BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-08-15
An Annual Register d Porto Rtl
To Be Published.
Will Contain Invaluable and
Important Information Con-
cerning the Island.
Biographical Sketch Of Judge Mac
Leary, the Compiler.

The Secretary of Porto Rico some months |
since conceived the idea that it would be |
good plan to begin the Twentieth Century |
and the American Civil Government Of
Porto Rico with an Annual Register. The
object of this publication is to place the
information in regard to Porto Rico in the
hands of the members of the Legislative
Assembly, and all other persons who desir.
ed it, in convenient form for immediate
reference and constant use. IL is designed
to be something like the Wisconsin Blue
Book and the manual published by Rhode
Islar d, Iowa and other Sta t0s of the Union |
1t will contain, among other topics, a
condensation of the Acts of Congress con.
cerning Porto Rico, a sketch of the National
Government and each of the principal Of |
ficers of the Federal Government and the
Insular Government of Porto Rico, statistics
in regard to the Census, the external trade
and agriculture of Porto Rice; also COM
plete statement Of the appropriations made
for the current fical year and the salaries OF
all Government employees, as fixed by the
appropriation Act
1t will also include complete financial
statement of Insular affairs in Porto II co at
the present time, with information concern
ing b lks and banking; also biographical
sketches of the Governor, the Secretary,
snd members of the Executive Council and
the House of Delegates, as well as other
prominent officials of Porto Rico. 1t will
also contain Register Of corporations and
associations and Regulations made by the
Secretary's Office concerning companies.
H. ha .,,s ft,1 CT
tement of all business usually transacted By
the several departments, together with in.
formation as to light houses in and around
Porto Rico, the names of the States of the
American Union, the metric system, hol.
days in Porto Rico, table of distances,
railroad stations, telegraph stations, public
buildings, and the like.
It will also furnish information concern.
ing the newspapers of Porto Rico, their size,
&C., but nothing as to their circulation,
concerning which no reliable information
could be obtained.
Complete statements will also lie made
concerning the churches, schools, social
clubs, charitable institutions, Sc.
Altogether there will be between 75 and
100 different topics treated of, and the book
will contain from 200 to $50 pag s. The
book is being prepared under the direction
of the Assistant Secretary, and at present
Acting Secretary of Porto Rico, Hon.
James I'll MacLeary, who has given con
siderable time and attention to the subject.
The BoLETIN is much pleased 10 be
able to take advantage of this opportunity
of giving brief sketch of the career and
life of Judge McLeary, the compiler of the
Il H.
James Harvey MacEeary was born near
Carthage, Tennessee, but in his early child
hood his father moved with him and the
other members of the family to Texas, where
he has spent most Of bis life, and of which
State he considers himself resident.
He S rved through the civil war as a priv
ate in the 5th Texas Cavalry. He served
four years, being wounded four times and
serving in 80 different engagements. After
the war he went to college, matriculating
at Souie University, Chapel Hill, Texas,
afterwards going TO Washington and Lee
Uni Jersity in Virginia. General Robert e
Lee ras at the time President CT that Univ.
ersity. He graduated there in 1868 with
the degree Of Bachelor of Arts, receiving
in the following year the degree Ct Bachelor
Of Lawsfrom the same institution. His
diploma wds the first General Lee ever sig.
ned. He took first honors at graduation 10
a competition open to over four hundred
young men. Some Of them bal been Cap
tains and Colonels IN the Confed crate Army
and great many of them had been priva--
tes, out more than half of them were over
81 years of age.
Mr.. MacLeary commenced the practice
| { 10 81 ,h,,o oh
wards removing to San Antonio. 10 the
same State, and continuing the practice of
| Law there
He served in the State Legislature of
Texas, being elected fist to the House of
Representatives and afterwards to the State
Senate.
During some of the border troubles he
was made Colonel Of the State militia. He
was afterwards elected Attorney General of
Texas and served as such during 1881 and
1882, but be found he could not afford to
hold the office any longer and returned to
his practice.
he was appointed Judge of the Supreme
Court OF Montana in May, 1885, This Of
fee he held until February, 1883, when ne
resigned on account of the rigor of the clim.
ate. During this time he made the acquain.
tance of Judge Hunt, the present Acting
Governor of Porto Rico, and between the
two jurists a warm friendship sprung up
which has lasted until the present time.
Judge MacLeary tnen returned to Teeas,
where he resumed the practice of law and
continued it until the Spanish. American
war broke out. He thought Cuba ought to
be free and offered his services to the Pres
dent OF the United States in any position
to which he chose to assign him. President
Mckinley gave him commission as Major
and Inspector General on May I9tb, 1898
He went to Cuba with General Shafter's
Army, serving in the first expedition on the
staff of General Kent, afterwards being
transferred to the staff cf General Wood,
the Army having returned to the United
States, and the Judge desiring to remain in
Cuba.
Judge MacLeary served as Alcalde Of
Santiago de Cuba for few months, being
the first and only American Mayor Of that
city. He afterwards served as Inspector