The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-20
OF
NP0R50 RICO
San Juan is It's Largest City and
is Surrounded by a Wall.
Negro Population Large.

west part, facing what is generally
known as the Mona channel. OF In
dustries there is little to be said, except
that there are three manufactures OF
chocolate, which is for local consurnp-
tion. Sugar. coffee, oranges. psneApploS
and ~coooanuts are exported largeiy-ails
except coffee, principally to the United
States, OF sugar the m~uscavado goes to
the United States and the centrifugal to
Spain. Mayaguez is the second port Tor
coffee, the average annual export being
ITO, 900 hundredweight. The quality
Is of the best, ranging in price with
Java and other first rate brands. The
lower grades arc sent to Cuba. Abous
3d. 900 bags of -four are imported into
this port every year from tho United
States, out of the $50, 600 bags that are
consumed in the whole island. The pop
ulation is nearly 30, 900, the majority
white. The climate is excellent, the
temperature never exceeding 90 degrees
+. The city is connected by tram with
the neighboring town OF Aguadiila, ana
q railroad is being constructed to LareA,
one Of the large interior towns
The town Of Arecibo, with 5000 to
1000 inhabitants, is situated on the
| north coast Of Puerto Rioo, facing the
| Atlantic ocean, and some 90 miles dis
| tant by rail from San Juan. 1t is SINH
| lar 10 all Spanish towns, with q plaza
| surrounded by the church and other
public buildings in the center, and
streets running from it In right angles
forming regular squares. The buildings
are constructed of wood and brick. The
harbor is poor, being nothing moro
than an open roadstead exposed TO the
full force of the ocean, in which yes
sells during northerly winds can hardly
lie in safety.
AQuadilla. which is the principal
town and the port Of Aguadilla district.
in the northwestern portion Of the is
land, has s, 900 inhabitants. Industries
I'm the vicinity consist of the cultivation
of sugar cane coffee, tobacco and cocoa
nuts and the distillation OF rum from
molasses. In the town are three estab-
lishments for preparing coffee for ex.
portation. The climate is hot, but
healthy. There is hardly ever yellow
fever. Other small towns are Fajardo,
Naguabo and Arrayo, all seaports with
fair harbors. Fajardo has 5000 inhab
iUants, but the others are villages will
less than 2, 900 population.
There is another Of SPANS islanf
possessions near Puerto Rico which vii
come to us with the conquest OF Puert'
Rico. 1t is the island Of Vieque, stu
ated IS miles east Of Puerto Rico. 1t !
J 81 miles long and 8 miles wide. it
land is very fertile and adapted to tn
, cultivation Of almost all the fruits AM
: vegetables that grow in the West In
, dies. Cattle are raised and sugar cult
8 waited. 1t has a population OF som
5000. The town Isabel Segunda - o
the north, and the port Is unsafe y
Q times Of northerly wind, like all ca
: anchorages on that side. The few port
! ON the south are better, the best bein
Punta Arenas. Not long ago there wei
two importing and exporting houses Q
!. the island of vieque, but on account {
y the long period of drought and the ing
d duties OH foreign imported goods trao
!. has decreased to local consumption chi,
Ie All supplies are brought from San u
It the majority being of American orign
The climate is fine and may nc consl'
cred healthy. There have never bee
be any contagious diseases -Clnciniia
n Commercial Tribune.