The evening times., 1899-06-22
INSULAR BOARD ON
PORTO RICAN ROADS
Highways, as a Rule, in a
Terrible Condition.
Two Military Thoroughfares That
Command Admiration.
KecOm mendati0ns of the America !,
Commissioners for the Improve
ment of the system.

part.
The roads and highways of Porto Rico.
with few exceptions. are in the worst pos
sible condition, where roads are known at
ALL These exceptions are the military road
leading from San Juan TO Ponce. running
entirely across the island in a Northwestern
ly direction, distance of some eighty
miles; and the road, leading from Cayey.
on the military road, TO Guayama, on the
coast. a distance of some twenty eight
miles; and the roads from Toa Alta to
Bayamon. from Bayamon to Rio Piedras,
and from Bayamon to Catano, and from
Ponce to Guayama, which we found fair
roads.
The military road. running from the
capital. San Juan. to Ponce, Is a stone
macadam and very carefully built, with a
most complete and well-constructed sys-
TEN CT bridges and culverts. II is regard
cd by all who have seen ii as one of the
finest roads in the Western World. II is
certainly very finely built road. and
while ii may not probably compare with
such roads in the older countries across
the sea. il is of such character as to at
tract the attention of even those persons
who have seen the best constructed roads
in our own country.
This road is a nCst needed ard indis-
pensable means of communication across
the island, and connecting. as il does. the
two principal points of trade and CON-
meIce upon the island il is impossible 10
estimate its value in coaltry where
there are no direct communications by raii.
The cost OF this road is sad to have been
$4,000 per mile. but this estimate prob
ably includes the usual leaks" and con-
tingencies which accompanied all Spanish
public works. 1t has greatly assisted IN
developing the country through which L
runs, and the lands along the entire ro-te
are under cultivation. 1t would be impos-
sible to imagine anything more promising
than the country over which this IoId
passes. The outlook upon the valleys FL
ed with growing cane. the mountain sides
under cultivation to their very SUBMITS.
rich almost beyond description, with a soil
capable of producing anything which can
be grown under a tropical sun. This road
and the country surrounding it are fair
indices of what the whole country would
soon become when once open up by roacs
intersecting at all points. and afIording
outlets for all the productions OF the Coln-
Try.
The road leading from Cayey to Guay-
anna and intersecting the military road at
the former place is in many respects a
1t has been constructed through moun-
famous country, and although scme TWEEN
ty-eight miles long. really only covers a
distance as the bird would ly Of some
eight or ten miles. II is most extrava-
gantly constructed highway, and its
bridges and culverts are specimens of the
finest masonry, while its roadbed is such
as 10 command the admiration Of all who
travel over it. 1t winds about through
the mountain passes and aScsnds from the
ocean through the mountains to tie he ght
of 3CG0 feet. 1t is said to have cost the
enormous sum of S5O.CV0 per mile. Tits
may be accounted for in part by the great
amount of technical work required in a
public improvements under the 81 Ianish
system of public works and the well-un-
derstood fact that all pubic works were
only a part of the means OF emptyng TIE
treasury and awarding gratuities to public
officials.
The other roads through the island
which connect important cities along the
ccast and passing through the island on
the west are in bad condition and are
greatly in need of repair. Substantially
no work has been done upon them for
many years. and in many places they are
almost impossible. With a reasonable
amount of labor and repairs judcously
done they could soon be put in fair con-
dition end serve a most useful purpose in
Cpsning up the country TO an increased
trade and traffic throughout the island.
These main roads or highways connecting
important cities along the coast and those
cities and villages in the interior with the
coast should receive attention and should
as speedily as possible be improved. so
that the products of the country could
reach the markets without TOO great an
expense in transportation frcm the point
will SO quickly cOrduce to the agricultural
growth and development of the country as
this. -
In the mountain region. now largely
devoted TO the culture of coffee. there are
no roads of any kind but
simply bride paths over which the pack
trains carry the coffee and other products
TO the seaboard. This country should be
at once opened up, and as the expense of
roads through these noun
tains, which are very rich and productive
must OF necessity be very great and could
not be attempted all at once. we respect
fully suggest that by a judicious system
Of inspection and engineering roads should
be located throughout tnese mountain re-
gions by competent engineers experienced
in building roads in the States, which when |
so located, should be graded into roads of |
six feet in width sufficient to accommo-
regions. and with view to their further
improvement and extension in width from
time to time as the financial conditions of |
he country will permit
Such roads can be constructed for from
$500 TO $500 per mile. and will serve a most |
useful and immediate purpose in giving an |
outlet to the productions of this rich and |
portion of the island That de- |
of the interior known as the de- |
Dartment OF public works is now attempt /
ng to make improvements on these roads |,
and highways, but it is working without |
such q system as would seem to bring the |
,est results for the large amounts propos- |
I'd TO be expended thereon. What is most
y needed in the making of these repairs |
are practical road builders. who have had
actual experience in the construction of |
public roads in the States, and who can
,ct as superintendent of construction and
personally direct the labor employed there
On. Such men would be invaluable be-
,ause of their past experience and their
of better and more economi-
al method of road building. such as is
now employed in this country. instead of
he more elaborate and expensive systems
which have heretofore prevailed Under
Spanish methods.
These roads should be held sacred for
public travel and not be obstructed by