Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-18
is HAGcARD AND WORN
Impressions Of Gen. Jiminez
While at San Juan.
HOPEFUL, YET BROKEN
FIRST STEP TAKEN IN IMPORT
ANT NAVAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Some Interesting Statistics on Educa-
tional Work on the Island-Ex
perimental Growing Of Cotton.
special Corre.pondence Of The Erenlug Star.


The French transatlantic steamer St.
Simon arrived in San Juan, p R., two days
ago. en- route to Santo Domingo and Hayt.
bringing from the Danish Island of st.
Thomas Don Juan Isidro Jiminez ex-presi-
dent Of the former republic. General Jim
inez remained in San Juan but a few hours.
leaving by train for Mayaguez, where his
wife and children have resided ever since
the revolution began.
After the defeat of his troops before the
city Of Santo Domingo and their terrible
routing in San Pedro de Macoris and La
Vega and other serious reverses. General
Jiminez took a German steamer at Monte
Cristi. the first to leave that port, for st.
Thomas for the purpose of coming to Porto
Rico to try and raise funds for the pur-
chase Of arms and ammunition. Should he
be unsuccessful In raising sufficient
amount here he will visit the United States
for that purpose.
He Is no longer the man that he was:
the months that he has spent in camp In
his disastrous campaign have been suff-
cient to make him twenty years older. He
is haggard and worn. his eyes have stony
stare and his general appearance Is that
Of the man who has suffered greatly both
mentally and physically. although in speak
ing of the battles fought by his few and
tried followers his eyes tighten up with
wonted energy.
He asserts that his defeat was exclusively
due to the lack of arms and ammunition, and
that If he can but obtain the necessary
funds he may yet recuperate all that has
been lost He Is loud In his denunciation
of General Morales as base traitor and
swears to wreak summary vengeance upon
him should he ever get him into his power
Eject Of Morales Government.
He is very reserved and all that could be
ELECTED from him In speaking of the ac-
tual condition of the country was the ex-
clamation, "Ah. my friend, the country is
in very bad state, it is ruined; Morales Is
destroying the great work of his fore,
fathers; he will desolate the country; will
enslave its inhabitants: trample our per-
sonality under foot and fill the republic
with sorrow. The majority of the people
want me. but I lack arms and am
munition; what can we do without them?"
and in referring to his campaign he says:
Although we have not been victorious we
have at least had the satisfaction of killing
thousands Of the enemy and those whom we
have not killed, should 1 not eventually
triumph. will become little Americans
Northumberland here he broke off with
bitter laugh full Of sinister meaning.
It would appear from his manner of ex-
pressing himself that he has but little hope
of ever returning to the presidential chair
of the Dominican republic but that he
COnSlQeTS tnat the most terTiDle punishment
the Dominican people could receive for the
great wrong they have committed in sup
porting President Morales Is that of being
brought under American rule.
To Construct Marine Barracks.
It Is expected that within a week the
naval authorities here will advertise for
bids for the construction Of marine barracks
to accommodate $50 to 400 men. The build
ing will be on the new naval reservation just
outside the capital, and its erection will be
the first step in the very important naval
improvements to be made in Porto Rico.
The plans of the navy department. which
have been carefully prepared by the officials
stationed here involve the expenditure of at
least 100000 for improvements alone and
If this session of the United States Congress
grant the appropriation, work will be COM
menced at once.
: The barracks which are to be constructed
at Puerta de TERRA, will cost $4,000, which
amount Is arleady appropriated and at the
disposition of the Navy Department. The
larger improvements contemplated include
the dredging of San Juan harbor to thirty
feet and the construction of machine shops
dry docks, etc. 1t Is now nearly year
since the President allotted public lands and
the island anxiously awaits the beginning
of the naval building boom.
Percentage Of School Attendance.
Figures just issued by the insular depart
half of the present school year. 1898 per
cent of the school population of Porto Rico
attended school. The average daily at
tendance was 39216 out of SC, $50 enrolled
There are 22.6SS pupils in the graded
schools, x, 4S6 in the rural schools 1O8 in
high schools and 800 In Industrial schools.
OF the grand total 35,915 are white and 49,
ga are colored.
The males number 80, 1850 and the females.
2O,45O. About 1874 900 children are yet with
out school accommodation but it is hoped
that some of the loan now being negotiated
in the United States can be devoted to their
interests. Certainly Porto Rico is too poor
at present to care for any more.
To Encourage Cotton Growing.
The United States government, through it's
agricultural experiment station at May
aguez. has determined to encourage the
growing of Sea Island cotton in Porto Rico
Special Agent Mark D. Gardener is sending
out notices that he has received a quantity
of Sea Island cotton seed from Edisto
Island. South Carolina, and that he will
supply free, not to exceed four pounds each,
to planters and farmers who wish to expert
ment with the seed.
The seed was bought and forwarded to
Porto Rico by the ONCE of Industrial plants
in the United States Department of Agri-
culture, Washington. d. c., and 1t is only
requested that every planter or farmer
making experiments shall inform the Porto
Rico station of the results and send sam
pie of the product for transmission to WASH
ington.
Mr.. Gardeners offer is accompanied by a
circular letter by President r. NJ. Walker,
of the Walker Cotton and Industrial Com
pany San Juan, in which Mr.. Walker tells
In detail how to obtain the best possible
results from Sea Island cotton planting In
Porto Rico. Mr.. Walker pleads strongly
for rigid quarantine against the Mexican
cotton boil weevfl and the destruction Of
a ha I1la nd On
Termination GER"
From the London Chronicle.
The railway company which has labeled
It's smoking carriages smoker" writes a
correspondent has yielded to a fatal fasci-
nation which is no new thing. The attrac-