Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-03-30
OUR NEW POSSESSIONS.
Porto Rico, the Gem of the Antilles.


our new territory of Porto Rico one thing
is certain, the island has a permanent
foundation not liable to be disturbed at the
caprice of an erratical volcano. All the
islands, large and small, composing tie An
tillean archipelago, are merely submits of
an immense range of submerged mountains,
beginning near the coast of Florida and ex-
tending more than 1000 miles in south
east direction, forming a crescent-shaped
curve that terminates at the 10Th degree OF
north latitude, near the coast of South
America. Cuba, st. Domingo, Jamaica,
Porto Rico and the numerous smaller
islands have the same general characters
tics In stratigraphy and mineral constitu-
ents, with an absence of volcanic indca-
tions, so far as at present determined by
geological examinations. Only a compare
tive short distance north or south of Porto
Rico the bed of the ocean is found to be
nearly %, 900 feet below the surface of the
water, while the highest elevation of land
is Mount Tina, on the island of St. Domingo
whose height is l / $3.50 feet above the sur
face of the surrounding waters.
Porto Rico is only dot in the great null
titude of these mountain peaks, though the
island is l0j miles in length and nearly 40
in breadth, containing 1868 square miles.
There are numerous satellites belonging to
the central island, the larger ones being
Isla de Vieques, Culebra Palominas, Ca
beZas, besides a score or more of smaller
ones, all of which are inhabited and cult
waited to some extent.
A range of mountains from 1000 to 5000
feet in height traverses Porto Rico from
northeast to southwest nearly its entire
length. There are AZ rivers that have
their sources in the central mountains, and
more than 1000 branches and small streams
that pour their waters into the larger ones,
or, by direct course empty into the At
lantic or Caribbean sea. The island has
| $50 miles of coast line, their being road
steads at the mouth of many rivers, but
not more than seven harbors which would
be safe for vessels in an ordinary storm,
not to mention such visitation as the
island received last August which must not
be left out when summing up the equip
ment of a tropical island. With rivers,
averaging only eight miles apart, cutting
| channels from their sources in the central
mountain range to the ocean, it will be
| seen there can be no table lands nor, in
| fact, any level lands except along the mar
row, short valleys and on the littoral Dor
ders of the island Practically the whole
surface of the island is a succession of up
lifts, flexed into rounded topped hills and
narrow valleys: the whole island being
covered with dark, green, tropical growth
of more than 500 different kinds of wood.
ferns, shrubs, plants and grasses The
SUBMITS of the mountains, 1900 feet high,
are all susceptible of cultivation. The
sharp, conical, steep-sided hills of lesser
elevation are gardens by nature where, AS
one scrambles along their sides through
the thick growth of countless variety of
edible fruits luscious oranges attract the
eye, and huge punches of golden bananas
are suspended directly in the pathway.
The island lies within the torrid zone,
between ATTITUDES = "a and 49, 80 north,
but owing to the high elevation and many
swift running rivers it is shown to have
the most healthy climate of any of the
larger Antilles. The air on the coast in
summer is continuously heavy with moist
ure, and the hot sun generates an exhala-
ton from the decaying vegetation which
predsposes miasmatic and malarial fevers
that are particularly dangerous to the un-
acclmated who expose themselves in early
morning or evening, especially those living
on low lands, near marshes, or by the sea
shore. a year of experience by our sol
diers on the island, however, has shown
less sickness than observed by the same
number of men stationed at any of the
southern garrisons at home. One great
cause of sickness is eating indiscrimin-
ately the various kinds of fruit grown
on the island, which cause bilious COM
plants by exciting fermentation in the
stomach and alimentary canal. The me-
teorology of Porto Rico is very similar TO
that of Hawaiian America. The northern
part of the island-the portion north of the
great natural watershed never
known a drought, though near the coast
several weeks have occasionally passed
without rain during the dry season.
The southern half, particularly the south
eastern section, has frequently been with
out a drop of rain on its constituting
soil for over three months; these condi-
tons being noticeable on the lands devoted
to the raising of sugar. and especially on
the ad accent fertile islands of Viequas and
Culebra. In April and May the spring
rains begin on both sides of the island and
it is no uncommon occurrence for the
water to come down in torrents every day
for several weeks in succession, particular
ly back from the coast on the sides of the
mountains. During these periods travel is
rendered almost impossible over the mule
paths and trails that lead to the towns
situated among the hills and mountains
several miles distant from the sea coast
land in the summer months. In September
the autumnal floods commence, lasting,
usually through October, and after several
terrific cloud bursts the whole face of the
level land is covered with a quickly dis
appearing lake, the tiny streams becoming
raging torrents and the rivers vast floods,
which overflow the bottom lands for miles
on either side.
Following this period of fury and de-
struction by the elements, are clear sunny
days, cooling breezes, and a general feel
ing of relief by everything on the island
animate or inanimate. From November to
April the island is a paradise for the home
of man. The trade winds, blowing. regu-
larly from the north, cool the air to the
temperature of 100 to 75o on the hill-tops
where, for a residence of four or five
months, the charms of climate with the ri
pening, golden fruit on the mountain sides
are indiscribable. The ethnography of the
inhabitants of Porto Rico is complicated
problem which may not be definitely ex
planned. Spanish history tells us that
there were 900, 600 natives on the island
when Columbus stopped at the mouth of 6
river in Aguadilla, near the west end OF
the island, on the north side, in 1893, t
procure water for his fleet. Our ole
Florida friend, Don Juan Ponce de Leon
who accompanied Columbus on this second
voyage, had his business eye trailed on tn,
beauties of the island, as they sailed alonl
its shores, blossoming with a wealth O
| tropical prandeur.-probablv he was think