The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-05-21
Porto Rico.
From the Philadelphia (Pa.) Ledger.

From the Philadelphia (Pa1 Ledger.
Professor Wilson, of the Philadelphia
Museums, has prepared some interesting
data about Porto Rico, much of which has
never been printed, but everything about
Porto Rico is of general interest just now
The trade statistics are new and authentic
Professor Wilson paper follows:
Porto Rico is the most eastern island of
the Greater Antilles in the West Indies
On the east the Lesser Antilles sweep in
a great bow toward Trinidad, on the South
American coast, inclosing on the windward
the Caribbean Sea. Ofthese St. Thomas,
a Danish island and coalins station, is of
greater strategetical Importance. 1t is south
west from the capital of Porto Rico, about
ninety miles away. \ strait Of seventy
miles separates the island from Hayti on
the west The distance of San Juan from
other strategetical points are 2100 miles to
Cape Verde Islands, 1850 to Key West
and 1920 to Hampton Roads. There are
smaller islands which belong to the colony,
especially on the eastern coast, but they
are of slight Importance.
The main island is paralelogram in
general outline, 10S miles from the east to
the west and from thirty seven to forty
three miles across, and it has an area COM
puted at $3.50 square miles, or not quite
half that of New jersey. The little island
Of Viequez on the east, on which is the
town Of Gabel Segunda. is a military penal
station.
The population in 1887 numbered
798, 5G5, of whom Al, 933 were white,
246, 647 mulatoes and &c, 905 negroes
Slavery was abolished in 1873, three years
after the colony was declared to be rep
resentative province of Spain, and divided
into seven departments.
ALONG THE COAST.
Cape San Juan is the northeastern cor
ncr Of the island. Going thence south
ward along the east coast the port of Fa-
iard0 is reached, which is nothing but Il
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, pre-
vsiling winds being the easterly trades.
Near the northeast coast runs the Sierra de
Loquillo, in which the peak Of FL Yunquo
reaches the highest elevation on the island
(3600 feet Here the coast is broken
and forbidding. The north shore is al
most straight and presents no shelter be-
tween Cape San Juan and the port of the
same name thirty miles west, which is de-
scribed further on. Here the sea is full
of rocks, over which the swell tumbles in
heavy breakers. Further west lie the town
and port of Manati, with 5000 inhabi-
tants. 1t is the least dangerous port be-
tween San Juan and Arecibo, although it
is an open roadstead, and in the windy sea-
son vessels cannot reach the shore. Round
ing Punta de Bruquen, which is the north
western corner of the island, .ASuadilla, or
San Callos de Asuadilla, is reached on the
west coast 1t is on the banks of Il fine
stream Of water. 1t is one of the busiest
ports in the island and affords fine an
choraee in summer close to shore, but in
winter it is unsafe.
PENTA ALGARROBO.
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. The city of this name
lies inland few miles, near d river, at the
mouth of which its port is located 1t has
1000 inhabitants, military barracks, an
iron bridge, good trade, gas light, and
there are sixteen feet of water i'll its har-
Dor, but the entrance is difficult.
Punta Guanajibo forms the southern
shore Pilots are needed along this coast.
Cape Agulla is the southwestern extrem-
ity of the island Between this and the
Morrillos of Cape Rojo is the bay of Sal
Mas, with from ten to twenty feet of water,
but not well protected Navigation along
the southern coast requires great care.
Between Cape Rojo ana Punta de Brea is
a long line Of cliffs called De la Margarite,
between which and the mainland are inlets,
like the coast thoroughfares of Maine or
New Jersey, affording many good anchor
ages, but these can not be reached without
pilot.
LARGEST ANCHORAGE GROUND.
The port of Guanico; the largest an
chorage ground on the southern coast of
Porto Rico, lies fifteen miles east of Cape
Rojo, with fifteen feet to thirty three feet
OF water over bottom of sand and broken
rock. The coast presents no further in
terest until we come to Ponce, which port
is one of the most important on the island
Still further east is Guayama, with the
port of Arroyo near by on the south coast
Porto Rico is traversed from east to
west by mountain range, dividing the
island into two unequal portions, by far
the longest slope being on the north, so
that the rivers on that coast are much the
longer. From this chain several branches
diverge toward the north coast, giving it
rugged appearance Part of the main
range is called Sierra Grande or Barros; its
northeast spur is known as the Sierra de
Loquillo, that on the northwest is the
Sierra Laree
The most of the population is located on
the lOwlands at the seafront of the hill.
For lack of roads the interior is accessible
only by mule trails or saddle paths, and it
is covered with vast forests
RIVERS AND BROOKS.
There are interesting caves in the noun
tains, those of Aguas Buenas and Gales
being the most notable Rivers and
brooks are numerous, forty seven very con-
siderable rivers having been enumerated.
They are short and rapid. especially on