Porto Rico
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Porto Rico. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) the most easterly of the Greater Antilles Islands of the West Indies, a territorial possession of the United States. It has an area of 3,606 square miles. The island is roughly rectangular in shape. It is about 100 miles in length. The coast line is about 360 miles long, with comparatively few important indentations. A broken irregular range of hills passes across the island from east to west, ranging in height from 2,000 to 3,000 feet. The annual range of temperature is from 90° to 50°, with an average of 76°. Rail falls almost daily, the annual precipitation being nearly 77 inches. The island is famous for the number and size of its trees, which include several species of palms. There are also several varieties of hard wood useful in building. Alt Although several metals occur on the island there is little or no mining. Gold, carbonate, and sulphide of copper have been found. No systematic survey of the mineral resources of the island has been made. The chief industry of the people is agriculture. The principal crops are sugar cane, coffee, tobacco, and fruit. Of sugar, there were in 1918 256,431 acres under cultivation, and the total production was 453,796 tons. The production in 1919 was 406,002 tons. The exports of sugar in 1919 amounted to 351,910 tons, valued at $48,132,419. The exports of leaf and scrap tobacco in 1919 were valued at $8,420,538. The coffee production decreased from 37,618,- 613 pounds in 1918 to 27,897,971 pounds in 1919. In 1918-1919 1,307 American and foreign vessels entered Porto Rico from the United States and foreign countries. The harbor of San Juan, chief port and naval station, has been improved and has an entrance of 600 yards square and 30 feet deep. There are about 1,100 miles of road on the island and about 339 miles of railway. The railway system nearly encircles the island and also penetrates the interior. The total enrollment in the public schools in 1919 was 160,794. The total number of children of school age was about 440,000. There were enrolled in the rural schools about 98,000 pupils, and in the elementary schools about 54,- 000. Great advances have been made in education since the American occupation of the island. Health conditions have greatly improved under the American administration, owing to the installation of sanitary systems in the larger cities and to more careful attention to sanitation in all parts of the island. The total receipts for the fiscal year 1918-1919 amounted to $13,578,608, and the disbursements to $13,017,734. There was a balance on hand on July 1, 1919, of $5,022,316. Government. - Porto Rico is governed in accordance with the terms of the Act of Congress of 1917. American citizenship was granted to the people. There is a representative government, the franchise being restricted to citizens of the United States, 21 years of age or over. The executive power resides in a governor, appointed by the President of the United States. There is a legislature of two elective houses. The Senate is composed of 19 members and the House of Representatives of 39 members. There is a resident commissioner to the United States who has a seat in Congress. There are six heads of departments which form a council to the governor known as the executive council. There is a Supreme Court of five members, appointed by the President, and seven district judges appointed by the governor. There are also municipal courts, the judges and officials of which are appointed by the governor. History.