“Porto Rico carries on an extensive commerce, chiefly with Spain, the United States, Cuba, Germany, Great Britain, and France.  In 1895 the volume of its trade was one-half greater than that of the larger British colony—­Jamaica.  The United States ranks second in amount of trade with the island.  During the four years from 1893-96 Spain’s trade with the colony averaged $11,402,888 annually, and the United States, $5,028,544.  The total value of Porto Rican exports for 1896 was $18,341,430, and of imports, $18,282,690, making a total of $36,624,120, which was an excess over any previous year.  The exports consist almost entirely of agricultural products.  In 1895 coffee comprised about sixty per cent, and sugar about twenty-eight per cent, of their value; leaf tobacco, molasses, and honey came next.  Maize, hides, fruits, nuts, and distilled spirits are also sent out in considerable quantities.  Over one-half of the coffee exported goes to Spain and Cuba, as does most of the tobacco, which is said to be used in making the finest Havana cigars; the sugar and molasses are, for the most part, sent to the United States.  Among imports, manufactured articles do not greatly exceed agricultural.  Rice, fish, meat and lard, flour, and manufactured tobacco are the principal ones.  Customs duties furnish about two-thirds of the Porto Rican revenue, which has for several years yielded greater returns to Spain than that of Cuba.

“The climate of Porto Rico is considered the healthiest in the Antilles.  The heat is considerably less than at Santiago de Cuba, a degree and a half farther north.  The thermometer seldom goes above 90 degrees.  Pure water is readily obtained in most of the island.  Yellow fever seldom occurs, and never away from the coast.  The rainy season begins the first of June and ends the last of December, but the heavy downpours do not come on until about August 1st.

“In density of population also this island ranks first among the West Indies, having half as many inhabitants as Cuba, more than eleven times as large.  Of its 807,000 people, 326,000 are colored and many of the others of mixed blood.  They differ little from other Spanish-Americans, being fond of ease, courteous, and hospitable, and, as in other Spanish countries, the common people are illiterate, public education having been grievously neglected.  The natives are the agriculturists of the country, and are a majority in the interior, while the Spaniards, who control business and commerce, are found mainly in the towns and cities.

“The numerous good harbors have naturally dotted the seaboard with cities and towns of greater or less commercial importance.  San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Aguadilla, Arecibo and Fajardo all carry on extensive trade.  Intercourse between coast towns is readily had by water, but is to be facilitated by a railroad around the island, of which 137 miles have been built and 170 miles more projected.  The public highways