Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-23

strip little further on from Aguadilla to
Mayaguez and one on the south from fau-
co to Ponce. In going over the road 1t
seemed to me that the track had been built
On the level spots only and dropped out
where the land was billy. There were no
grades whatever and no cuttings. and in
asmuch as the road was constructed at 50
many thousand dollars per mile 1t can be
seen that such building was much the more
profitable.
This railroad Is a narrow gauge 1t has
toy engines and old-fashioned cars, kind
of cross between the European and Amer
,can cars. The ffrst-class cars are cushion
ed in leather and fairly well upholstered
The second-class have pine seats. and the
third have benches running through the
cars from one end to the other under the
windows and in the center I noticed that
the mail bags were piled up in the rear end
Of the third-class cars The little engine
was moved by coal, which was loaded upon
1t in baskets
The cars were only half filled, the ma
jorfty of the people being third-class pas
sengers. The stops at the station are long
and a warning bell is always rung before
the train starts.
Express and Transportation.
The questions of express and transporta-
ton are very important ones and the de-
velopments along this line may result in
profitable investments There has already
been organized the Pan-American Express
u
ming to the chief points on the island, and
which is establishing agencies everywhere.
The chief offices Of this company are in
San Juan. 1t is operated through capital
furnished in New York, and I have been
told that Senator Platt Is largely interested
in it. AS the island grows this business will
increase. Whether 1t is paying or not now
l do not know.
Another enterprise which promises well
is the organization of line of automobile
carriages from San Juan to Ponce over the
military road. This road is from twenty to
thirty feet wide. 1t is more than eighty
miles long and is probably the finest wag-
on road In the world 1t Is kept perfectly
clean and smooth. 1t ascends distance of
about half a mile in crossing the noun
tans. but the grades are not very heavy
can be moved over it.
At present 1t costs from so to $50 to go
by carriage from San Juan to Ponce. There
are villages and small towns all along the
route and carriages of this kind would have
many passengers With the increased
tourist travel from the United States
branch lines could probably be established
running to Coamo and the Hot Springs and
also to Guayama, further east on the south
coast. Indeed, 1t is not impossible that the
whole island will some day be opened up
by automobile carriages.
Money In Hotels.
The tourist travel to Porto Rico promises
to be a great factor in the enrichment OF
the island. We have here perhaps the
finest winter climate OF the world. The
mountains are as beautiful as Switzer-
land and the island will some day be
great winter resort for the rich of the
United States. Mr.. Hanna. the American
consul here. tells me that he has received
letters within the past few weeks from
seventy-five different American hotel men
and hotel companies inauiring as to the
possibilities Of such investments in Porto
Rico.
There Is no doubt that q good hotel
would pay at San Juan. 1t should. how
ever, be first class in all respects. should
be fully equipped with baths and modern
conveniences. and should charge s. and
upward a day. There are many fine Ioca-