The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-29
SOME NOTES ABOUT PORTO RICO

Surprising Sweetness of Some of the
Fruits-Incidents of the Recent Hur-
4 ricane.
The productiveness of the soil of Por-
to Rico is much beyond that of the or
binary best soils of the United States,
and as to the climate it contributes
much to the quality of the fruit There
is no question but that the flavor equals
that of any other part of the world, and
in some respects may be said to surpass
that of any other known part. The
pineapple, strawberry, blackberry and
cherry each has a sweetness not known
| to be euualed elsewhere. 1t Is said
that some years ago the apple also was
cultivated, bu. under the heavy bur-
ders imposed on all classes of Industry,
Encouragement and neglect resulted.
We find this to be the case among all
the poorer classes, complete loss of
ambition, though naturally Of cheer
! full and active disposition, as may be
explained from the disposition of their
offspring.
The soil is principally compound of
vegetation and the disintegration of
! the money -COlllDeu llIlNSlUllS IOCho,
chiefly from coral formation, with here
and there large deposits of shells This
is yearly fortified by the heavier rains
that wash down the enriching soils
from the mountains and in the bottom
lands by overflow.
Properly speaking, there is no seeding
time here Seed placed in the ground
any time will grow, the ground receives
enough moisture to thoroughly soak the
seed, and with the heat Of the sun the
seeds are promptly acted upon. There
is actually not marked distinction be-
tween one time of the year and another.
Rains fall frequently, and the months of
December, January and February are
naturally somewhat cooler, because OF
the sun being further south at that time
of the year. The nights are always
quite cool. and a blanket is necessary
for comfort.
Back of Arecibo city rise mountains,
and between them and the city are the
valley and river Areclbo. 1t was in
this valley that so much loss of life &C.
Cured in the hurricane of August s,
when between two and three hundred
people lost their lives. Two villages
in this valley were completely wiped
away in one night. One was the village
of Tanania, and the other Hato Viejo
In the first-named pueblo We're about
forty-six houses and in the other about
one hundred, mere shacks, and some
only a roof laid on the ground without
walls. These they call homes When
the water rose to ten or fifteen feet such
houses Were carried to the sea in the
night. with their occupants, and so
uqetly did the water do it's work that
many were not aware of what was oc-
curing till they struck the ocean waves
opposite the lighthouse, when their
homes We're torn to pieces. Many per-
sons were picked up some seven miles
out in the ocean One little girl of five
years Of age was picked up in the ocean,
resting on a large piece Of floating turf.
She had evidently been placed on that
by the dying parent.
There Is bright future for these peo-
pie, with an intermixture of Americans
and foreigners of sufficient proportions
to relieve them of the present set of
corrupt native officials, who naturally
have not vet unlearned the lessons
taught them by the corrupt officials that
preceded them. There may be few
honest officials, but some who ought to
know say that to even that modest
statement there may be taken exception.
Z. U. Amigo in the New York Ohser-
yer.