The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-07

the pleasure seeker need to be added to the climate and landscape atractiveness of the islands. The native population is industrious, frugal and generally intelli- gent, but, in all southren countries. there is a certain lacn of initiative and progressiveness T,a peasants still contin- ues to do practically on his work on the soil with the peculiar Azorean hoe, which serves him for plough, spade, rake and harrow. His skill with the primitive m- plement is something fascinting to watch, but there is no doubt that with less indus try he could raise larger crops if he were equipped with American farming machin- cry. The soil of the island, which, as all countries of volcanic formation, is ex- ceedingly rich admits of intensive culti- vation, but demands modern methods.
 In particular Americans could find pro- fit in building hotels in Ponta Delgada, at he celebrated Furnas, or mineral spring in the interior of San Miguel, and elsewhere in the islands The need of great winter-resort hostelries such as have been concentrated in the Bermudas in Jamica and at other points in the West Indes, has long been felt In the AZoras, but native enterprise and know ledge have not been sufficient thus far to erect any but European hotels, of fair grade but not of a character to attract people who are used to the splendors of the breat caravansaries of New York and Chicago and of our southern wintering places. On every hand you hear it pre- dicted in Ponta Delgada that when once the city has homes of the kind that Amer jeans are accustomed to. together with the excellent service which the White Star Line has lnaugurated between this point and Boston, the Azores will become the leading winter resort of the mid-Atlantic. With the accommodations that exist
 
 islands to spend a few months. many of them hiring apartments which can be had at ridiculously low rates. This city, the chief on the island, seems to have var ious attractions to make life pleasant a fair library. an excellent little museum, a magnificent hospital a fine public square, a castle. good provision markets and churches so numerous that one won ders how the population can support them. Within easy reach of the baths. 1 the Furnas in the crater of an inactive volcano where sulphur and iron springs furnish healthful bathing for invalids and others. The roads in every direction are excellent for cycling and automobling.
 Quaint Ponta DeIgada.
 Ponta Delgada is found by the Ameri- can visitor to be distinctly Portuguese city of the middle ages-quaint and pie turesque; clean even to the well made foduS that leau 10 the nils, friendly by day and notoriously sleepy by night. In spite of its size it is but rambling old town in spirit. the kind that people in search of rest dilght to find. The mule laden with fruits or the produce of the fields, still ambes peacefully through the fine old squares. The men and women of the country bearfoot and wearing the dress of their ancestors, minge with the merchants and townspeople and pass within the ancient cathedral church. In the general peacefulness one wonders not so much that the islanders do not take advantage of every commercial oppor- tunity in sight. but that they are as enterprisirg and energetic as they are.
 Although European steamships and sail ing vessels from New Bedford often come within the deep capacious harbor the islands had but scant regular connec- ton with the United States until the Mediterranean steamships of the Domin- ion Line-a service which has since been taken up by the White Star ships-began stopping. two years ago. at Ponta Del gada on thr way from Boston to Naples and back again. The coming and going of one of these great vessels is naturally an event in the life of the place.