The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-06-09
PUERTO RICO ISLAND.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ITS HIS
TORY AND INTERNAL RESOURCES.

Seize 1.-THE staple Commercial Prod
ucts Are Like Cuba's-Fsoilities For In
ternal Navigation-Harbors Are Good.
The threat of the seizure of Puerto
Rico by the United States is not thu
first fright which Spain has had in re
cent years as 10 the possible loss of thu
island. Nearly n quarter of century
ago, about the time of the retirement Of
Admiral Polo, the father of the late
Spanish minister, from the Spanish le
CATION in Washington, report obtain
ed circulation in diplomatic circles that
Germany was about TO seize Puerto Ri
co under the guise of purchase but
actually in the rather domineering fash
ion in which she has been accustomed
TO treat with lesser powers since the
war of 1870. 1t was then assumed that
Germany's desire for the island was in
pursuance of her scheme for naval ex-
pansion, as with a larger navy she
would be practically obliged TO have
foothold somewhere on this hemisphere,
if only for coaling and supply station.
Spain indicated then that she had no
desire TO give up Puerto Rico, even for
good purchase price, but her pride
had been considerably piqued by the re-
suit of the Virginius affair, and her
desire TO make the United States gov
eminent smart promised 70 overcome
some of her scruples against parting
with her territory, for she trusted TO
our assertion of the Monroe doctrine as
soon as Germany should attempt TO take
possession of Puerto Rico and our EN-
broilment with great European mill.
tary power in consequence.
The matter blew over at the time, as
many believed, as the result Of an init
nation conveyed informally by our gov
eminent to that of Germany that We
should regard the proposed purchase as
an unfriendly intrusion. AT any rate
Secretary Fish was able 10 give the !
many stories in circulation their quie- |
tus i'll due season, and the Spanish gov
eminent did the same thing on its own
side Of the water and concentrated its
once more upon the suppress
sion of the Carlist revolt
Although only about one-twelfth the
size of Cuba, Puerto Rico has compare.
lively speaking, always been more pros
porous than her sister colony. Her sta
pie commercial products are the same,
though Puerto Rico adds a fine quality !,
Of coffee to her other output The COM
merce of Puerto Rico has always borne |
a proportion 10 the total commerce of |
the Antilles quite out Of relation to her
'ize. Her remarkable prosperity has
been due not only to her excellent eli.
nate and soil, but 70 a great extent also |
% her indisposition to political upheav-
Il. The revolutionists in Cuba have |
'ainly struggled 10 raise a similar party |
If some strength in Puerto Rico. The |
eason for their Indifferent success is
partly historical, as may DO seen by
glance backward.
Puerto Rico began TO develop her nat
ral resources only about 10 years ago
1t that time Spain was paying but lit.
lie attention to her West Indian colo
les, except as watering stations
Eesh water being then, in the days of
alllng ships, much the same desider-
tum which coal is now. The Spanish
oyernment was occupied chiefly with !
he rich mines Of Mexico and Peru. and |
'uerto Rico served for long time !
lerely as a place Of Punishment for
onvicts. 1t is thus only since the great
of 1920 that the Antilles be.
an to rise in importance Being less
utwardly valuable, and hence less mis-
uled because attracting less attention,
hey all remained loyal to the mother
Ountry up TO that time in spite of at
9mpts 70 induce them TO follow the col
MES on the mainland into rebellion.
BY her geographical position Puerto
leo is peculiarly adapted to become
ne center of furnishing commerce.
he lies close TO Cuba, Haiti and ia.
laica, as well as TO the gulf of Mexico
nd the bay of Honduras. She is con-
guous 20 the possessions Of France and
and in the right hands might
isily undersell these nations in their
wn colonies.
Apart from the natural wealth of her
I'll Puerto Rico has the advantage of
eing well supplied with wood and wa.
r, WHICH are generally scarce in the
lands Of the same archipelago. Many /
these, being destitute of springs, de-
cpd almost altogether on the water
ELECTED after the periodical rains,
lille for wood they have to resort to
istant colonies. Among the agencies
hich have contributed much TO her
rowth in wealth are her abundant riv-
IS Seventeen streams, taking their
sc In the mountains, cross the valleys |
the north coast and empty into the
"a. Some Of these are navigable for
mailer merchant vessels for distance
two or three leagues but have trou-
Iesome bars across their mouths. There
re also few lakes, and altogether not
ss than 46 water courses worthy of
larting. The facilities for internal
avigation, for driving machinery by
alter and steam power and for irriga.
on are uncommon for an island of her
re and situation. Moreover. there is