t a lack
of proper sanitary measures is responsible for much of the illness.
Even the most to be dreaded of these diseases, yellow fever, could in
all probability be rooted out if proper precautions were taken and every
available means employed to prevent its recurrence. As it is, yellow
fever never scourges Porto Rico as it does parts of Cuba.

In the winter and early spring Porto Rico is less subject than Cuba to
those chilling winds that blow from the freezing anticyclones moving
east from the American coast toward Bermuda. Under American auspices and
enlightened systems of sanitation, there will doubtless spring up a
number of attractive winter resorts, which will prove formidable rivals
to those of Florida, especially if, as is not unlikely, San Juan Bay
becomes the headquarters of the North Atlantic naval station from
November until April.

In this regard, the manager of a prominent life insurance company has
spoken as follows:

"Let me raise my voice in prophecy and then wait and see if events do
not bear me out. I want to prophesy right now that five years from date
that island will be a great popular winter resort. No one can appreciate
its natural attractions unless he has been there, and when to them have
been added a few good American hotels it is bound to become a popular
resort.

"I was in Porto Rico several years ago, and I then expressed surprise
that it was not boomed as a winter resort. The Porto Ricans to whom I
spoke shrugged their shoulders and smiled. The ground is high, the
climate is fine, and the place is healthful.

"It has many attractions of its own that are lacking in the other West
Indies.

"Close on the heels of the army will march some enterprising American
hotel man, and then look out for results."

CHAPTER IV.

POPULATION AND TOWNS.

According to the latest statistics, the entire population of the island
of Porto Rico is estimated at 900,000. Of these about 140,000 are
_peninsulares_, as the natives of Spain have been termed throughout her
former colonies. From 12,000 to 14,000 are foreigners, mostly Frenchmen,
Germans, Italians, Englishmen and Americans. Other nationalities have
little or no representation. The so-called native population is composed
of two-thirds whites who are descendants of Spaniards and people of
other European countries, and one-third negroes and mulattoes or those
of mixed blood, half castes, as they are denominated.

It is valuable to note