Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-19
About Porto Rico.


is over. but not the war. The air is
full of peace talk. but there is no
evidence that the two governments
concerned are indulging in it. 1t IS
certain that our government will not
rest upon the laurels of the magnifi-
cent victory in eastern Cuba, but If
Spain does not put an end to the war
at once by suing for peace at our
terns, other and greater campaigns
will be waged without delay. A pow
elful9 squadron is being fitted to strike
the Spanish coast and destroy what
is left of Spains navy. The invasion
of Porto Rico is planned, and while
the heroes who captured Santiago are
resting from the terrible strain of
fighting and exposure during the pas.
few weeks. another army, of about
the same size and composed mainly of
volunteers will be thrown against San
Juan. With the aid of the fleet that
city and its Spanish army ought to be
brought to terms with much less diff
Guilty than was met at Santiago.
San Juan is reported to be greatly
stirred in expectation of another bonn
bardment, and the certain occupation
of the island by American troops. The
capitulation of San Juan sooner or
later is fofegone conclusion. and the
experience gained by the American
commanders in forcing the surrender
helpful in the destruction of the de-
fences of San Juan. The American
troops will make their foray into Port o
Rico with something of the spirit of
veterans and will fight under better
conditions, climatic and otherwise,
than those prevailing since the landing
in Cuba.
American interest, therefore, is
directed to this smaller island 1000
miles from Key West, as the future
scene of important military operations,
and for the further reason that Porto
Rico may soon become an American
possession, permanent or otherwise,
and that it win figure Importantly in
the terms of peace entered into with
Spain.
Porto Rico is much more densely
a al no lat !, -
an area of 1.G55 English square miles
and a population of 1851 ,6S7. Porto
Rico has an area of 1910 square miles
and a population Of SOC, 1OS, or about
half the population of Cuba. In 1895
the vessels employed in the commerce
Of Porto Rico numbered 1917 Accord
ing to the report recently prepared by
the bureau of the Philadelphia Com
merelal museum the importsTonV into
the island in 1896 amounted to Nd
1913 and the exports from the possession
to $l7 ,295, 525. The trade with the
United States in 1893 is shown by these
| figures: Exports to the United States
s4,ooS,6 23; imports from the United
States, $2.510,OO7. In 1897 exT1Ur-r
to the United States We're $2,1S1 ,02i:
imports from the United States, $1,9SS,-
SSS Among the articles which have
| been profitably exported from the
United States to Porto Rico are iron
ware, glassware, chemicals, textiles
paper, lumber, machinery, carriages
dried and sailed meats, butter, grease
goldfish flour, coal and fruits. With
more liberal commercial regulations
and severance from Spanish misrule
the trade of the country with the world
could be greatly increased. About one.
eighth of the imports into the island il
1896 came from the United States. II
the island were under liberal Ameri-
can protectorate a much larger pro-
portion of this commerce would bf
ours. The leading exports of the islan(
consist of coffee, sugar, molasses ans
tobacco.
From the data prepared by the
| Philadelphia museum it appears tina
the temperature of Porto Rico seldom
rises above 81 degrees Fahrenheit il
the shade, and at night it recedes to g
or So degrees. The rainy season ex
tends from August to December, Whe,
rain falls in the northern section copi
ousy. The island is more healthfu
than Cuba. y