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PORTO RICO,OUR NEWEST JEWEL
The True “Pearl of the Antilles”—Striking Feat
ures of This Rich Possession.
Some of the interesting thing* * about
Porto Rioo ere not generally known.
In lice it ranks only as the fourth of
the Greater Antilles, but in point of
density of population and general
prosperity it takes the first plaoe. It
is one of the few countries in tropioal
America where the whites ontnumber
the other races. The best harbor in
the island is Guanica, the most western
port on the south coast. Yellow fever
never scourges Porto Rico as it does
parts of Cuba, and although most of
it is low-lying, and may be said to be
rery hilly rather than mountainous,
it is one of the most healthful of tropi
cal islands.
Though the harbor of Guanine,
where our troops landed, is tho best
in the island, it is not visitod by much
shipping. The district immediately
•round it is low and swampy, and,
unless improvements have boeu made
within the past two or throe years,
the roads are not equal in quality to
the innin roads marked on tho map.
Guanica is the outlet for the produce
of Han German, Salmon Grade, and to
to some extent of Ynuco, which is on
the railroad. Porto Rican "robels”
havo been particularly numerous in
the wostern and southwestern dis
tricts, and many thousands of people
there weloomod the day of Genoral
Miles's coming as the greatost in their
lives.
The largest oity and tho commeroinl
capital of the island is Potiao, which
lies three miles north of the port of
Ponce, on a rich plain surroundod by
gardens and plantations. Thero nre
hot springs in the neighborhood,
whiob nro highly appreoiatod by in
valids. Along the playa or beach in
front of tho port are extensivo depots,
in which the produce of tho iutorior,
forwarded through Pouco, the trading
centre, is stored for shipmont. At
the last enumeration Pouco had n
population of 87,545, whilo Han Juan,
the onpitnl on the north coast, had
only 28,414 inhabitants. Police has a
number of flue buildings, among which
A MARKET SCENE OCTSIDH THE WALLS
OP HAN JEAN.
are tho Town Hall, tho thontro, two
churohos, tho Charity and tho Wom
en’s Asylums, tho barracks, tho Oulmti
House, and tho market. Thu road bo-
tweou tho city and tho seaside is a
beautiful promeuaih>.
The main highway of central Porto
Rioo runs from Ponce to Han Juan in
• northeasterly course through Juana
Diaz, Coamo and Aibouito, where it
goes almost eastward to Cayoy, thero
to talco a winding course to tho north
as fnr as Caguns, whore it turns west
to Agnas Bueuas, and then goes de
cidedly north to Han Juan through
Guaynabo aud Rio Piodras, making
in all n distanoe of eighty-flvo miles.
Tho distanoe from Ponce to Han Juan
inn straight lino is only forty-tlvomilos.
Tho eastern port of tho island is Iobs
densoly pooplod than the wostern,
and as the onst coast is on tho wind
ward side and oilers less protection
for shipping it is not so conveniently
situated for trade. Horo all tho
larger towns of the onst lio inland, or
at lenst somo distnuue from tho coast.
Those towns are in tho hilly region
amid rich oofieo aud oxtensivo graz
ing lnnds.
The harbor of Han June, the capi
tal, is deep enough to ndmit large
vessels, but its channel commuuicat-
Over 800,000 people live in Porto
Rico, and about two-thirds of them
are whits. Cuba is thirteen times
larger than Porto Rico, and its popu
lation was not double that of the
smaller island oven before Weylor ex
terminated a third of the native
Cubans. Besides Ponce and Han
Juan, the largest towns on the island
are Areoibo (30,000 inhabitants),
Utuado (81,000), Mayagnez (28,000),
Han Germhn (20,000), Yauco (25,000),
did, they could not afford to, as their
wages ore very small.
Life at Han Juan and tho other prin
cipal towns is vory monotonous, the
only amusements being retreta or con
cert by the military bands twice a week
and theatrical performances three or
four evenings a week, matinees being
given very seldom. The theatres are
owned by the oities and rented to Eu
ropean companies travelling through
the island at so much an evening.
