Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-05-26 | Page 6 | The Azores

il '.'.as ihre 'hat the Ameriran priva-I priva-I N'or (M-i.eral Arms'.- held the British Brit-ish fleet, thus preventing the English ship:-: from going through to the I'nited States. The islands are vulcanic, and i'ieo, a mountain of 7400 feet, still emits hot vapor, though it has not been active in many years. Most of the building ! material used in the houses, walls and j streets is lava rock. THE AZORES. .-The group of islands known as the Aznrcs has come into worldwide prominence prom-inence by reason of its selection as tUev',' half-way point" in the flights of tlte United States navy airships in their attempts to reach Europe. During the war. the Azores also wero quite often m.oat.inned, but their chief claim to pltMiuity in the daily press lies in their . convenient location for aviation purpose. pur-pose. . " TTlic Azores wore discovered by tho IVrtoguosp in 1431. Their name is de-riod de-riod from a certain hawk, the acore, which is exceedingly numerous there-:!(ouii. there-:!(ouii. and marine history says it was the sight of these birds which first led . tU jailors to search out tho islands. -'.There are nine islands in the archi-relii:o, archi-relii:o, the largest of which is St. Mitlin'els and the smallest Corvo. Tho population of the group is about 300,-C'Onr 300,-C'Onr whom about 120,000 live on St. Michaels. I'onta Delgada is the capital oi the islands. It is situated on St. Micl'.HVls and has some IS. 000 inhabitants.' inhab-itants.' It is a well-built and fortified town, and has a cathedral, several mon-asUries, mon-asUries, a convent, an observatory, and a trnde of considerable importance. The chief 'exports are grain and oranges anl. -other fruits. Its harbor is pro-t-vt.cd by a breakwater, one mile long, woT'ir-on which was begun in 1S61. ,,fIoria. where the XC-.1 landed, is a iaport town of about S000 souls. It is the capital of Fayal. an Ulami of sixty square miles. The- American government is repre-sl repre-sl WV'0 hv Consul A. T. Ilaeberle and ii'o Consul J. W. White. Jr., both of hj. I.ouis. There are many naturalized .-Emerieans on the islands. The Azores regarded by Portugal rather as a pXovLr.ee than a colony, and the Lisbon ;vcrnmont sends out governors to administer ad-minister their affairs. Jit is said that the sight of the Azores leI Christopher Columbus to the firm ljl:T that there was land still farther "'st. and in that, way the archipelago i5 s. in .--01110 degree at lest, responsi-!'' responsi-!'' for the discovery of America, t f ifu red in the war of 1S12. since