The Winslow mail., 1899-02-18
NEW NAVAL STATION.
The Old Spanish Arsenal at San
Juan, Porto Rico.
Valuable Acquisition to the United
States, Which the SpRniards Sur
rendered on Their Eync-
uatiOn.

Part of the government property
handed over to the United States when
Spain evacuated Porto Rico was the
old arsenal, as the Spaniards called IL.
which is to-day occupied hy the Ameri-
cans at San Juan as navy yard. What
the future naval station at this point
will amount to has not yet been an
nounced. When we have ABSORBED
Porto Hico'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 edn-
cation of the people of this island is
we'll under way; when the restless curl
osity of American adventurers is salts
fled and our people at large have been
told what Porto Rico amounts to; an!
when the winter tourist trade is regu
larly established-when all this has
been done, the value Of this new posses
sion as a naval station will have beel,
recognized and there will be estab-
lished here navy yard sufficient to
meet the needs of the location. In the
meantime certain navy officers have
been sent down here to take official
possession of what the Spapiards
turned over.
On the nortI 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 foundries, gas works, Goa.
yards, storehouses and the navy yard.
The Spanish arsenal was built many
years ago, and to-day. wren the addi-
tions are con n5idered, the yard is 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 aud ill-smell-
ing; the sun and air have little chance
10 reach the inner rooms and passages,
and the place is oppressive. The shaa
ows of heavy trees and thick shrubbery
around the co.mmandant'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 Curl
Gus belfry and clock on the other. are
both picturesque and novel. The main
entrance to The yard faces the north;
it is large white portal in the center
of a white wall. This portal holds on
high the royal arms Of Spain and is
decorated with the signs Of the Zodiac.
4 bove escutcheon and device floats the
American flag, brilliant against the in
tense blue sky behind it.
The Spaniards were never known for
hygienic or proper living. and the con-
dition of the arsenal when we took
possession was proof Of this statemeEt.
The place was filthy. ALI drains were
choked by the accumulation Of years,
and hundreds of cart loads of dirt had
to be removed before our men coulG
contemplate living in these quarters.
The Spaniards never had any sanitary
conveniences; 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 cemente'l, and cracks
in walls are being sealed up, to prevent
poisonous emanations from the SOL
under the buildings. A distilling plant
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 4c
marines are laid with board floors. Il
inches above the new cement. so thar
fresh air can circulate freely under the
boards. The commandant's house,
which is in better condition than any
other building in the yard is now used
as offices by the American occupants