Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
THE COAST OF PORTO RICO
Return Of the Expedition of the Coast and
Geodetic Survey.
What the Members Saw Of the Island
and the Customs of the
Inhabitants.

The expedition which was sent by the
coast and geodetic survey last January to
Porto Rico, to make new charts and sound
ings of the coasts and harbors of that is
land, has completed it's work and several
members have returned. The steamer
Blake. upon which the expedition sailed,
is expected to reach Baltimore next week
with the remaining members of the party.
Mr.. William Bowie is one of those who
came north ahead of the steamer, and in
conversation with a Star reporter today
talked interestingly of scenes and incidents
which he witnessed in the island
1T is beautiful country he aid "but
will have to be greatly improved. The
Americans are doing this right along, and
1 think the next few years will show re-
markable progress in the development of
the natural resources of the country. The
Introduction of modern methods and ideas,
of improved machinery and agricultural
implements. and the establishment of a
good school system will work wonders In
the island, | am sure.
The Inhabitants.
1.-THE lower class natives are mulattoes,
mixtures of Spanish, Indian and negro
blood The upper classes of society are all
pure blooded Spaniards descendants of
Spaniards. The pure whites do not mingle
with the half-castes and the social lines
are sharply drawn. The people are hos
pitable, although we found some difficulty
in awaiting ourselves of their hospitality,
because We did not speak Spanish and they
spoke but little English. The educated peo-
pie speak French, familiarity with this
language seeming to be part Of their eau-
cation.
THE island appeared to be tranquil, and
/ do not expect there will be any trouble IN
Porto Rico. The merchants look very favor
ably upon military control. and nope II
will continue. as they feel sense Of secdf-
ity for their property under the govern
nlent Of United States army officers. san
Juan is lively city, and we attended many
brilliant social assemblages while We were
there. The girls are very nice looking, put
they do not compare with our American
young ladies. The contrast between them
and the young wives of our military OH
Gals was always i'll favor of the latter.
I'm the interior of the island the poorer
classes do not have many comforts of life.
They live in small shaeks, made OF palm
trees and matched with palm shingles.
Their principal diet is sweet potato and
plantain. The men are not robust, and
cannot stand very much fatigue. The pure
blooded negroes, however, are more hardy
and can perform more labor thai. the Porto
Ricans.
THE children. up to five years of age,
run naked. winter and summer. Gen. Henry
tried to change this social custom, but the
natives We're obstinate, and the youngsters
still bask in the tropical sun in complete
state Of nature. The school system was
very poor until the Americans came in, but
it is being rapidly improved. and the army
officers are devoting much of their atten-
ticn to the schools.
Agricultural Products.
Sugar, coffee and tobacco are the prime
cipal agricultural products Since the alb
clifton of slavery some of the largest sugar
plantations have partially grown up in
W. hov hoan int
lands. The machinery is very crude and
wastes about 20 per cent Of the sugar. To-
bacco is grown in great quantities. and
would be very fair If it were thoroughly
dried, but the planters are always in
hurry to market their crops Some of the
tobacco, / was told is sent to Cuba and
sold afterward as Havana tobacco. Every
male person in Porto Rico smokes, and
among the lower classes some of the wo-
mel smoke, but 1 never saw a Porto Rican
l&Cy of position Use tobacco"