San Juan, built on a small island
connected with the mainland by the
Han Antonio bridge, is quite a beauti
ful oity, with straight but narrow
streets and many fiuo buildings. It
has several public institutions and col
leges, several oburohes and saven small
parks, among them the Plazueln de
Hantiago, with a very good statue of
Colnmbus. Tho city is lighted by gas
supplied bjr an English company and
by eleotrioity supplied by a local cor
poration. There are eleven newspapers
of all kinds, the principal osie being
La Gorrespondencia, a daily political
paper, with a circulation of about 7000
CORNElt OF TIIE PLAZA DE LAS DELICIAS, IN PONCE, POHTO KICO,
HEADQUAHTEIIS OF GENE11AL MILES'S ARMY.
Juana Diaz (21,000), and thero nre
about teh other towns with a popula
tion of 15,000 or over.
In the past fifty years nbont half
tho population has gravitatod to and
around tho towns, particularly those
of the soaboard. They livo in com
fortable houses and many of thorn
have the means to purchase all the
wares of the civilized world. Porto
Rico abounds in sugar, oofieo, tobacco,
honoy and wax, which have oifriohed
tho island, and many of the poople nre
woll-to-do. A very largo part of tho
island’s trade has boon carried on
with the United Htatos, whose corn,
flour, Balt moat, fish and lumber are
imported in roturn for sugnr, molasses
nnd colTue. Tho natives have little
taste for son faring and most of their
foreign trado is carried in foreign bot
toms.
Porto Rioo is rich in natural bless
ings, nnd for n tropical region is vory
healthful. For soma inscrutable rea
son Hpnin bus givon tho iuliabitnnts
fnr bottor treatment than bIio line the
nativos of Cuba. She has donlt with
tho island us though it wore a Spanish
provinoo instead of merely a colony to
bo bled by Spanish ofiloials for tho en
richment of thomselvos and tho mothor
country. In fact, tho island has boen
politically a provinoe of Hpnin for over
twenty years. Spain lias had little to
do dirootly with iutornal improve
ments iu the islnnd, hut hIio has so far
kept her heavy hand off tho people
that thoro was nn opportunity for tho
spirit of enterprise to develop. The
result la that Porto Rico lins about 150
miles of railroad, and ns lunch more
undor construction; aud n systom of
wagon ronds leading to all the impor
tant trading centres that surpass any
thing of the sort seen in most parts of
Spain horself. Tho stretolie^of rail
road parallel with tho coast aro long
links in the lino that is to make the en
tire circuit of tho island, with short
branches to nil the seaports and the
inland markets.
The mode of life is very similar to
that of the European countries except
for somo slight differences duo to the
hot olimate. Fashions for men nnd
womon alike are introduced from
Spain, aud especially from Paris and
Loudon. The woll to do iu tho prin
cipal towns drcsB just like people in
European countries, inenwenriug wool
en olothes all the year round. Tho
CHARACTERISTIC SCENE ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY OF CENTRAL PORTO BICO
WHICH RUNS FROM PONCE TO SAN JUAN.
ing with the sea is winding and diffi
cult and can be navigated safely only
with the aid of a pilot.
One of the lending seaports of the
island is Aguadilla on the west coast,
which has the advantage of a spacious
bay sheltered from the trade winds.
Here are shipped the Bngar and coffee
of the northwest part of the island.
There are seven or eight ports of les
ser importance.
young women dress very elaborate
ly, and all wear hats, the Hpanish
mantilla being worn only by elderly
women. In the small towns men dress
after the fashion of the cities, but wear
linen fabrics, as woolen clothes are
very uncomfortable, are considered a
luxury, and are worn on holy days and
Suudays only. Laborers and farm
hands do not wear coats or shoes.
They do not care to do so, and, if they
copies, which is equal to that of the
other pnpors combined. Thore is a
local telephone company, but no water
exoopt that of the oisturns. A reser
voir was projected and the plau was
approved by the Government somo
fifty years ngo, but owing to the mau-
aua system it liaB not been finished
yet.
