Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-29
FRIGHTENED NATIVES
FIRST RAn4A1 TRAIN MANY
PORTO RIcANs HAD SEEN.
Inauguration of Great Improvement
Plantations Brought Nearer
to the Markets.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
SAN JUAN. PR, October 81, 1903.
The most impsrtant railroad event in the
history of Porto Rico since American occu-
patton took place last Sunday, when the
first passenger train over the new line of
the American railroad was run. Manager
Duval and Assistant Manager Behn had with
them as their guests Governor Hunt. Sec
rotary Charles Hartzell, Attorney General
Willis Sweet. Commissioner of Education
9. M. Lindsay and a dozen minor insular
officials. besides a score Of prominent other
cittzens of San Juan, Aguadilla and Maya
guez.
The improvement has cost more than a
million dollars. and the new tracks run
through one of the most fertile parts of
Porto Rico, where for. four centuries the OK
carts and pack horse have been the only
means of transportation.
From San Juan to Ponce.
NOW there is through line Of rails from
San Juan to Ponce except between Camuy
and Aguadilla. and work on that section
Will soon begin. 1t is now covered by a
-FOUR hours coach ride over an excellent
road. A passenger can now travel in a day
from San Juan to Ponce, practically all
rail- and avoid the ninety-mie carriage ride
over the military road and at less than one
half the former cost. The freight rate Is
reduced. the time of transit shortened and
the road seems destined to do a splendid
business. 1t already has a single contract
Tor the hauling of 10000 tons of sugar cane
to the centrals, and II makes available for
sugar growers many miles of splendid cane
lands, extending the sugar district where
the largest centrals of the island are To-
Gated. The coffee. tobacco and fruit grow
ers Will also now extend operations. and
NOV &c, i,ns fiy,,o1 10
The scenery along the route is grand. and
tourists will be well repaid for making the
trip.
AS the special train ran from Mayaguez
10 Ponce thousands of natives who had
never seen railroad coach came as near
to the cars as their fear would permit,
many of them being as frightened as the
animals. which gave one terrified glance
ana al then scurried across fields to escape
the new and strange monster. The insu-
lar police band, which accompanied the
party, was quite as much Of a wonder anu
the poems showed wild delight when they
heard "Hiawatha" vigorously played.
At the Banquet.
At Ponce one OF the finest banquets ever
served In Porto Rico, where good dinners
are exceedingly rare. was spread. covers
being laid for eighty guests. The dining
hall was decorated with French and Amer
lean flags, the road having been formerly
the French railroad when it consisted only
of sections built by French capital. Harbor-
master Tom Cooke of San Juan was
POSTMASTER. and the diners drank the
health of the company Mr.. Charpentier,
the managing director. now in Paris; Man.
ager Duval and Gov. Hunt. Mr.. Behn d.
rected his toast to the governor and the
guests. i@
The governor replied to the toast with q
beautiful tribute to the company and then
talked about the islands coffee. He sug-
gested that d committee of merchants go to
the United States and call upon the ways
and means committee of Congress to fur
Their the coffee interests.
The remarks OF the governor We're eloquent
and contained valuable, timely suggestions
MI. Carlos Armstrong. president of the
Ponce board of trade replied to the gov
ernor and approved the suggestion made by
him. After the governor finished speaking
the insular police band struck up the Star
Spangled Banner and the Marseillaise
Attorney General Sweet, the alcalde of
Ponce Mr.. FritZe manager of Guanica
Central: DR.. BriOso of the executive coun-
Gil. Don Francisco Paula Acuna. Collector
Cruzen. French Consul Fillippinni, Secre-
tary Hartzell and Commissioner Lindsay
also spoke. 49, '