The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1899-06-10
NEW NAVAL STATION.
The Old Spanish Arsenal at San
Juan, Porto Rico.
A Valuable Acquisition To the united
States, which the spaninrds SUR
rendered ON Their Evsc-
uution.

Part Of the government property
handed over to the United States when
Spain evacuated Porto Rico was the
old arsenal, as the Spaniards called 1t.
which is to-day occupied 10y the Amer.
cans at San Juan as a navy yard. VIVA.
the future naval station at this poin,
will amount TO has not yet been an.
nounced. When we have absorbed
Porto Rico's exports and are supply.
ing the greater part OF her imports;
when questions of money tariffs ard
government have been determined (;
when the commercial and political edu-
cation Of the people of this island IS
well under way; when the res tess curl
osity of American Adventures is salts
fled aud our people at large have been
told what Porto Rico amounts to; and
when the winter tourist trade is regu-
larly estabiished-when all this has
been done. the value OF this new posses.
sion as a naval station will have beea
recognized and there VIII be estab-
lished here a navy yard sufficient t.
meet the needs Of the location. In the
meantime certain navy officers have
been sent down here to take official
Possession of what the Spaniarts
turned over
On the nOrt' side OF the island there
IS the city of San Juan. and relching
out into the harbor is large stretch
OF low, made land This area is given
over To fourdries, gas works, coal
yards, storchouscs and the navy ward.
The Spanish arsenal was built MANY
years ago. ard to-day, wren the addi-
tons are considered the yard IS a con
fusing collection Of thick. vailed. one
story houses. The ground $ only about
three feet above he level of the bay;
conscqu yntlY 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 aud passages.
and the place is opprt ssive The sha1.
ows of heavy trees and thick shrubbery
around the cCmmandant's house give
pleasing variety to the white walls, and
the Roman Catholic chapel on One side
of the small square in the cJAter of
the clump OF buildings. and the curl
Gus belfry and clock on the other, are
both picturesque and nOfe.. The main
entrance to The yard faces the north;
it is a large white portal in the center
of white wall. ThiSporial holds on
high the royal arms ofNSpain and is
decorated with the signs ofShe Zodiac.
Above escutcheon and device floats the
American flag, brilliant against the in
tense blue sky behind it.
The Spaniards were never known for
hygicnic or proper living, and the con-
dition Of the arsenal when we took
possession was proof Of this statement.
The place was filthy. All drains were
choked by the accumulation Of years,
and hundreds Of cart loads Of dirt had
to be removed before our men could
contemplate living in these quarters.
The Spaniards never had any sanitary
convcniences; water and refuse were
allowed to sink to the ground so the
earth Of The entire yard can be re.
garded as polluted. There has been
yellow fever here within the las three
years, and there is no doubt but that
the place is to-day unhealthy.
Much can and is being done to i'm
prove its conditions the entire place
is being thoroughly cleaned, all floors
are being newly cemented, and cracks
in walls are being seated up, 10 prevent
poisonous carnations from the SOIL
under the buildings \ disabling plan
with a daily capacity Of 5000 gallons
is being erected; until this is com
pleted the station will get distilled wa
ter from the collier Caesar anchored in
the harbor, Sleeping quarters for 40
marines are laid with board floors, 12
inches above the new cement, SO THAI
fresh air can circulate freely under the
boards, The commandant's house,
which is in better condition than any
other building inthe yard is now used
as offices by the American occupants
OILERS Weekly.