Tho history of the Spanish adminis
tration iu tho island is one of cruelty
and corruption. Tho Spaniards bogan
by exterminating the native Indian
A TOIITO BICAN DAMSEL.
population, which some historians
plaoe as large as 500,000, in less than
a coutury. Every brnuoli of the ad
ministration of tho islnnd hns been
conducted under a system of abrup
tion, the law was constantly violated
by tho Spaniards and the natives were
deprived of their rights. At elections
tho Spanish or Conservative party al
ways won, notwithstanding the /fact
thnt it was iu a large minority.
Tho liberty of tho press was un
known. Articles printed iu the Mad
rid or other Spanish pnpors attacking
tho Government could not bo repro
duced by any Porto Rioau paper with
out tho editors being punished, even
if tho artiolo in question hail not been
considered ground for prosocution by
the authorities in Spain.
No more than nineteen porsons were
allowed to meet in any place on the
island without special permission of
tho Government, and a representative
of tho Mnvor of tho town hnd to at-
toud meetings to see thnt nothing wns
done or said against "the integrity of
the nation.”
Licensos were required for every
thing, even for a dancing party.
These aro somo of tho things which
caused tho people at Ponce to cheer
the Amoricaus who took possession of
tho town.
Chief among tho staple products is
coflee. The average yearly export
from 181)2 to 1890 was 49,229,000
pounds, valued at $10,872,000. The
area of production can be doubled.
It grows almost without care.
Next to coffee comes sugar. Mo
lasses, too, has boen exported in large
quantities nnd the product could be
increased. ,
Cotton has been almost at a stand
still for the same reasons as in Cuba
—because of the heavy taxes imposed
by Spain. Besides, coffee is more
profitable and demands loss care. The
tobncco yield is large. Botween 1892
and 189(1 the average yenrly exports
were 3,534,000 pounds, with a value of
$042,000. Annatto, mace, cocoa,
ginger, rice and oranges are also cul
tivated.
Under the Spanish rule the vast
forests were never turned to profit.
Hardwood is abundant. Fancy cabi
net woods and beautiful grained woods
resemblifig marble are among the
prodaots almost entirely Porto Rico’s
own. Like Cuba, the island has ex
tensivo mines and quarries. The
principal deposits are iron, gold, cop
per, zino, coal and salt. Balt is tho
only one worked to any extent.
Again, as in Cuba, there are
scarcely any railways, and the few are
short and disconnected. The wagon
ways are good, outside the cities as
well as in them. Water works are
needed everywhere, and the drainage
in all the cities except Ponce is bad.
In Ponce only are there undergronud
sewers. These flow into the harbor,
whose outlet should bo widened, not
only to allow the escape of the drain
age, but to afford easier and less per
ilous access.
GERMANY’S "WOMAN Blfk/IARCK."
Counters Waldenee, nn American Girl,
lies • Remarkable Influence With
Emperor William.
As a little girl Mary Esther Lea
played among the flour battels and
currant boxe4 of her father’s grocery
store on Front Btreet in New York
City. But that was many years ago.
Now the little girl is a white haired
and regal lady, with the title of
princess. More than that, she it is
who is the power behiud the German
throne, who is known as the "female
Bismarck" and who, it is believed,
brought about the Kaiser’s marriage.
Her title is Prinoess von Noer, and
she is a powerful influence in the
great palace at Berlin,
Her history is most Interesting and
nnnahal. Her father left Conneoticnt
in 1810 and began a small grocery busi
ness in New York City. Though he
was financially successful, when he
died, in 1858, he left bnt a very small
fortune to his family, Mrs. Lea, un
able to afford the expensive living in
Now York, bundlod np her little fam
ily and went to Htutgart. Here the
eldest daughter married Baron von
Waecbter. He soon became Ambas
sador from Wurtenborg to Paris, and
in due course of time Mrs. Lea and
her other daughters found themselves
in the social set of the great French
capital. Other important marriages
came about. Mary Esther, the
youngest girl, fonnd n fast and affec
tionate friend in Princess Louise of
Hohleswig-Holstein, Through her she
formed the acquaintance of the father
of the princess, an old widower, who
immediately fell desperately in love
with the beautiful and bright little
American girl. To compensate for
marrying tho daughter of a grocer the
Prince gave up his title and aocepted
the simpler designation of Count von
Noer, which was given to him by the
Austrian Emperor. The groom wns
sixty-fonr years old, the bride twenty-
four, Six months later the venerable
husband died nnd his rich and youth
ful widow settled down in Vienna.
