The Washington times., 1905-02-21
E TROLLEY" Joy
Of PORTO RICANS
Land Of Manana Tries Rapid
Transit.
THEY LIKE IT IMMENSELY
At First Chopped Down Poles and Cut
Wires-CaIIed It the '.Devil
Car"
THEY LIKE IT IMMENSELY

SAN JUAN, Z r., Feb 21-san Juan
has an electric road which, looping
through the city by way of the principal
plaza, runs away into the country along
the side OF the grand military road TO
Rio Piedras. a small suburb ten miles
10 the south. Since its building this
road has mad an eyentful career
After the American occupation It was
converted from narrow gauge steam
railroad into a standard gauge electric
line There was fierce opposition from
the natives. who chopped down poles
and unstrung wires, but the American
contractor went grinly ahead and wen
out
Held a Fiesta.
i re first car run through the city was
made the occasion of fiesta. and Gu
fious mobs followed it for mile or two
During the first few years there was so
much knocking down of fares that the
crews made more money than the COM
pany, The line was run on lazy
schedule in this land Of nnanana, or to-
morrow, but now everything has been
changed.
Natives now. instead Of being afraid
to travel in the devil cars. will spend
! their last nickel for ride The motor
men and conductors are dandfes in
white uniforms with vfsors of tortoise
shell on their caps They do not rob
the company, because they are mostly
! family men and proud of the fact that
they are S well paid as the khaki clad
dandies Of the insular police and better
paid than Uncle Sans young men in
blue VINO form the provisional regiment
OF Porto 4tico.
| On Schedule Time.
The cars are run on a close schedule
now. An amusement park in a large
grove Of coeoanut palms has just been
opened. with a dancing pavilion, moon
light concerts. surf bathing, and yaude-
vile entertainments. The natives flock
to the dances. but have abandoned their
stately but sensuous native jaranga for
the nerrier American two-step and
waltz
Most OF this change. wrought slowly
| in five years. has been brought about
| by Charles E. Warner, of Pittsburg,
who gathered around him an executive
staff Of young Americans 10 put some
ginger into the working of the road
Native trackn1en used 10 want to light
the inevitable cigarette every minute or
so. Then they wanted drink of coco
deagua, the milk or water IN the cocoa
NUT or they would recllne In the shade
when not sharnlv looked after.
In country where vegetation seems
TO spring up IN night it is hard work
to keep the track clear from grasses and
weeds. These, by covering the ties, keep
them moist which is bad for the wood
/ The track gangs now have to hustle
bfiskly to keep the ten miles of track,
with turnouts, branches, and switches,
clear.
Master the Current.
At first the native motormen were
afraid Of the current and were liable to
lose their heads under the least excite
ment. Now they have overcome their
I fears
AS a tourist road it has few equals.
Running for miles right along the
southern side OF the military road or
earretera, it presents every phase of ma
tive life.
AS the trolley rrmbles past the patient
bullocks IN the quaint, numbering carts
roll their eyes as they strain TO the
yoke. The strange little trotting ponies
with panniers and rider on back. shy no
longer at the mechanical rival. Bare
footed laundresses and naked children
yell az the passengers. while q battalion
I of blue-lackets, with the band from the
warship in the bay, may nike swinging
+ ~ past as they go III light marching
order on practice march,
So disinclined are the poorer natives
+ to work that every second one Is a