The age-herald., 1898-05-10
THE ISLAND OF
 PORTO RICO

the New York Evening Post lies 70 miles
 east of Hayti, and is a tri1e smaller than
 Jamaica being B miles broad and 95 miles
 long, There are many small islands and
 reefs along the coast making access diff
 cult to the harbors, which, in themselves.
 are excellent. The narrow strip of flat land
 along the coast is dry and sandy on the
 south side, while on the north it is swampy,
 with many lagoons. Small as the island is,
 as many as 130O streams have been found
 in 1t, AT of which are large enough to be
 called rivers. The largest of them flow
 northward, owing to the slopes of the
 moutnains, the highest of which, in the
 northeast, rises to an altitude of 3,60O feet. In general, Porto Rico has been described as being extremely fertile, it's exports be- ing more than twice the value of Jamaica's. These exports-chiefy of tobacco (which is
 sent to Havana), sugar, molasses, coffee,
 cotton, hides, and rum-had increased from
 about $11 0O0O 900 in 1850 to $l6S64, ,765 in 1891. The latest estimate of the population is S06, 100. The island is greatly in need of roads and of bridges over the numerous streams. The hills can only be crossed on horseback, and wheeled traffic is liable to
 
 Among the imports are flour, potatoes, fish, meat, rice, manufactured articles and coal Horses are abundant on the island; less so sheep, hogs and goats Among the min eral products, gold, iron, lead, copper, silver and sulphur are of value
 The only safe harbors at all times of the year are those of San Juan, Hovas. and Guanica. They are regularly visited by English, American and German steamers In 1891 1900 vessels entered these harbors One of the principal towns is the capital, St. John, with. over 25.0OO inhabitants It lies on the small island of Moro, which IS connected with the large Island by bridges. It has an excellent harbor, well fortified, the water at the wharves being 10 to 141k feet deep. Ponce has about 10000 inhabl- tants, and lies three miles from the south coast Mayaguez has perhaps S0,000 inhab- itants, and is provided with military bar racks. Its harbor is accessible to vessels drawing less than 16 feet. The seaports of Porto Rico are St. Johns. Ponce. Maya guez, Naguabo, Fajardo, Aguadlla and viequez.
 PortoNRico was discovered on November 15. 14ss, by Columbus. In 1909 Ponce de Leon was appointed governor by the king of Spain, and founded the first settlement on the island, now as Puerto viejo. The original name of the island was Boriquen or Burenouen. Columbus called it Isla de San Juan Baptista. The native Carlos, whose number was put at the extravagant figure of 600 ,ooe. were treated so cruelty in the mines that bloody uprisings resulted, l as a consequence of which they were grad I ualy exterminated. Interesting relics of l them are preserved in the Smithsonian h. | stitute, at Washington. and in the Berlin | Ethnological Museum. For a long time the 1 island was used chiefly as penal colony. l and was subject to frequent attacks by the l English and French natives and by pirates. ! In 176s Spain began to pay greater attention 1 to the island, which first rose to prosperity l under the rule of Captain-General Miguel 1 de Ia Torre, in 1893. An unsuccessful at l temnt at a declaration of Independence had been made three years before. Slavery was l entirely eliminated in 1873.
 | The island is divided into seven depart meuts, the island of vequez being attached as an eighth and used as military penal l colony station. The present population is l very mixed, including. besides Gibaros. who | have some of the original blood in their veins, spaniards, Germans. Russians. Scan- l dinavians. Chinese, Moorish Jews and Can- l ary Islanders.
 I To-day" says Porto RIcan. now in New York, "there are in the Island three polit- l ical elements: spaniards. who prefer con- tinuance of the old regime of absolute 1 Spanish domination; separatists. and an-
 nexationisbs. There are no autonomists. | speak with some authority when I say that the occupation of the islands by the United States will be welcomed by me great ma jority of the Porto Ricans as a deliverance | that thousands of them will take up arms | to overthrow Spanish dominion, that when
 this is accomplished they win ask for an
 nexation to the United States. and that large preponderance of those who do mol 1 join in this request will acquesce In 1t. and
 within short time have all the zeal oi converts"