The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-19
THE island Of PUERTO RICO
NONE M0RE FERTILE OR RESrONs-
I'VE TO MANS EFFORT.
Gentle fluctuations Allow Caittva-
ton From Vale to Mountaim Tops
-its Dimensions, Geography. Har-
bars, Posts, Cities ana Resources.

Puerto Rico the smaller Of tn. two ISL
anoS belonging TO Spain in the West In
dies, has been a Spanish possession almost
as long as Cuba, having been discovered
by Columbus in 1888 and occupied by SOL
diers under Ponce de Leon early in the
sixteenth century. II is Of vast i'm
portance to Spain. and would be equally
valuable to the United States. yielding
as it does immense crops OF tropical
products, such as coffee, bananas, sugar
and spices most OF which we cannot raisxa
an this country. Its horses and cattle are
valued throughout the Yves. Indies and
much sought by residents of other islands
on account OF their good qualities.
Probably no island OF the West Indian
archipelago. of which it is the fourth in
point or size. is more fertile, or 50 gener-
ally susceptible of cultivation as this.
Owing to the gentle slope Of its Thousand
hills and the slight dips OF the valleys.
nearly every portion is cultivated clear -
the mountain tops. 1t is a billy. even
mountainous. island, but without the ex-
tremeay rugged character of Cuba, and
this explains the hitherto peaceful state
OF its resident population: for it would be
comparatively easy matter for the
Spanish soldiers to run any revsiutionists
to earth.
Puerto Rico is only 100 miles In length
and from fifty to sixty miles In breadth.
and as square as a dry goods box. East
and west and north and south its coast
lines run almost as regularly as II pro-
1ected by compass. 1t Is the delight Of
the sailorman, and Its fertile soil is the
JOY Of the agriculturist.
Lying as 1t does east of Santo Domingo
and west OF the Virgin islands, only sixty
miles distant from ST. Thomas. all the
arguments that have been advanced for
NorAn ty, $txe 4x.ax
US in the acquisition of coaling station
at the latter isle and In West Indian
waters. apply with yet greater force TO
Puerto Rico. 1t is larger and richer: Ii
Is less subject to the v.sitasions of hurri-
canes. and has four times the number Of
good harbors. In Short II has all the
good points Of all the other islands in the
Caribbean sea and few OF their bad ones.
1t Is little Cuba by itself, child OF
Spain. to which country 1t has looked for.
the consultations OF mother, but has OBJ
tanned only the min,strations Of a wet
nurse. It IL like an infant unattached and
as yet unweaned, feeling about for a ma
ternal fount OF nourishment, and is as
likely to transfer its as yet unappropri-
afed affections to us as to any other power.
The people OF Puerto Rico are nearly all
Spanish by birth or descent, but the for
mer are mainly the alien and governing
class and the latter the mercantile and
agricultural, who are governed more by
their prospective profits than sentimental
considerations OF ancestry. Just let one
OF our warships sail into the harbor of
San Juan. its capital city, and open fire
on It's antiquated Notifications, and most
OF the population would declare for an
nexat.on to the United States instanter
As to that harbor. which is said to have
been mined quite recently, 1t Is the chief
IN Puerto Rico. and one Of the best of its
size in the Caribbean sea. 1t Is safe and
sheltered. large and land-iocked. and
though the entrance is somewhat foul"
ships drawing three fathomS can enter
and find anchorage within, good holding
ground being had at any depth up to
six fathoms. The bay is broad as we'll as
beautiful. and opens toward the north, so
that vessel laying her course from New
York could, IL there were no Instructions
en- route. sail directly into the harbor,
There is room enough for the accommoda-
ton there of all the battleships and cruis-
ers OF SPANS navy-with her torpedo fleet
and torpedo destroyers thrown in. II
will be a happy day for Uncle Sam when
he finds that much-vaunted fleet inside
that harbor and his own feet outside for
he win soon afterward become the proud
possessor OF such vessels as are not sunk
by our shells or scuttled in order 10 save
them from defilement by the hated Yankee.
They will probably huddle up under the
Notifications as they did at Manila and
with ike result.
The Notifications which surround the
city OF San Juan are, like the Spanish pedi-
grees, ancient. famboyant, beautiful TO
look at, but as worthless withal This city
or about 25.oo0 inhabitants is completely IN
closed within imposing walls of stone and
hardened mortar from fifty TO 100 feet IN
height. They have picturesque gates and
drawbridges, portcullises and demiunes
quaint old sentry boxes projecting into
the sea, frowning battiements, and all
that: but most OF their cannon date back
from the last century. Some heavy rifad
breech-loaders have been mounted there
lately: but II doesn't matter a pieayune
II they are best and latest. nor what their
emplacements are. for there is a grave de-
feet in their equipment--the men behind
them can't shoot! 1t is fact as Old AZ
Spanish history. that Jack Spanlard cam
not pull trigger or lanyard and keep his
eyes open at the same time He simply
cannot shetland there's the end of H.
There will be voliey or two from these
grim gray walls. and then our feet will
find that whether. or not the guns are
mounted on disappearing carriages. tina
garrison will be- 1t will get out with a
CELEBRITY born OF fear and respect, quick
ened by the prestige OF cur brave tars n
other ports
San JUAN II oe1tt VII Sinai tSisiiu, con-
nected with the mainland by a cansevay
and bridge. II IL an interesting but
dirty city. which the Americans will
cleanse so thoroughly that Il won't know
Itself. and yellow jack when ne comes 10
pay his annual visit. will leave II In dis
gust. The captain-general and his little
court reside here, and this Is headquarters
for the garrisons a military force Of about
400 being kept here IN times OF peace.
In ancient times the chief fort or castle
was called the moro" or Moorish tower
because 1t was generally round: and San
Juan. Ike Havana, has lis Moro as the
most prominent point of its Qualifications
II stands on a hlufY jutting out from tls
city walls ana has lighthouse imnedi-
atesy In the rear Of II. Against the sx~-
ward front Of the massive walls the ocean
pounds and thunders. but the landward