condition of Porto Rico than
of Cuba, but the trail of the serpent of colonial Spanish government
appears. Mr. Alfred Somamon writes in the Independent:

"The internal administration of the island disposes of a budget of
about $3,300,000, and is a woeful example of corrupt officialism. Of
this sum only about $650,000 is expended in the island, the
remainder being applied to payment of interest on public debt,
salaries of Spanish officials, army, navy, and other extra-insular
expenditures. But the whole of the revenue is collected in the island."

An article of great value by Eugene Deland, appeared in the Chatauquan
of September, on the characteristics of Porto Rico, and we present
an extract, showing its admirable distinction of accurate information
well set forth:

"The mountain slopes are covered with valuable timbers, cabinet
and dye-woods, including mahogany, walnut, lignum vitae, ebony, and
logwood, and various medicinal plants. Here, too, is the favorite
zone of the coffee tree, which thrives best one thousand feet above
sea level. The valleys and plains produce rich harvests of sugar-cane
and tobacco. The amount of sugar yielded by a given area is said to
be greater than in any other West Indian island. Rice, of the mountain
variety and grown without flooding, nourishes almost any place and is
a staple food of the laboring classes. In addition to these products
cotton and maize are commonly cultivated, and yams, plantains, oranges,
bananas, cocoanuts, pineapples, and almost every other tropical fruit
are grown in abundance. Among indigenous plants are several noted for
their beautiful blossoms. Among these are the coccoloba, which grows
mainly along the coasts and is distinguished by its large, yard-long
purple spikes, and a talauma, with magnificent, ororous, white flowers.

"Of wild animal life Porto Rico has little. No poisonous serpents
are found, but pestiferous insects, such as tarantulas, centipedes,
scorpions, ticks, fleas, and mosquitos, supply this deficiency in a
measure. All sorts of domestic animals are raised, and the excellent
pasture-lands support large herds of cattle for export and home
consumption, and ponies, whose superiority is recognized throughout
the West Indies.

"The mineral wealth of the island is undeveloped, but traces of
gold, copper, iron, lead, and coal are found. Salt is procured in
considerable quantities from the lakes.

"Porto Rico carries on an extensive commerce, chi