New-York tribune., 1900-07-01

q man very much in earnest, very desirous that
the Government records shall be properly taken
care Of and preserved, and he puts forth no
energy that does not bear commemorate re-
suits.
The proper depository for the State archives
is the Library of Congress or the National LII
brary. as it viii one day be called It was built
indeed. with this especial end in view. but il IS
question if the different departments could be
persuaded to give up the documents now IN
their charge, even though they are practically
worthless in their present state and by their
transfer the public interest would be served for
the various departments Of the Government are
jealous Of each other and never relinguish with
out a battle royal what they regard as their
prerogatives. But there could be no possible
objection to having these documents edited.
cataIogued and published and a certain number
deposited with the Librarian Of Congress.
Unless something is done for the preservation
of these archives. and done speedily, there VIII
be few left TO preserve, as time. moth and tbs
insidious worm are fast destroying them ana
enterprising students sometimes carry parts Of
them away. At least that is the way the mutt
Iation-the absence Of page now and than-is
explained.
John Nelson Of the Coast and Cfeodetic Sur
vey, has just returned from Porto Rico where
he was in charge Of the triansulation and topo-
graphical surveys carried on from Ponce to the
westward and -rcrthyvard as far as Ricon Point
I a short distance from AquadiIa. The Spanish
surveys are very urtrustworthy. he says. espe-
ciaIIy in regard to coast work, and while ths
location Of the island on the map has not been
changed to any extent the coast line has been
altered and the indentatlOns have been more
clearly marked.
mill
ers to avoid Porto Rico" says Mr.. Nelson.
/ There is To opportunity for any one who has
! not either money or a position under the Gov
/ ernmeut Americans cannot live on the wages
/ or the food that sUfiCes for the natives A
+ Porto Rican gets little TO eat They are accus-
toned 10 live on bananas, with barely any other
+ article Of food The banana is bread and meat,
/ and a little piece OF Goldfish would provide
/ banquet that would be talked Of through a life
/ time
The natives were never SO well of as since
/ the American occupation Government supplies
have provided them with more to eat than they
/ ever had before, and so long as it lasts there
viii be but little labor done on the island Ar
abundance Of provisions has always affected
/ the price of labor. and now the natives ara de-
| manding an American dollar instead OF q peso
( for the same amount Of work The peso is sup
posed TO be worth about so cents valuation
! that will sink materially since the Government
has announced that the peso will not be re-
: ceived as coin Of the realm al the expiration 9t
/ a certain period.
Conditions in the island are very primitive
Even in the best houses the stoves consist Of 4
cement arrangement that bears a considerable
resemblance to the brick oven that any tramp
/ who has been on the road has learned TO make.
I Everything is cooked over d charcoal fire There
is no color line in Porto Rico, Nearly every
native is strained with negro blood, and the
spectacle Of negro and white in general COM
rnunication and on footing OF equality is an
ordinary occurrence"