The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
SOME NEW hooks.
Porto Rico.


tions to give those interested in the future de
velopment Of the isle n grasp OF the admins
tratlvo problems which confront our Fedora
Government and Of tho field for the employ
ment OF American enterprise and capital. TIL
authors qualifications for tho task are no
based exclusively upon careful study o
the documents relating 10 Porto Rico which
are accessible in print. He knows tho island O
first hand. He spent there the two months
Immediately following The Spanish evacuation
and was continually in touch with the leading
Spanish and native inhabitants by Sitting
whose varying opinions he has endeavorod
TO arrive Mt Trustworthy conclusions. The
chapters OF the volume which are especial
valuable are those which describe the general
characteristics OF the country and Of its popu-
latlon the industrial possibilities the social
life, the religious and educational institutions
and the fiscal and political methods which have
hitherto prevailed The only thing that this
book needs to complete its usefulness Is u map.
1t is obvious that the absence OF a map compcs
the reader to seek othersources of information.
In the chapter on the characteristics OF the
island. the author notes the surprising fact
that cities should have sprung up near almost
"a u
fine. deer-water harbor. town once rccog-
ni2ed as an cntrcrut OF ocean trade has not
only failed to expand commercially. but has
lost its Quondam prestige. Tho harbor Of
Ponce Is very open and shallow. and not for a
moment to be compared with that Of Gunnica.
or with the sca-sheltcred Ravens near FaJardo
on the east. At .Iobos there Is another line
harbor with ample room. which, at present
Is used only by a few coastinE vessels. the
neighboring city of Gunyama prcferrnR the
open roadstoad OF Arroyo. The myriad small
islands which form the lesser Antilles and
curve off in great arc to the southwark from
Porto Rice. together with the innumcra bic coral
islets shooting out from tho northeast corner
Of tho island. constitute sea screen which
protects all the harbors of tho eastern side.
Mr.. Dinwidde deems 1t probable that. under
the impetus Of American development, this
side. instead Of being almost deserted CONNER
cially. will become in time the most sought
after. for it offers marked natural advantages
In the shape OF protected sea room. with deep
water close inshore. 1t Is true that coral reefs
and shoals abound. but. when the Coast Sur
vey shall have mapped tho submarine path
ways. such obstacles to navigation will be over
come. We add that the northern side OF the
island has no good ports. with the exception of
the embayel harbOr of San Juan. Except the
capital tho only city which attracts the eye
landward is Arccibo. whose cathedral
seems to rise from an agElomeration
OF matched huts. On the whole It Is
admitted that Porto Rico from the water is
not an impressive sight it has but few good
harbors. and the best OF them appeal neither
to the artistic nor to the technical eye 1t
should be remembered. however that this
island has less than 800 miles Of coast line all
told. Or roughly speaking, about rs much as
the coast Of Massachusetts, In this line there
are but six harbors Of real commercial capabli-
ties. although 1t claims fourteen. Once on shore
he traveller realizes for the first time what n
ealth of aesthetic loveliness and fertile posi-
billy lies in this land clothed with the livery
OF tropical vegetation. Almost every foot OF
ground is steep and rolling. except along the
coast lines and. in n few narrow valleys Of the
interior whore the earth lies seemingly as fat
as q nOor from the banks Of the wandering
rivers to the very foot Of the mountains,
which rise abruptly to sharp curved crests
thousand feet above" The few narrow
inland valleys. found m ainly on the northern
side east of the centre are elevated above the
sea as much rs n thousand feet. and we are
told that no more delightful place OF abode
Tor white men can be imagined: perfect land
scapes; a soil in which almost everything
under heaven will grow. cool nights, bearable
days, and the whole of this ideastic combina-
ton set off with II flagree work OF heaying
clouds. wonderful rainbows overhanging the
green OF stately palms. waving. broad-lcaved
banana plantations. food trees and fruit trees,
and Jungle forests whose odd shapes and queer
foliage lend never-tirng charm to the scene
1t is tropic elysium. md will become
the winter Mecca of Americans" We
should bear in mind that 1t is the tenn
perature OF the UPLAND interior valleys that
is here spoken OF. II the average man
who formed part of the army Of invasion
be asked what he thinks of tho climate his
opinion will probably be expressed by the word
damnable." As Il matter of fact. however
the army Of Porto Rico. in spite of necessary
exposure, left behind but few men in lonely
graves. and had but Il small percentage of sick
ness In its ranks as compared with the soldiers
who were forced into tho death tran of San
tago. while those who have remained on tho
island quartered in barracks exhibit "A small
er proportion OF illness than they did before
leaving the United States. In the face of con-
ficting opinions. our author AYERS that the
climate OF Porto Rico IL not difficult one for
North Americans to hold their own in through
out the year. although II is most ENJOYABLE In
midwinter. when the United States are clothed
with Ice and snow. In the heat of summer the
temperature never rises above 90 Fahrenheit
on the seacoast, and the nights are usually
cool. Nevertheless. this. which Is tho rainy
season, is trial to the constitution, for
the wet air. heated by sudden sun bursts, is diff
hcult to breathe. and exposure to tho chilly
damp Of night is apt to bring on pcrniclous and
malaral fcvcrs. In winter. or We should rather
say during the dry season Of November De-
cember. January. February and We might add
March. tho upper limit of the mercury is
about SO' on the coast and TO- lower on the
mountains. dropping lowest in January There
10 Of
day and night in this season than in summer.
the mercury som etimes falling during dark
ness to 80 on the const and 1O' lower in the
highest attitudes. Tho difference too be-
tween the temperature In open sunlight and
dense shade Is marked thnt Il is
actually dangerous to seek shelter from tho
sun, when overheated. in the shadow ur jungle.
Pneumonia is commonly produced in this way.
The alarming stories Of months OF constant
precipitation and dcluge during the rainy sea-
son have, 1t seems, no foundation in fact In
April and May. indeed, It is no uncommon
thing for heavy torrents TO pour down almost
constantly for two or three weeks, this inces-