. Almost every house has a lux
uriant garden in its patio" or court.
On the west coast of Porto Rico,
Mayaguez is town as large as the
capital. ItsNchief Importance lies in
the fact that it is the centre of a rich
coffee, banana and orange district.
! The Mayaguez planters say that these
products are finer in this region than
anywhere else in the island. The
| town is several miles inland and is
separated from its port by river,
| over which there is an iron bridge.
There are military barracks in the
city, but no Notifications of any i'm
portance The harbor is accessible
! only to vessels drawing less than six
teen feet of water, and is gradually
sitting up, as is the case with most
of the Porto Rican harbors.-New
York Tribune.