Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-29

Island Most Populous and Prosper
Gus OF Greater Antilles.

| (NeW York Sum-
Some OF the interesting things about
Porto Rico are not generally known. In
size II ranks only as the fourth Of the
Greater Antilles. but in point Of density
Of population and general prosperity 1t
takes the first place. 1t is one Of the few
countries In tropical America where the
whites outnumoer the other races. The
best harbor in the island is Guanica, the
most western port on the south coast
where 4,0O of our troops landed on Mon
day evening. The largest city is Ponce,
which may already be in the possession
Of our forces. Yellow-fever never
scourges Porto Rico as 1t does parts OF
Cuba, and although most Of 1t is low
lying, and may be said to be very billy
rather than mountainous, IL Is one OF the
most healthful of tropical islands.
Though the harbor of Guanica, where
our troops landed, Is the best in the
island, 1t is not visited by much shipping.
The district Immediately around 1t is low
and swampy. and. unless improvements
! have been made within the past two or
| three years, the roads are not equal In
quality to the main roads marked on the
| map. Guanica is the outlet for the pro-
duce Of s. German, Sabana Grande, and to
| some extent OF Yauco, which Is on the
railroad. Porto Rican rebels" have been
particularly numerous In the western and
southwestern districts, and many thou
| sands of people there will welcome the
| day of General Miles's coming as the
| greatest In their lives.
The largest city and the commercial
capital of the island is Ponce, which lies
three miles north Of the port of Ponce,
on a rich plain surrounded by gardens
and plantations. There are hot springs
1 IT, h}0b1xy n
preciated by invalids. Along the playa
/ or beach in front of the port are extensive
depots, in which the produce of the in
| terror forwarded through Ponce. the
| trading centre, Is stored for shipment. At
the last enumeration Ponce had a popu-
lation of 1885, while San Juan, the capt.
tai on the north coast, had only z3, IA in
habltants. Ponce has a number Of fine
buildings, among which are the Town
Hall, the theatre, two churches, the
Charity and the Women's asylurns, the
barracks, the Cuban House. and the mar
ket. The road between the city and the
seaside is beautiful promenade.
The main highway of Central Porto
Rico runs from Ponce to San Juan In a
northeasterly course through Juana Diaz,
Coamo, and Aibonito, where 1t goes al
most eastward TO Cayey, there to take
winding course to the north as far as
Caguas. where IL turns west to Aguas
Buenas, and then goes decidedly north to
San Juan through Guaynabo and Rio
Piedras, making in all a distance OF about
eighty-fve miles. The distance from
Ponce to San Juan in a straight line is
only forty-five miles.
The eastern part Of the island Is less
densely peopled than the western, and
as the east coast is on the windward side
"A nd tnCc shining |
1t Is not so conveniently situated for
trade Here all the larger towns OF the
east lie inland or at least some distance
from the coast. These towns are in the
billy region amid rich coffee, and ex-
tensive grazing lands.
The harbor Of San Juan. the capital, is
deep enough to admit large vessels, but |
it's channel communicating with the sea |
Is winding and difficult, and can be navi- |
gated safely only with the aid of a pilot !
One Of the leading seaports OF the island |
Is Aguadflla. on the west coast which has |
the advantage Of a spacious bay sheltered |
from the trade winds. Here are shipped |
the sugar and coffee OF the northwest part
of the island. There are seven or eight
ports of lesser Importance.
over 10000 people live in Porto Rico,
and about two-thirds of them are white.
Cuba is thirteen times larger than Porto
Rico, and its population was not double
that of the small island, even before
Weyler exterminated a third Of the native
Cubans. Besides Ponce and San Juan.
the largest towns on the island are Are
cibo 10000 inhabitants), Utuado (3l 900
Mayaguez (2s,00O, San German (D,WW,
Yauco (250OW, Juana Diaz (2l.00W, and
there are about ten other towns with a
Of 1900 or over.
In the past fifty years about half the
population has gravitated to and around
the towns. particularly those of the sea-
board. They live in comfortable houses,
and many Of them have the means to
purchase all the wares Of the civilized
world. Porto Rico apounds in sugar,
coffee, tobacco, honey, and wax, which
have enriched the island, and many Of
the people are well-to-do. a very large
part of the islands trade has been car
ried on with the United States, whose
corn, -four, salt meat, fish, and lumber
are imported in return for sugar, mo-
lasses, and coffee. The natives have lit
tie taste for seafaring, and most of their
foreign trade Is carried in foreign bot,
toms.
Porto Rico Is rich in natural blessings |
and for tropical region is very healthful !
For some inscrutable reason Spain
has given the inhabitants far better
treatment tnan Sne mas the natives Oh |
Cuba She has dealt with the island as
though 1t were a Spanish province in
stead of merely a colony to be bled by
Spanish officials for the enrichment OF
themselves and the Mother Country. In
fact, the island has been politically a
province of Spain for over twenty years.
Spain has had little to do directly with
internal improvements IN the island. but
she has so far kept her heavy hand off
he people that there was opportunity
'or the spirit Of enterprise to develop. The
result is, that Porto Rico has about
80 miles of railroad, and as much more
Inder construction; and system OF ;
xagon-roads leading to all the important
rading centres that surpass any
hing OF the sort seen in most parts OF
spain herself. The stretches Of railroad ,
parallel with the coasts are long links !
n the line that Is TO make the entire ,
rcuit of the island, with short branches
o all the seaports and the inland mar
iets.
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