Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-18

The United States Geological Survey
has just issued a report ON the mineral
resources of Porto Rico by Robert r.
Iiill. This is The first official report on
the natural wealth of the island ond
contains much interesting matter. as
the following extracts from it indicate:
Tho island oc Porto Rico consists Of
three geological clements: % a central
system OF decpiy-r.bbcd ana corrug ted
mountains. with V-shapcd gorpcs and
ridges; - lower Inns, forming rro gu.
lar bands along the north and south
coast, 60 playa plains. consisting Of
alluvial soil occupying old reclaimed
ostua.ies, which extend from The FOO:
OF thc central mountains across the
tine OF foothills TO the scashorc. II :
thoroughly estimated that nine-tenths
of he island Is OF the mountainous
character ana shat The remaining tenth
is OF the foothill and playa character
"Aiatoral for construction OF every
kind exists upon the island and is util-
lied with sreat Skill by the inhabitants
Brick and tile clays, building stone,
lime. sand. cement, gypsum and paw
ing blocks occur The natives, like all
people of Spanish descent. are expert in
masonry construction. The cement
and mortar work of old rortresses CON
structed 700 years ago show remarkable
durability. and in some Of the cities
the mortar seams Of the brck-laid
ravcments stand up in sharp ridges b.
tween tile bricks, which have been
worn Thin. The Island abounds in clay
suitable for the making of ordinary
building brick and ordinary jug ware.
only a few potteiics were observed
upon the island. notably AT Ponce. The
ware manufactured is Of the mudes,
kind. being Il rough. red. unglazcd jug
ware.
FINE BUILDING STONE.
Lime of excellent character is pro
duced from all the white limeslones OF
the coastal formations. The building
stone of the island is of several kinds
Volcanic powders. Jumps of porous
white limestone, massive quarry lime
stone, ana limestone Gags. The chief
material used. 1t may appear strange
to say, is Of the first two classes men
toned native masons cXcelling In the
art OF constructing walls of this lumpy
material. binding ii sclidly together
with cement. The houses constructed
OF the volcanic powders are usually
neatly pointed with mortar and pre-
sent picturesque and rubbed appear
ance. Those constructed OF the softer
white limestone Jumps are always
succeed. The most elaborate and sat
isfactory houses of the tropics are
made with the latter material result
ing in thick and liEht walls well adapt
nearly all the public buildings of Cuba
and Porto Rico. including great for
trcsses such as those at San Juan and
Santiago de Cuba, upon which the
shells of our navy seem to have had but
little effect. no doubt owing to the
sponge-likc texture OF the rock.
Massive limestones abound along the
southern slope of the central mountain
range from Guyana westward TO Ca
DO Rojo. The principal kind is a gray
or drab limestone of the color OF COM
mercial lthoSraphic stone. but of in
tense hardness This limestone is prac-
tically marble. being highly crystal
line and Of dense and compact tex
ture.
BELT OF BEAUTIFUL MARBLE.
Near Juann Diaz there is belt of
beautiful marble of great hardness.
which is quarried into large blocks. Ii
is varegated in color, consisting of a
reddish matriX notified with numerous
small white spots. At present the ma
tcrial is used only for structural pur-