There sho Won the esteem of the
Austrian Emperor, and he created her
Prinoess of Noer in her own right.
A few years after being made a
princess the ono time daughter of a
grooer mot Count von Waldorsee. A
marriage betweon them took plaoe in
1860. These two brilliant and taetfnt
people wont to Borlin, and in a few
months the coantess was a social
power.
Her particular ambition was to
marry her grand nioco by her first
marriage, Prinoess Augusta Victoria
of Soliloswig-Holstein, to Prince Will
iam of Prussia, the prosent Emperor
of Germany. Tho mother of the
prince raised great objeetions, but the
Princess von Noer was persistent nnd
tactful nnd planning, and the wedding
was celebrated, Priuce William aud
his brido were both devoted to tho
ono who helped along tho rough way
of their oourtship, nnd their gratitude
has been nnoeasing. When Prinoess
Augusta Victoria became Empress
she was moro than ever under the
OBJECT OF PANDO’S VISIT.
sway of her American aunt. Princess
von Noer’s present desire is to bring
about the most cordial relationship
between the country of her birth and
her adopted land. Her influence over
the Kaiser is as strong as in tho days
when she made opportunities for him
to meet his pretty little German
sweetheart.
A Scheme to Colonise Spanish Soldiers
In Mexico.
A special dispatch from City of Mex
ico states that the visit there of Gen
eral Pando, second in command of the
Hpanish forces in Cuba, has attracted
muoh attention among the officials of
t^e Mexican government and the peo
ple interested in the Spanish-American
conflict.
The utmost secrecy in which every
thing was done, and the endeavors
made to keep his presence unknown to
newspapers, aroused the ouriosity and
suspicion that he was on a secret mis
sion connected with the proposed riot
in Havaua when the American troops
enter the city.
Since his departure it leaked out,
through a prominent Spaniard who
had a long interview with General
Pando, that his visit was for an entire
ly different purpose. He oame on the
invitation of the members of the Span
ish colony to investigate a scheme for
colonizing a large part of the Spanish
troops, now in Cubs, on the great
tracts of land in Mexico owned by
Spaniards, part of these lands located
on the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and
along the gulf of, Mexico in the vicin
ity of Tampico.
The proposition was to bring at
least 50,000 men and colonize them.
The Spanish soldiers have been told
wliat waits them when they retnrn to
Spain withont money or homes. They
will suffer greatly. They are accnstom-
od to a tropical country, and would
make ideal colonists. The members
of the Spanish colony who aro inter
ested would furnish money for trans
portation nnd support the plan.
It wonhl meet the favor of the
Hpanish government, as the question
of returning tho soldiers nnd the
probabilities of riot and overthrow of
tho government has been considered.
General Pando lmd a number of
conferences with prominent Spaniards,
but tile exact result of the conferences
ia not known.
The representative Mexicans were
also seen, and it is understood that tho
matter received the attention of Presi
dent Dinz. It is believed the scheme
wns favorably received, as Moxieo
greatly needs a good class of colouists.
Forty thousand able mon would greatly
build up sections where now there nre
few poople.
Home fear was expressed beenuso so
many soldiers might be need in start
ing au insurrection in this country,
but very few government bfllcials hold
this view. The Diaz government is
too Htrong, aud besides tlio Spaniards
would in all probability be scattered
all over tho country, and unable to
mass together in sufficient numbers to
cause serious trouble.
DEWEY AND MERRITT
U«o C»1»lo In Heturninir Thanks to Fret*
idont McKinley.
Tho following dispatches from Ad
miral Dewey nnd General Merritt wero
made public Tuesday nt the white
honse.
