The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-03
PORTO RICO.
Manchester Union. J

/ 1dncneSU6r Union.
| OF Spain's island possessions which she
is likely to lose In the present war Porto
Rico appears to be the most fertile, pro.
ductive and beautiful, and in all ways
the most desirable, particularly as 1t is
far less unhealthy than any of the others.
In size only is it at disadvantage when
compared with Cuba and the Philippines.
1t is ninefy miles long by thirty-six broad
| in it's widest part and has an area of 1850
square miles, or about two thirds of that
| of Connecticut
The contiguration of the island is
different from that of Cuba. The land
rises Immediately from the seashore into
group of hills and mountains, culmi-
mating in peak 367s feet high. These
mountains are covered with magnificent
i timber and intersected with lovely val
leys, watered by running streams, with a
| deep, rich, soil that produces luxuriant
crops of all tropical staples. 1t is said to
be even more fertile than that of Cuba,
| if such a thing were possible; but owing
| to the hills and the rocks the proportion
of the land susceptible to cultivation
| is very much smaller. The chief products
ara sugar, tobacco, coffee, rice. cotton and
fruit of all kinds, and tho arabic land is
pretty well taken up. There are supposed
to be very rich mineral deposits Gold,
iron, copper, lead, salt and antimony
have been found, and some of the mines
have been worked for 200 or 800 years
with profit; but agriculture has paiG SO
much better that the mineral resources
have been left undeveloped. The timber
upon the mountains is extremely valua-
BILE, being composed of the finest cabinet
woods, and is easily accessible in the
rainy season, when the streams are high,
There are no marshes, swamps or other
lowlands and the climate is therefore as
healthy as any in the tropical regions.
The natural conditions are almost per-
| feet. Yellow foyer and other tropical
| diseases are unknown except when they
| are brought into the seaports from the
other islands. The thermometer often
| falls as low as 90 degrees Fahrenheit dur
| ing the winter season and never rises
| above IS degrees IN midsummer. The
nights are always cool and sea breeze
| springs up regularly about II o'clock in
| the morning and goes down at sunset.
The island is densely populated. tho
last census, which was not very reliable,
showing 7s4, 7O9 or nearly as many as
there are supposed to be left in Cuba; but
the people are the least desirable part OF
the colony. More than nire-tenths of
them are negroes and more than half are
pure blvoded descendants of the slaves
that were caught in Africa and carried
over by the Spaniards. Those who are not
negroes number only about $4,000 of
whom 30, 0C0 are Spaniards and the others
are Chinese, Danes, South Americans,
Germans and Englishmen. The blacks
are absolutely. illiterate but are far more
peaceful than those in the Philippines or
Cuba. Theirs are no schools except a few
private ones in the cities for the rich. To
keep the island in subsection has required
a standing army of about 20, 900 men.
The revenues have amounted to about
four millions year, most of which has
been sent to Spain. The exports and i'm
ports average about fifteen millions an
nually and most Of the foreign trade has
been with the United States.
The capital, San Juan, is picturesque
place on the northern coast, with a popu-
lation of %, Ala. Ponce de Leon, on the
southern coast, has the largest population
and Is more popular and prosperous,
having 81. 900 people. ST Germaine has
| 3d. 900 and theirs are two or three other
cities of more than 10, 900 population.
| The city of San Juan was founded by
romeo Qe LeOl, VINO. IN ioUo, became It's
governor. San Juan is situated on an
island and connected with the mainland
| by bridge and causeway. A fine high
| ROAD extends across through the sugar
regions to the city of Ponce San Juan Is
protected by an enormous citadel, which
stands upon rook thai projects into the
sea, and is surrounded By massive walls
of stone and cement, in some places 100
feet high. The harbof is attractive and
the city is fagorite place for Spanish
sailors and soldiers because of the fine
climate and other attractions.
The Duke of Veragua, a descendant of
Columbus, is l. senator for life from
Porto Rico to the Spanish cortes, ano he
and his successors have received pensions
from the reve nue. of the islands for nearly
400 years