The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-26
OUR NEW NAVAL STATION.
The Old Spanish Arsenal of San
Juan. Porto Rico.

Part of the government property
handed over to the United States, when
Spain evacuated Porto Rico, was the
old arsenal as the Spaniards called it,
which is today occupied by the Ameri-
cans at San Juan as a navy yard. What
the future naval station at this point
will amount to has not vet been au-
nounced. When we have absorbed
Porto Rico's exports and are supplying
the greater part of her imports; when
questions of money tariffs and govern
ment have been determined; when the
commercial and political education OF
the people OF this island is we'll under
way; when the restless curiosity of
American adventurers is satisfied and
our people at large have been told
what Porto Rico amounts to; and when
the winter tourist trade is regularly
established-when all this has been
done, the value of this new possession
as naval station will have been rec
ognized and there will be established
here a navy yard sufficient to meet the
needs of the location. In the mean
time certain navy officers have been
sent down here to take official possess
sion of what the Spaniards turned
over.
On the north side of the island there
is the city of San Juan, and reaching
out into the harbor is large stretch of
low, made land. This area is given
over to foundries, gas works, coal
yards, storehouses and the navy yard.
The Spanish arsenal was built many
years ago, and today, when the addi-
tions are considered, the yard is a con-
fusing collection of thick-walled, one
story houses. The ground is only about
three feet above the level of the bay;
consequently the houses are damp and
for the most part musty and ill-smell-
ing; the sun and air have little chance
to reach the inner rooms and passages,
and the place is oppressive. The
shadows of heavy trees and thick
shrubbery around the cOmmandant'S
house give pleasing variety to the
white walls, and the Roman Catholic
chapel on one side of the small square
in the center Of the clump of buildings,
and the curious belfry and clock on the
other, are both picturesque and novel.
The main entrance to the yard faces
the north; it is a large white portal in
the center of a white wall. This portal
holds on high the royal arm of Spain
and is decorated with the signs of the
Zodiac. Above escutcheon and device
floats the American flag, brilliant
against the intense blue sky behind it,
The Spaniards were never known for
hygienlc or proper living, and the con-
dtion of the arsenal when We took
possession was proof Of that statement.
The place was filthy. All drains were
II, 4 l., .
and hundreds of cart loads of dirt had
to be removed before our men could
contemplate living in these quarters.
The Spaniards never had and sanitary
convenience; water and refuse were al
lowed to sink into the ground, so the
earth of the entire yard can be regard
ed as polluted. There has been yellow
fever here within the last three years
and there is no doubt but that tha
place is today unhealthy.
Much can and is being done to i'm
prove it's condition; the entire place is
being thoroughly cleaned; all floors are
being newly Cemented, and cracks in
walls are being sealed up, to prevent
poisonous emanation from the soil un-
der the buildings. A distilling plant
with daily capacity of 5000 gallons is
being erected; until this is completed
the station will get distilled water
from the collier Caesar anchored in
the harbor. Sleeping quarters for for
ty marines are laid with board floors,
twelve inches above the new cement
so that fresh air can circulate freely
under the boards. The commentaries
house. which is i'm better condition than
any other building in the yard. is now
used as offices by the American occu-
nantS