“President Melvin ley, Washington—
On belinlf of tho squadron nud myself
I thank you most heartily for the con
gratulations aud thnnks you wero
pleased to express. It will always be
a source of pride to us nil to have re
ceived such commendation. Your ca
ble will bo published on board the
shipB of the squndrbn tomorrow.
"Geoboe Dewey.”
The one frdm General Merritt rend:
“To the President, Washington—
For my troops and mysolf accept my
sincere acknowledgment for your gen
erous praise of the success of our cam
paign. America may well be proud of
the troops. Merritt.”
BIDS FOR TORPKBO BOATS
Opened nt tho Navy Department—Twen
ty -Eight Called For.
Tho navy department opened bids
at noon Tuesday for sixteen torpedo
boat destroyers and twelve torpedo
bonts to cost iu the aggregate not ex
ceeding $0,900,000, as provided in tho
Inst navnl appropriation not. These
twenty-eight destroyers and torpedo
boats constitute the largest single ad
dition ever mnde to the navy. The
destroyers nre to be completed within
eighteen months and the torpedo boats
within twelve months.
Representatives of all the great ship
building firms were present. Some of
the department officials thought it
would take two weeks to get the long
list of bids fully tabulated.
Trial, of Field Manila!..
The London Naval nnd Military
Record sayB that a new rule was re
cently framed for the guidance of field
marshals. It was, with other regula
tions, put into type, and appeared in
proof as follows;
“1972 Field Marshals—Field Mar
shals will wear buckskin pantaloons,
jaok boots nnd gilt spurs only, at
drawing-rooms, and on all suoh occa
sions.”
It is almost unnecessary to add that
as soon as attention was called to the
fact that in such a meagre costnme
field marshals would create some sen
sation at a drawing-room the order
was varied.
POWDER MILL BLOWN CP.
Two Men Are Killed Outright nnd a Num
her of Others Injured.
Monday morning nn explosion oc
curred at the plant of the Chatta
nooga Powder Co., nt Ooltewah.Tenn.,
eighteen miles above Chattanooga,kill
ing two men and injuring, slightly, a
number of others.
The enuse of the explosion is not
known and probably will never be as
certained.
I The building in which the explosion
occurred caught fire and burned to the
ground. The loss will be about $6,000,
mainly on the building and machinery,
as but little powder was on hand.
OFF FOR HONOLULU.
Officer, and Men of the New Fork Real-
inent Leave Sun Francisco.
Three hundred and twenty-five offi
cers and men of the New York regi
ment sailed from San Francisco Friday
on the steamship Alliance for Hono
lulu. When the Scnndia and Arizona
sail they will have on board in addi
tion to their complement of re-en
forcements for General Merritt, a mil
lion ronnds of ammunition for small
arms.
What the Old Man Called It.
“This is the parlor, eh?" tentativel j
remarked the real estate agent who
was looking over the house. “Yes,”
replied old man Kidder; "but I usually
call it the courtroom. I’ve got seven
daughters, yon know.”—Harper’s Ba
zaar.
The Biggest Bicycle In the World.
A German hns Just completed n bicycle that
has one wheel nine feet in diameter. Two
people ride It—one on each aide of the monster
wheel. It runs as easily as a smaller bicrclo
because of Its scientific construction. The
scientific formula of Hostetter'a Stomach Bit-
tors Is the reason of Its great virtues In
making the weak strong, nnd lu curing most
of the every-day ailments of tnen and women.
If your hoaltb Is poor, try a bottle.
Dnl Tobacco Spit and (tasks Yosr YJfb Awaj #
To quit tobacco easily and forever, be mag>
netlo. full of life, nerve and vigor, take No*To»
Bac, tbe wonder worker, that makes weak men
strong. All druggists, 60c or f 1. Cure guaran
teed. Booklet and sample free. Address
Sterling Remedy Co, Chicago or Hew York.
A Wisconsin woman patented an improved
Ironing board, etc., which i* hinged at ono end
to a vertical post attached to a board At the
other, and attached to brnco at lower board, so
upper board can be rahed to insert garment.
To Cure a Cold In One Dny.
