The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-21
LEAVING PORTO RICO
sPANIARDs PREPARING TO EvACU-
ATE THE ISLAND.
American Troops Landed at Viequies
The Currency Question worry
ing General Brooke.

SAN JUAN. Island of Porto Rico, Sept.
2O.-Messrs Luce & Dumaresq, the fiscal
agents of the government who have estab-
lished the Bank of Ponce here, are consult
ing with General Brooke relative to the
currency situation. They report that bust
ness is at a standstill owing to the fiuctua-
tons of the local currency just at the time
the planters need money for their crops.
They are offered mortgage loans at IS per
cent. interest, but they can do nothing UNI
I'll the rate Of exchange is fixed They be-
lieve it should be about two for one, and
probably will report on the subject to the
Treasury Department at Washington. GEN
eral Brooke is investigating the matter
thoroughly, with the view of taking action
when our sovereignty over the island is
complete. The fiscal agents also say that
many of the spectators who f1ocked to
Ponce are returning to the United States
disillusionized and convinced that the island
is not an Eldorado.
The evacuation of the outlying positions
occupied by the Spaniards began yesterday.
Aguidala San Sebastian and Lares were
abandoned by them and the troops of Gem
eral Garretson's brigade and the Eleventh
Infantry moved in and raised the American
flag. The Spanish troops from the aban-
doned positions are being concentrated at
Arecibo, from whence they will reach San
Juan by railroad as soon as transportation
is available. They could not enter the city
before, owing to its crowded condition on
Wednesday the Spaniards will evacuate the
Island of Vieques, where a company of
American troops dispatched from General
Grants brigade has been landed The
Spanish troops from the Island of Vieques
Will remain at Humacao until the Spaniards
fall on the line of the military road Span
ish control is now confined within a line
drawn from Humacao to Abonito and from
island.
The Spanish evacuation commissioners at
the meeting OF the Spanish and American
commissioners yesterday, officially in
formed the Americans that they had been
notified of the sailing from Spain of two
transports intended to embark troops here
ana also that four hundred Spanish SOL
diers would sail from haze to-day on IA
transport which is expected from Cuba.
me departing troops consist of two hun
dred sick men and two hundred members
OF the engineers regiment. The meeting of
the commissioners was entirely without
friction, and it was owing to the good feel
ing prevailing between our sol Tiers and
those of Spain that it was decided to allow
the company of Americans to land at the
Island of Vieques before the Spaniards left:
1t has been decided. in the interest of the
order of the island, to allow Americans to
enter the Spanish lines and vice versa in
pursuit of maraGders. This obliterates the
neutral zone and it is believed it will re-
suit in the complete suppression of disor-
ders at utuado and other places in the in
terror and afford protection to native and
Spanish residents alike
In spite of the fact that some of them
have been disillrsionized. the influx of
American prone tiers continues. Most of
them are al Pence and unable to reach San
Juan owing to the military regulations An
agent of the American Sugar Refining Com
pany is here, and many others are seeking
business opportunities, franchises and con-
cessions. All of them are fretting over the
unavoidable delays.
The condition of the troops on the island
is not improving. Almost two thousand
men have been reported sick. General
Brooke is doing all in his power to improve
the condition of the soldiers and afford
them every possible comfort. He has or
dered every military tent on the island to
be fitted with flooring.