Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1898 — TRAVEL IN PORTO RICO. [ARTICLE]

TRAVEL IN PORTO RICO.

PRIMITIVE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES IN THE QUAINT LITTLE ISLE. The Bulk of the Carrying Trade is Performed by Oxen and Natives—Men Used as Pack Animals. Although Porto Rico is the proud possessor of three distinct linns of railway, one partially encircling the Island, one running from Ponce to San Juan and the third penetrating the <nterior of the northeastern part of the island, still the bulk of the carrying trade is performed as in the days of Spain’s past greatness, by oxen and natives. It is true that some of the larger sugar plantations possess sugar cars on which to haul the ripe cut cane, but the greater portion of the work is done in the old primitive style, and the Spaniards content to let well enough alons is satisfied to wait for manana (to-morrow) before they make any im provements. As a result a strangely incongruous, yet highly picturesque, panorama of moving vehicles is sure to be the first thing that attracts and draws the attention of a visitor to the far famed pearl of the Antilles. Side by side one sees the ancient modes of transportation in vogue three centuries ago competing with the more modern methods. First, in order ;o appreciate the comparison, it is necessary to know what manner of beasts of burden are used. It is a question which are the most numerous, the small compactly built little ponies or bronchos, scarcely fifty inches in height, with their huge paniers or baskets almost if not completely hiding them from view, or the slow, cumbrous, heavily moving ox teams, whose name is legion—the latter popularly termed the “hurry-up teams” being sure to rpach their destination the next week, if not the next day. Besides these a donkey here and there completely lost to view, with his rider astride of him and his wicker baskets bobbing to and fro, a goat team or two, and last, but not least, the barouches or carriages drawn by diminutive horses two or four to a team, complete the usual assortment of conveyances. These latter have the monopoly of carrying passengers from town to town by means of relays, and deliver the mall in different parts of the island. Since the arrival of the Americans large horses have been introduced upon the scene, as well as the huge army mules, as big as three of the native horses. It may seem from the above de scriptions that Porto Rico is not blessed with very rapid traveling fa cilities and yet such is the speed of the wiry little animals used in the coach line of carriages between San Juan and Ponce that the distance of some seventy-five miles is covered in anywhere from twelve to eighteen hours over a more or less mountainous road. Then again, when these small horses are used for riding they can tire out the larger American horses and, besides this, cover a great deal more territory in a day’s travel. The railroads are small and would not compare favorably with our old narrow gauge railroads that have virtually passed out of existence in this country for the past two decades. That does not bother the natives. The railroad is a new institution with them and if the size of the engine and cars do not compensate one the two armed guardia civil in each car impress them thoroughly with a sense of the importance of the railroad.

In vivid contrast to these methods are the more primitive styles. In this country, as in no other on the American continent, men are used as pack animals for conveying goods a short distance, and to see a crowd of natives laboring in this sort of work with their overseers in charge reminds one of the task masters of ancient Egypt more than anything else. In addition to this the old-fashioned ox carts used in the country districts, not only for the transportation of goods but also the natives, drawn by oxen, remind the onlooker of the old death carts used in the-dread days of the French Revolution to take the hated royalists and finally the King and Queen to the guillotine and their last resting place, the carts resembling these old open wooden cages more than anything else. It is almost a pity that the days of the old regime in Porto Rico are already numbered, for in a short time, with the injection of a little American push and energy all the above scenes will lie a memory of the past. Already plans are being executed for the construction of electric lines, and with the completion of the unfinished railway linos all will be changed. The land of ayes (yesterday) will become the country of today, and the quaint, ’ picturesque scenes of Porto Rico as it Is and was. with the exception of the solid and substantial Spanish residences, wllh be an evanescent day dream. May the introduction of the modern Innovations allow the spirits of the departed dons to “requlescat In pace."