Show 0 J f I PUERTO Rico PTC eDRAm A AVERc5AQY OF LJJflOhO OF PQVC I DE LEON TO f3E OBdEPVED ti I AEcflclr ran jvzir CAPITAL IZ1 Oly BUILDING OF PUIE70 RICO I Although Columbim wus the first white man to land on the little Island of Porto Rico the natives of that verdant spot In the Atlantic always regard Ponco do Leon as the greatest figure in their history Ho saw tho Island while accompanying Columbus on his second journey to tho newfound new-found America and was so greatly delighted de-lighted with It that he applied for and was granted authority to abt as Its governor This first visit of the great explorer to tho Island occurred Just 400 years ago the 12th of next August and great preparations are being made to observe the event with appropriate ceremonies for the Porto Ricans count that date as marking tho beginning begin-ning of their placo In his tOrSo tOr-So this the first of the Island colonies which the United States acquired ac-quired in the war with Spain Is to have Its celebration which will prove of International Importance and the United States as might be expected will share In the ceremonies In token of the good feeling which exists Between Uncle Sam and his ward tho government at Washington has boon asked to send a delegate as Its special representative Tho celebration will continuo through four days and there will bo exercises not only in Ponce San Juan the capital and Mayaguez but in the smaller towns and villages It Is Interesting to note that the big day In August Is only four months short of being also the tenth anniversary I anni-versary of the occupation of Porto ilteo by the United States llor 390 years tho Island had been the most productive of Spains West Indian colonies Tho errors of an administration ad-ministration that had made of Cuba a shambles and which had tho final result of driving Spain from the now world In disgrace had not marked the history of the ownership of Porto Rico Barring the fact that the crown lacked enterprise and did little to develop de-velop the wonderful resources of their country the Porto Ricans found little to complain of They worshiped the memory of their first Spanish controller though according to tradition Ponco de Leon governed with considerable vigor and never permitted any false Idea of the rights of the natives to Interfere with what he thought the proper action far either the benefit of his sovereign or himself But Ponce was a romantic figure He left his Imprint on the entire extreme ex-treme southern section and outlying districts of the United States His name conveyed his birthplace He was literally Ponco do Leon for It was in a town of the latter name that ho was born In 1460 Of noble birth he entered the military service of Ferdinand and Isabella and speedily speed-ily distinguished himself his most notable prodigies of valor having been performed against the Moors When tho ending of that long conflict put the throne of Spain in a position to entertain the plans of tho Genoese dreamer Columbus and finance his expedition In search of jho short route to India Ponce would gladly have boon a member of tho expedition for It was of the adventurous nature to appeal strongly to him but unfortunately tho king had other work for him so that the gallant De Leon was not then able to embark under Columbus As governor of the eastern province of Hlspanolla he had gained considerable consid-erable knowledge of administration and when on Columbus second trip his enchanted eyes saw the beauties of Porto Rico and he expressed the desire that ho might live there forever for-ever as supreme controller of the island Is-land for the good of his king and country the wish was speedily granted Ponco took up his residence near the town that now bears his name For seven years he remained there a despotic but at tho same time a progressive ruler Stories of gallantry of Incidents In which he figured aro still told stories of beautiful Spanish and native ladles who gave their hearts to tho distinguished explorer I knight and administrator The aggressions of ago alone gave woo to the ruler He loved life tho world women song Tho only thought that tormented him was that coming years would end his gay life Some wanderer told tho story of a magic fountain on the mainland on the upper part of tho peninsula that now marks the southeastern extremity of Unclo Sams bounds Ponce de Leon determined to go and seek out this magic water hereto here-to bathe so that he could laugh at the passing of years there to remain ever young It was In March 1512 that n gay procession moved out of the Island Ponco sailed for Florida Ho landed near what Is now tho mecca for the nations wealth and fashion In winter I win-ter St Augustine Tho flowoicovered land looked BO much like the place of t I his dreams that ho kissed tho ground I In the Joy of having found tho object of hit quest But the joy of It soon turned to ashes Tho ruler of Porto Rico had discovered a garden spot but the fountain of youth existed only In his dreams and six years afterward he died at tho age of Gl Porto Rico subsequently had a sort of happygolucky existence Tho peacefulness of tho people and their Industry remarkable for dwellers in a tropical country made them always willing enough to sufficiently develop their country to turn over to the crown enough Income to make It pay Thirtyfive miles broad and 90 long tho island Is nothing extensive but Its area of 3668 square miles Is marvelously marvel-ously productive Tho population at the last census showed 953234 Inhabitants but tho American occupation the liberal treatment treat-ment nccorMed tho settlers and tho boom given to business has had the effect of drawing an Increasing number num-ber of residents nnd It Is probable that at tho time of tho celebration In August Porto Rico will bo a nation of 1250000 which Is far from being Insignificant In-significant when the meager population popula-tion of some of our western states Is taken Into account For four centuries Porto Rico has been a supply point for tobacco coffee sugar and honey Tho Imports from the United States are now averaging about 12000000 annually and the exports ex-ports are about 10000000 Tho cable system of the Island has been extended and now there Is connection con-nection with Europe America and tho other Islands of the Antilles rho conduct of the country by tho United States In the last ten years has been wonderfully successful It Is based on tho cessation of military rule the abolition of customs between tho two countries and n willingness to help the Industries of the Porto Ricans by all possible means When the terrible hurricane of 1899 swept over the country and besides taking many lives left nearly 100000 persons homeless It was prompt action on the part of Washington that prevented untold desolation and misery In addition to private charity which was extended from this country In liberal lib-eral measure the United States government gov-ernment expended about 400000 to stop the misery and so great was tho I gratitude of the people for a kind of help they novor could havo had from Impoverished Madrid that any lingering linger-ing feeling of regret at the severing of ancient ties was utterly forgotten At the first general election held a year later the policy of President McKinley Mc-Kinley was overwhelmingly Indorsed and the relations have since been maintained main-tained on a basis of harmony Uncle Sam will do well to bo on hand to help his 400yearold Infant I celebrate |