The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-03
FIVE DAYS IN PORTO RICO.
Capt. Avery and Party Returned
From San .Iunn

from san Juan.
The tug Abram Minis arrived yester-
day morning after two weeks voyage
to Porto Rico. The Minis left Savannah
June 10, with the government barge De-
fender in tow, and arrived at San Juan
seven days later, on the I'D. She left
again June 2e, and arrived at Jackson
vile Monday morning. Besides Capt.
Frank B. Avery, the party which made
the trip, was composed of Mr.. T. Lloyd
Owens and Mr.. John ]. Morris of Sa-
varnah, and Mr.. ]. T. Raglan of Hughes
Bros. & Bangs, Jacksonville. The trip
was a delightful one. The party was in
port fve days, and had a good opportu-
nifty to see the sights during the twenty
day festival of the founding of San Juan
They took in all of the festivities, includ-
Ing tournament, horse races. fire.
works and ball at the Theatre San
Juan.
Having a little spare time, we gained
some Information and formed some con-
illusions in regard to conditions and pros
poets of Porto Rico in connection with
American interests" said Capt. Avery,
land having no object except to be able
to present true picture of the conditions
when called upon to do so, the deduc-
impression was one of surprise at the
understanding of things in so short
a time. One sees many faces plain
ly American and hears enough English
spoken on the street and in the shops
not to feel lonesome. At times it is diff
fcut to realize being in a foreign coun-
try. In Havana, 1t is difficult to realize
that one is SO near America, and SO alb
| solutely foreign and helpless, unless one
SnninnIa In Haxr 4
| dered about for an hour" said Capt Av-
| cry, trying 90 find cafe in which some
| one could sabe English or which had a
| bill of fare by which could order some
| thing to eat. In San Juan in nearly every
| store some one can speak ineligible
Americana Many Americans drifted in
Immediately after the war and have kept
| going up to the present time and can now
| speak Spanish fiuently. 1 came in con.
| tact with number of Porto Ricans who
were educated in the States and they
have been constant educators of their as
sociates. Two notable men are the Drs.
| P. del Vale, one of whom is the board
| ing officer of the Marine Hospital Ser
| vice, and the other is looking after the
| business of another brother, who is re-
| siding in Baltimore, while educating his
children DR.. M. " del Vale was inter
| pretor for Gen. w. w. Gordon, who was
| il, command of a battalion at Miami.
| Fla, during the Spanish war, and one of
| the Peace Commissioners of Porto Rico
Capt. Avery's party was invited by M.
| V. del Vale to the Porto Rican ball on
| San Juan Day. the conclusion of the
| twenty-day festival of the founding OF
the city. While the ball itself was inter
| esting in its society feature and the beau
| ty of face, figure and costume of the
| ladies, it was not different said Capt. Az
| cry, in general character from an Ameri-
| can ball, except in the quadrillc
of about two hundred and fifty couples
| formed in one set-the two-step and glide
| waltzes were familiar. A large number
| of the guests were plainly American an
! equal number were as plainly native and
| an equal proportion was plainly monde
| script.
| The ride from San Juan by the mil
| itery road" to Caguays, is a most in
teresting one, said Capt. Avery. The
| luxuriant foliage on either side is strange
but beautiful. The scenery is not unlike
| that along the banks of the Hudson, and
| the cultivated portions present a view
very similar to the agricultural district
| of the Northern states. if the picture of
the native huts on the hillsides and an
| occasional palm tree can be left out.
| with American methods and
| enterprise said Captain Avery,
"the agricultural possibilities of
| Porto Rico are unlimited-the
health conditions are excellent, the drain
age is natural, and no stagnant water
| was visible-at least in that portion of
the island San Juan, is one of cleanest
cities. The streets in the central portion
/ are all paved with Belgian block, or Wit
i rified brick; the drainage is perfect; the
| water of the bay is clean and clear. The
| one thing that disfigures the city in ev-
| cry direction is the crowded quarters of
the lower classes-the dirty interiors of
| houses in plain view from the streets.
The repulsive women and naked children
seem to live in the street, and every
where, even within fifty feet of the en-
| trance to Casa Blanca the former res
| idence of Ponce de Leon. A visit to this,
| and also the military barracks and Nor
| 10 Castle, from which Is a grand view of
the city, bay and mountains, is interest
ing. San Cristobal is one of the sights.
and while 1t is only possible to gain adj
| mission through one of the high officials,
| Capt Avery's party was rendered pass,
but the party failed to concentrate so as
to get in together, and missed it.
One of the things to be observed in the
island is the selection and appointing of
the government officials, and in turn,
| their assistants who seem to have been
chosen absolutely for their efficiency. A
| sufficient number OF native assistants
speak English fiuently, and those who do
| not, are old experienced men in their
line Of duty, and each one seems to try to
| see how we'll he can do his duty. With
| no knowledge of Spanish one can conduct
| business in any department without the
slightest trouble. Among those whom
| Capt. Avery and party met in San juan
| Col. Buchanan, commandant of the mil
itary forces of the island; DR.. Mathew
SON, u s., NJ. H. s., chief quarantine
officer of the island; Col. Whitehead,
collector of customs, for the island, with
sub-stations at the different ports; DIT.
Smith, secretary of the Superior Board of
Hesith; Judge Garrison, auditor of the
island; Judge Linhsrt, supervisor of the
island; DR.. Hurry. hospital steward at
San Juan and formerly of Savannah.