Putnam patriot., 1908-10-16
\ Word from the Trop,cs.
tRsv.l NEWTON I. JoS.s.

During the last night of our journey , coming here, we encountered small part of what, at a short distance away, was destructive hurricane. X week later the steamer Caracas lay helpless for more than so hours, with the cap tain strapped on the bridge and the passengers locked In the dining. room below.
 Last Sunday l saw people boarding up their windows, and during the night previous the fire department of San Juan was on duty on the streets from fear that the. tornado prephesied might coma and cause eontiagralion However, as good luck would have it, the stofm did not touch tue Island, hut passed hy about fifty miles away. II may be remembered that some eight years ago destructive hurricane laid waste the cotiecsprodaelng district, from which Il has not recovered to this day. No wonder that Porte Rico dreads tho coming of hurricane.
 Bus the Blanche Kellogg Institute is so firmly built that we would have no fear of any such visitation If il should come to us. The more sec. the moro am l convinced of this Institutes pos abilities in the future. and of the in- fiuence that 1t k to exert over the isl- and.
 Since coming have contracted for extensive grading and improving of the grounds, which is now In progress. As | write, the chandeliers for electric lighting of the chapel are being put In. There are still many things to be dc desifed but We are getting into com fottable shape for the opening of the term, which Is soon to come. Many applications are being received, which indicate that there is 10 be a full atten, dance. So when this reaches Putnam you may think of the school as In full running order Quite number of the pupils are from "the states, their fa- miles belonging to lhe quite large Ame- rican colony here.
 have had some opportunity to stu. dy conditions among the Porto Rican people. They are watching the pro gress of the political campaign In ssthe States with interest. Many think oi il especially in it's possible bearing OH the destiny of their island, as k natu. ral. Some are disposed to criticiso the present administration for some things in the present government of the isl and and turn to MT. Bryan in the hope that his election mights improve thciI condition. Of the two local political parties the Unionists have the lcasl sympathy with things American whil. the Republicans hope for American cit izenship and ultimate statehood. Every one in position to know speaks of the great improvement since tho American occupancy. Real estate hns greatly increased in value wages are higher, and the opportunity for educa ton Is being extended rapidly. IL l. interesting to note the desire of tn, better class for education, especially the wish 10 finish their education In sstbe SGates.' Quite number go eve " year to our Northern institutions. A few years will make greater changes than yethaye been seen.
 l regard this place as healthful as any part of New England. We came in the warmest month of the year and have not been disposed to exert our. selves greatly as yet. But in short time we expect the Ideal weather ol which we have heard, which will con- tinue while the snow Is being blown in heaps upon the New England hills. It has been pleasure to receive the PATRIOT, which has been % kindly sent to us, and which keeps us posted In reference to people and events. Blanche Kellogg Institute, sautufce, Porto Rlco, Oct. 3. le0s.
 9-e.-~e C1~d.