The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-05-04
WORRIES PORTO RIcANs.
Contemplated improvements at San
Juan Reveal Congested Com
dition at the Capital.


While the contemplated Improvements
In San Juan by the navy department,
which have already been begun, are
hailed with delight by most Of the in
habitants. between 1000 and 5000 peo-
Pile are in a state of worry, says a San
Juan special in the st. Louis Globe-Dem-
ocrat To them the expenditure of mil
lions means little, as the work will in
yolve the loss OF their homes. The stu
alton just now Is one that reveals the
congestion of the capital and presents
problem demanding immediate solution.
The people living on the Marina fear
that within few days or weeks time
they will be turned off the land and all
the property seized for naval purposes.
The news has not been confirmed at the
navy yard, but it Is limited that the au-
thorities are only waiting for cable
from Washington to take final action.
Those who occupy houses on the Ma
rina adjacent to the navy department
were served with papers long ago, warn
ing them that they should not build any
permanent houses, as they might be
called upon to give up their property In
the near future But as nothing occurred
for long tirne they settled down ano
have rested quietly. Now, however.
that the navy department has taken
charge ef some Of the lands that were
allotted to it, it is not known when they
will claim the Marina
For long time people have been al
lowed to live on these lands, and TO build
cheap houses and terements without
paying rent, but they were duly notified
not to build substantial buildings of
brick. which would be hard to remove.
on account Of the probable action OF
the government. Hundreds of these
houses have been built, and thousands
Of people live in them. The question,
therefore, arises, where will all these
people 60 when the land is seized?
Several committees have called on the
governor concerning the matter. Those
interested in San Juan and Santurce real
estate are somewhat excited over the
possible result of the grabbing Of prao-
tically all Of the valuable land by the
United States government. After the
navy department takes possession Of the
Marina and all Of the land out as far as
the jail, 1t Will leave none whatever In
the city limits Of San Juan, this side OF
Santurce, for the occupation Of the thou
sands Of inhabitants Of the Marina, who
will be turned out.
According to the last census, there
were 2.144 people who lived on the Ma
ina, but this does not count the people
who are employed in the many shops
and factories there and who live In some
other part of the city. All of these shops
the Portilla foundry. the Abarca foun-
dry, the sawmills, the cotton gin, the
electric light plant and the numerous
other works and establishments Will al
have to remove to some other place.
There is not a. foot Of land nearer than
Santurce for them to remove to, and, in
fact, IL IS difiicult to say where they will
20. This will naturally have tremen-
dous effect upon the price Of real estate
in Santurce and also San Juan. It Is
safe to say that values will double when
the change becomes necessary. Some
good-sized fortunes will surely be made.