Take Laxative Ilromo Quinine Tablets. All
Druggists refund money if itfailstocure. 36c.
The heat has been so great in Melbourne*
Australia, lately that the asphalt streets havo
been melted and completely ruined, and
cycling has boen out of the question.
Plan's Cure for Consumption is nn A No. 1
Asthma medicine.—W.R.Williams,Antiooh*
Ills., April 11, 189*.
Educate Your Bowels With Cnscnrets.
Candy Cathartic, cure constipation forever.
10c,‘<15c. IfC. C. C. fail, druggists refund money.
Nervous People
Aro groat sufferers and they deserve sym
pathy rather than censure. Their blood
is poor and thin and their nerves are con
sequently weak. Suoh poople And relief
nnd oure in Hood's Sarsaparilla because it
purifies and enriches the blood aud given
It power to feod, strengthen nnd sustain
the nerves. If you nre nervous and oan-
not sleep, take Hood’s Hnrsnparilln and
realize its nerve strengthening power.
Hood’s Sarsaparilla
Is America’s Greatest Me<llcluc. $1; six for $5-
Hood’s Pills euro all liver tils, ttcouts.
An Amusing Incident.
An amusing incident occurred In an
A., B. & C. car the other afternoon.
Four young couples, evidently out for
an enjoyable dny, were seated on one
side of the ear having a decidedly
good time. Whilo their merriment
■was nt Its height a seven-year-old boy
across the aisle suddenly lcaued for
ward.
"Say, mister,” lie called to one of the
young men, “why don’t yon kiss your
girl?”
Tho young man looked up In sur
prise, ntttl tho girl—a pretty girl, too—
blushed.
“Tnlningp. Tnlmngc.” said the boy’s
fnther, “what do yon moan by such
talk ?”
The boy looked at his fattier In sur
prised disgust.
“Whnt’s the matter with you, dad?”
ho cried. "You told me you'd do It If
you was him!"
And the father found file landscape
decidedly Interesting until the young
people left the car.
STORIES OF RELIEF.
Two Letters to Mrs. Pinkham.
Mrs. John Williams, English town,
N. J., writes:
“ Dear Mrs. Pinkham:—I cannot be
gin to tell you how 1 suffered before
takingyour remedies. I was so weak
that I could hardly wnlk across tho floor
without falling. I had womb trouble
and such a bearing-down feeling ; also
suffered with my buck and limbs, pain
in womb, inflammation of the bladder,
piles and indigestion. Before I had
taken one bottle of Lydia E. l'inkham'a
Vegetable Compound I felt a great deal
better, and after taking two and one-
half bottles and half a box of your
Liver Pills I was cured. If more would
take your medicine they Would Dot
have to suffer so much.’’
Mrs. Joseph Peterson, 513 East St.,
Warren, Pa., writes:
"Dear Mrs. Pinkham:—I have suf
fered with womb trouble over fifteen
years. I had inflammation, enlarge
ment and displacement of the womb,
I had the backache constantly, also
headache, and was so dizzy. I had
heart trouble, it seemed as though my
heart was in my throat nt times chok
ing me. I could not walk around and
I could not lie down, for then my heart
would beat so fast I would feel as
though I was smothering. I had to
sit up in bed nights in order to breathe.
I was so weak I conld not do any
thing.
“I have now taken several bot
tles of Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable
Compound, and used three pack
ages of Sanative Wash, and can say
I am perfectly cured. I do not think
I could have lived long if Sirs. Pink-
ham’s medicine had not helped me.”
Massey’s
Colnmbaas Gt<
Jacksonville, Fin*
Wo pay student's railroad fare, and guarantee
lituatlooR. Write at onoe for catalogue No, ▲
VIRGINIA BCfUNKg* COLI Rr
Commercial. Shorthand Tt newrititw -
“pasasi
President,"Box Rlehn
Bogiett Military Ac dtay, °k™
Prepares for Universities Government Scl
General Ratines*. Hltuuted In tbe Blur Ural
• mentucky. A pleasant. safe home tor i
>oll term opens 6epu 8. B. A Ibert itraltl