Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-04-12

by the never ceasing efforts of gangs Of
road laborers in the governments en-
ploy. In the. mountains a great many
culverts, viaducts. etc.. are found and
are all bridged by solid stone masonry.
The road in its entire extent repre-
sents an immense amount of labor.
time and money.
The first town of any Importance is
Caguas. Here the principal industry
is cigar manufacture for the country
surrounding is productive of great
quantities of as fine tobacco as a.
grown on the island. This same is
true of the country between Caguas
and Cayey which was our next stop
ping place. The people are in fair
circumstances and do a considerable
tobacco trade. We met a number of
Americans located there and who
spoke well of the prospects in general
A typical old Spanish church is really
the only point of interest to be seen.
From Cayey to Aibonito the road
was through the mountains and the
around the sharp turns at break
neck speed is most exciting. Our dri-
vers only laughed at our suggestions
| as to a more moderate pace and
| seemed TO take no thought whatever
of any danger,
There is nothing of particular in
terest in Aibonito itself but about
mile to the south on the road is the
pass where occurred the battle during
the Spanish war. and which was
stopped in very opportune time by
the news of the peace protocol The
Spanish trenches are still distinguish
able on the mountain sides and their
position was a most excellent one from
the defensive standpoint and consid-
cradle bloodshed would have been the
inevitable result of a prolonged en-
gagement.
"Coamo is quite a busy little town.
sugar being the principal product in
this section as the country gradually
becomes more level from here to the
southern coast. Directly north and
to the east of Coamo lie immense cot
fee plantations producing as fine a
grade of coffee as can be found in the
world
"Coamo Springs lies three miles to
the east off from the main road. Here
are excellent hot water baths and IL is
quite health resort. Those who were
there for that purpose told us that
baths were very beneficial. A hotel
run by an American is located at the
Springs furnishing good accommoda-
ton for visitors.
From Coamo south along the road
are striking evidences of the work of
! the hurricane. Whole villages have
been wiped out of existence, great
trees uprooted and carried hundreds
OF feet and left stranded in all kinds
of odd positions and locations 1t is
needless to tell of the poverty and suf-
| fering caused by this storm:
the natives inhabiting these de-
stroyed towns have to
the best of their ability and with the
remnants of their former homes, con-
structed small 'shacks' and 1ean-tos' in
which they are endeavoring to exist on
little fruit, the juice of sugar cane
and what scanty supplies reach them
from the United States by military dis
tribution. There is abundant chance
for relief work here and no charity.
however small, will go amiss.
Our food on this trip across the ISL
and consisted of fruit, eggs, coarse
native bread and coffee, the latter long
to be remembered because of it's excel
lence. The water is good but not very
cold; 1t is kept in earthen jars and the
evaporation of ,Ae moisture from the
outer surface of the jar cools 1t suffi-
GENTLY to make it quite palatable.
Arriving at Ponce again we were
tired out from the hardships encount-
cred during the drive of about 100
miles and the several days exposure to
the tropical sun. A rest in the cool of
the evening and a good nights sleep
leaving the harbor the next morn
ing we looked back upon the beau
tiful landscape spread out before
us bringing to mind the sights and
experiences of the past month, we felt
that our time had been well spent"