There is much more in Mr. Waldron’s summary of the vast addition that has been made to our resources, by the occupation and possession of the islands that have recently been gathered under our wings by the force of our arms.  It is enough to know that with the tropical islands we have gained, we have in our hands the potentialities, the luxuries, the boundless resources including, as we may, and must, Alaska, of all the zones of the great globe that we inhabit in such ample measure.

The following notes were compiled for the information of the army, and embody all reliable information available.

The notes were intended to supplement the military map of Porto Rico.  The following books and works were consulted and matter from them freely used in the preparation of the notes:  Guia Geografico Militar de Espana y Provincias Ultramarinas, 1879; Espana, sus Monumentos y Artes, su Naturaleza e Historia, 1887; Compendio de Geografia Militar de Espana y Portugal, 1882; Anuario de Comercio de Espana, 1896; Anuario Militar de Espana, 1898; Reclus, Nouvelle Geographic Universelle, 1891; Advance Sheets American Consular Reports, 1898; An Account of the Present State of the Island of Porto Rico, 1834; The Statesman’s Year Book, 1898.

Situation.—­Porto Rico is situated in the Torrid Zone, in the easternmost part of the Antilles, between latitude 17 deg. 54 min. and 18 deg. 30 min. 40 sec.  N. and longitude 61 deg. 54 min. 26 sec. and 63 deg. 32 min. 32 sec.  W. of Madrid.  It is bounded on the north by the Atlantic, on the east and south by the sea of the Antilles, and on the west by the Mona Channel.

Size.—­The island of Porto Rico, the fourth in size of the Antilles, has, according to a recent report of the British consul (1897), an extent of about 3,668 square miles—­35 miles broad and 95 miles long.  It is of an oblong form., extending from east to west.

Population.—­Porto Rico is the first among the Antilles in density of population and in prosperity.  The Statesman’s Year Book, 1898, gives the population (1887) at 813,937, of which over 300,000 are negroes, this being one of the few countries of tropical America where the number of whites exceeds that of other races.  The whites and colored, however, are all striving in the same movement of civilization, and are gradually becoming more alike in ideas and manners.  Among the white population the number of males exceeds the number of females, which is the contrary of all European countries.  This is partly explained by the fact that the immigrants are mostly males.  On an average the births exceed the deaths by double.  The eastern portion of the island is less populous than the western.

Soil.—­The ground is very fertile, being suitable for the cultivation of cane, coffee, rice, and other products raised in Cuba, which island Porto Rico resembles in richness and fertility.

Climate.—­The climate is hot and moist, the medium temperature reaching 104 degs.  F. Constant rains and winds from the east cool the heavy atmosphere of the low regions.  On the heights of the Central Cordillera the temperature is healthy and agreeable.