New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-19
IMPROVEMENT IN PORTO RICO.
STEAM CARRIAGES FOR THE OLD MILITARY
ROAD-A TALK WITH AN AMERICAN
RESIDENT OF SAN JUAN.


ROAD-A TALK WITH AN AMERICAN
RESIDENT OF SAN JUAN.
Thomas Watson OF San Juan. Porto Rico who
is staying at the Hoffman House, Is IN TINS CITY III
the interest of a scheme for the establishment OF
a stearn-ca ge line between San Juan and Ponce
Mr. Watson who is a Pennsylvania, and was
formerly in the mercantile business went 10 forto
Rico last October a pleasure trip. While there
he conceived the idea of establishing an electric or
automobile line Of carriages to run over the old
Spanish military road from San Juan 10 Fonce'
distance OF seventy eight miles.
Mall and passengers now carried over this
route in carriages drawn by native horses. and the
time taken in transit is about sixteen hours. With
the assistance OF some Washington capitalists Mr..
Watson has organized q company under the laws OF
New-Jersey. with capital OF $4,000 Ten steam
carriages. which will make the trip in eight hours.
have been ordered. The first of them will be ready
for shipment In about three months. The company
expects TO get the contract for carrying the mall
over the military road. 1t at first intended to
use automobiles or electric carriages but the steep
ness of the grades in the road made them imprac-
ticabie. The carriages will be fitted with tenhorse
power engines will have rubber tires and will carry
six passengers each They will have a supply of
water and charcoal sufficient to them fifty
miles. The carriages will weigh about three thou
sand pounds each. and will cost including the $500
tariff, about $500 when set up in Porto Rico.
Rico. Mr. Watson said:
Inc general condition OF the people on the island
mas undoubtedly improved since the end OF the
spanish rule there. but 1t would be much better
were 1t not for the high tariff As soon as the
evacuation Of the Spanards began the people real
lied that they had the last Of Spanish rule and
the planters went TO work on their plantations.
Many OF them mortgaged their lands to get money
to pay for labor and Implements But when the
time came to sell their sugar and tobacco. they
found that the tariff was high that 1t was prac-
ucaly prohibitory. They had formerly been sending
their tobacco to Havana but the United States Ia r
III put a stop 10 this. Except q little sugar sent
TO Spain, the Porto Ricans have shipped no sugar
OF hogsheads OF sugar and tobacco In Porto Rico
which cannot be marketed except at a great loss
under the present tariff system. The Governor
General had to Issue an order short time ago for
the extension of time on all the land mortgages
This saved hundreds OF planters from ruin.
out altoRether the change to American govern
taxes have been reduced and the MANY forms Of
extortion that were practised by the Spanish off,
Gals are no longer heard Of Under the Spaniards
II man wanted to record deed sign an affidavit
get marriage license. or even have his baby ban
tized. he had to hand out money right and left be-
fore the officials would sign the papers Conse-
quently few poor people could get married or have
their children baptized
Here's an instance Of Spanish extorton Down
NJ the not springs near Ponce. there was a doctor
at the hotel who was appointed by the Spanish Gov
himself and family free. The charge for taking
bath was 30 cents, but before you could take
path you had to get certificate from this doctor
] don't know what the certificate was for-probablv
That the bearer needed the bath-but the doctor
got Sc for each certificate The attendants wouldnt
let you take bath unless you had one OF these
When General Miles landed al Ponce this doctor
was the hrst man 10 start for San Juan