Arizona republican., 1899-03-22
NOW OUR OLDEST CITY
The Distinction Now Belongs to Ca
 para, Porto Rico.
Founded by Ponce de Leon in 1909 -HistOrIc Ruins Which StIII Remain in the Old
 Town.

Caparfa, near the site of Pueblo Vieio
 across San Juan bay, is now. by more
 than 5 years, the first town estab-
 lished within the present borders of
 the United States. Historians, there
 fore, must give the prestige of antiqui-
 ty, not to the Spanish town of St. Au-
 gustine, Fla, of 1865. as formerly, but
 to Caparra, founded in the year 15C9.
 Dr. NJ. W. Harrington, Cf the San
 Juan weather office, discovered the eX-
 act location of the historical Caparra
 unexpectedly. On pleasure walk into
 the country two weeks ago he hap
 pened to select the read to Pueblo
 Niejo, and when talking with the native
 residents learned their traditions Of the
 first Spanish town i1 Porto Rico. He
 accordingly procured . guide ard made
 an examination of the nearly extinct
 ruins. Of his interesting discovery Dr. Harrington says;
 Without doubt tL- ruins found are those of the first settlement estab- 1ished by the explorer and colonizer Ponce de Leon. Both local tradition and history name Caparra as the earli- est town on the island. and agree. more over, on this same site near Old Village, or Pueblo Niejo. Even the native ne- groes, some of whom could neither read nor write, knew the story of Ca para. My personal investigation further satisfied me of the correctness of their tradition"
 The only remains of the original town visible now are the ruins of church, hospital. and a repaired lime stone furnace. Most of the stone from the church, hospital, and houses has been used, according to the nativesi in the construction of new highways ys."-On q little elevation from the shore swamps, the site of Caparra is hidden from San Juan bay. three miles distant, by a TOW of hills. Another historical landmark near by is the reputed gold mine worked by the first Spanish set tiers. Ponce de Leon greatly enriched says tradition and also history, by the compulsory labor of the native IndianG in the mines. Although tackled by hordes of mosqUitoes,-the gray-haired old warrior and explorer remained in CaParra until 1512, and then set sail for the miraculous foun- tain of youth. His voyage ended on Easter Sunday, March 27. 1512, in the discovery of the present peninsula of Florida. But the greater part of the colony stayed in Caparra until compelled q few years later to abandon the town in order to escape the hot fever weather and an army of mos quitoes. The firal evacuation is said to have been in 1552.
 The story of the foundation of Ca para is told at length in The History of Porto Kico," published in 1866 by Fray Inigo Abbad y Lasier-a, and re- vised by Jose Julian de Accsta y Culbo. Under the title of the First Colonizer" the authors say: When Ponce de Leon was in possession of the govern ment of the island he decided to es- tablish q town separate from the In liars. lie chose place near the mines they were working and started 10 build | l town. which he called Caparra. It was on the north coast. opposite | he sea Of St. John. near Pueblo NiejO. | The ruins are seen in the vicinity Of the | of Den Manuel Diaz, near he brook named Margar;ta. a place | by swamps. So difficult was the work of bringing supplies here from the ships in the bay, dis | ance of only a league. that the cost | vas more than that of getting them | rom Spain to Pcrto Rico. But the op | 1ortunity this place gave the Spaniards | Q satisfy their desire for gold made | ight for them the h2rdships which hey endured in this town for ten -ears. The historians, Her era and Oviedo. disagree about the ear of the abishment of CaParra, he former saying in 151o and the lat CT in 15O9."
 In The Elementary Geography of Porto Rico" the author makes tEe fol owing remarks concerning Cararra: Ponce de Leon was the first colOnizer n 1909. The first settlement was the ity of CaParI,a. in the place named luebrada MaTgarita. near Pueblo NiejO, nd of which town no more remains han the ruins, worthy of worship as he cradle of the Spanish race on the sland. The city was abandoned in 552''
 Dr. Harrington has already called the ttention of educators in the United ,tates to Caparra in the hope of saving he ruins from further destruction. uch q historical settlement he thinks { least ought to be marked by monu- nent. Even thus early the American ellie hunters have begun to chip oft ieces of the church foundation stones or souvenirs.-N. '. Sun.
 Preaching and Practice.
 Old Fogie-The country is going to he dogs. I'm as certain of it as l ever sas of anything.