Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-05-17
MINING IN PORTO RICO.

An investigation of the mineral re-
sources Of Porto Rico by H. B. c.
Mite, published by the United States
Geological Survey, indicates that our
new possession has good iron ore and
perhaps copper in workable quantity,
but that other minerals are for the
most part wanting or of uncertain
value. In the eastern part of the is
land, within Il miles of the coast,
there is much magnetic of an excel
lent character, having So per cent. of
metallic iron with little or no phos-
phorus or sulphur. The topography
is such that a railway may be easily
constructed to the port Of Ensenada
Honda or NaguabO AS an American
company has acquired all the valuable
iron mining claims, the exploitation OF
Porto RicO's supply Of iron ore is to be
expected in the near future. Iron
pyrites occurs IN some quantity a few
miles east of Adjuntas. There is no
coal, but peat is found on the north
coast. Ignite occurs, but it is i'm
~ CSolIoICo Win 1lOL py I1ICo. uOo
pilates are found in small areas.
Copper is widely distributed, and its
ores have been more worked than
those of any other metal. Near Ma
guabo an ore body is found of a
thickness Of from to 10 feet, part OF
the vein producing from 10 to Is per
cent. Of copper, with some gold and a
trace of silver. A Boston company is
developing the Reina del Cobre claim
Corozal, where copper was obtained
% years ago. 1t is, however, to be OBJ
served with regard to the copper
mines, according to Mr. Mite, that
more extended exploratory work is
required to determine whether there
are deposits of large value" Lead has
been found but is probably in small
quantity. There are placer deposits
of gold in the valley of the Luquillo
river, in the northern part of the is
land and in the Corozal mountains
Iron pyrites, not. quartz, it is thought
is the mineral to which it will ul-
timately be traced. But there are no
reliable records regarding the gold
output of the placers, and little can be
affirmed about them till they have
been intelligently prospeeted, Upon
the whole, Porto Rico as at present
developed is not a bonanza. Some
thing must be added in regard to the
harbors and transportation facilities
Of Porto Rico, the inferiority of which
accounts to some extent for the lack
of mineral development In the past.
With few exceptions the coast of the
island is a shallow sandy beach af-
fording few opportunities for close
anchorage and little shelter from
storms. There are no frst-class har-
bors. San Juan, on the north coast
has dock facilities, but these are very
limited. Fajardo, Ensenada Honda
and NaguabO, on the east coast. and
Guanica and Jobes, on the south coast
are serviceable ports on occasion. but
not of much value Of railroads the
total length is about 135 miles. But
this total is made up of disconnected
lines confined to the coast country
and Of little service for the develop
ment of the interior. There are 40
miles of macadam road. Apart from
the railroad and macadam mileage and
routes Of travel and transportation are
horse trails which are almost i'm
passable during the wet seasons. Min
ing is further obstructed by scarcity of
timber and fuel. There are few large
forest tracts, and in these the woods
are for the most part of the hard var
ieties, too valuable for use in mining.
Charcoal is worth IS cents per 100
pounds, and imported coal sells at
from IS to IS ton. Labor and water
power, however, are plentiful, the
former costing from 80 to so cents A
day of 10 hours. Mining laws also IA
yor the mine owner. concessions being
easily obtained and kept at small ex-
penSe