-Porto Rico was discovered by Columbus on his second voyage, in 1493, and was afterward visited by A N Ar Tunas p Pt. Maronguay Pt. Manglillo Hatillo Carrizales Quebrada Seca Pt. Isabela Pt. Agujerada Guayabo Pt. Labadero R. Bellaca Yeguada Mambrillo Pt. Motud ADESSFJ Puntas Isabela Quebradillag Pt. Borinquen Camuy S.Jose Cambalache Yslote Jubos o Montana Guerrero Puntayboca Pt. Ensenada Lascocos) Puente Capes Factor celona CDI Coto o Llanadas Cacao Camuro Narar Camaceyes Hatoabaja Rioarriba Ceibaabajo Naranjito Aguadilla Santa Ana Arenales OS. Antonio Hatoarriba Caimisal Hato- Daban Luisa Aguadilla Bay Planas Cienaga Corcobados Dominguito Centro entro Roda viejo Florida o Colosa Palmas Robles Salto Charcas Salto o Abrahonda Espi Moca Pt.Jiguero Sablanahoyon Guajataca Guajaluca Aguadro Palmas Cibao Los Puertos Puertos OV Arenalejos 이 Yeguadilla Labeurera 2 C Isolina? I San Sebastian Tanama A R Cruzes o Capa Bociales Magos Callejones o Esperanza nadaguabo ecibo Enser Rioarriba Miraflores C.San Jaguey, unas Sonadoro Francisco Quebradura Rincon Cabache Juncai Tetuan Cordillera Calabaza o Cibao R e Altosanoo Guacia Limon Fronton Mirabales Lares, Buenosai Cerrogordo Alon ONA Corsega Mirabal Cariaco Mameyas Carreras Rioarriba & Tres Hermarres Grande Los Angeles Anas R. Blanco Jayuya Pesa OS 20 Anasco Playap Latorre Caguanao Sabanagrande Rio Canasabajoo O Sabanita Consomo Abajo Po Utuado 18 Las Marias Bartolo Roncadero Viviabajo Algarrobo Pt. Micadera o 15 Pozas Santa Isabel Cialltos Rio Prieto Saltoarriba Guaricos C Mayaguez Playa Centra Naranjales Montuoso Saenz Hills • Toronegro Viviarribao Mayaguez Bay Mayaguez Cordille Oponeo M Mariacas Jayalesd Sabaloso Arenaso Maricao Indieras. Rio Hondo Matezas R Yalmeca Lunari Damian Arriba Portillo llera Rosario Pt. Guanajibo Cuayo Hormigueros Montoso Tabunucio Quebradodulce 1 Capaeso 0 O Panama Arenas Damian Guanajibo Pt. Arenas L. Joyuda Lueyo Guomao Sta. Ana • Cacaob Quebrados ४ Miradero R Juan Gonzalez Garras Collores Vaca X Vega Aguasblancas Portugues Masaguez Caimilla Arriba Guilarte Adjuntas. Pellejas Tives Hoconuco Minitas Rincon Buey 3 Joyuda Bay Rubias Cainbajo Latorreve O Guan Grande Rancheras 00 Algarro- Bayoo Frailes Saltillo Guarajito Guayabalo FANDUCA KEY Oniura Majib Cabo Port Real Rojo San German Sabana Sierra o Collores Rucio Macona Yagua Callabo Pedernales Cocuy Ancor Montegrande Llano S.Domingo Realo bas 0 Almacigobajo Magas Portugueso Lomas Susuao Pt. Quaniquilla Guando Susua Alta Yauco Llanos Lajas Penuelaso Pueblo Boqueron Bay Juana Lajasarriba Canas Coto o La Plata Bogueron Jacana Guayanilla Tijeras Pt. Penones Sabana 18 Pueblo Ponce Sabanetas Amuelas Rio Pt. Melones Palo Seco Palmareja Parguera MATE 1. Montalva Barnaalto Yeguas Guayanilla Harbor Pt. Guayanillas Tallaboaponiente o Playa Guanica Indi Salt Ponds Pt. Verraco Ponce 11889 Ponce Harbor ☑ Cintrona Bo Coamo Bay Pt. Coamo Pt. Aguila Capitanejos CARIBE 1. RATONES IS.. Ballena Bay CUEVA I. Sucia Bay Guanica Harbor ✔Pt. Molino Pt. Parguera Salinas Bay Pt. Cabullon FRIO IS Pt. Brea Cape Rojo R COREAL KEY TORREMOTO KEYS Tel- Submarine Tel. C to St. Croix Submarine C 4 A N 670 to Jamaica A B 66945 MUERTOS 1. 67130 MONA ISLAND and Aguadilla Bay Aguada CaimaLo PASSAGE DESECHO 1.0. San Francisco Puntas (To Mayagues Dist.) Ensenada SCALE OF MILES Rincon B. Rincon 6 6 10 16 Cabache Corsega 17-45 Playa ATLANTIC OCEAN ssage Playa Grande Pt. Algarrobo MONITO 1. Mayaguez Bay (Little Mona 1.) Mona Pt North Cape N. W. Pt プ 5 Mayagues Dist.) MONA BAJIO NEGRO Proposed (Black Bank) 0 Naval Base aya East Cape PINERO 1. West Pt. BAJIO DE LA MEDIA LUNA Important ES.W.Pt. S.E.Pt. (Half Moon Bank) Port Beal Caigo o no Caigo Pt. Railways GALLARDO Pt. Quanaquilla L.L. POATES ENGRIG CO., N.Y. CARIBBEAN SEA SHOAL Boqueron Bay 18° C Long. 66 ° 30 ′ 18- Longitude from 67/30 Greenwich West 1906 Copyright L. L. Poates Eng. Co., 1921 66° E 00 15 65°45′ F G Submarine to Jamaica. C Seco SAN JUAN C Pt. Puerto Neuvo Buropean E ToPort Tampa A N Gartlo Ports Telegraph Pl. Boca Jugna Submarine Palo ot. Palo Seco Pt. Vacia Telegas St Thomas PtsSalinas Pt. Cerro to Cangrejos Bay Pt.Cangrejos Maria San Juan Cangrejos er Pt. • Cibuco Yeguada Santurce Scente Toa Baja Martinique ero 18, ✓ Embarcaderos Pt. Torrecillas Pinones PS Pt. San Augustin . Overo Manati Vega Baja Rio Lajas Algarraboso Za Pt. Iglesia • Maguallo Medianbaja Pt Sal Catano Pt.San Diego C.San Pt.Picua Pena Marti Pt. Percha Maladellano Quebrada Fajardo Cienagaalta Medionaluna Juan Juan Piedras Rio Piedras Carolina 10 Canovanas Mameyeb Cangrejos Candelaria Sanchez Espinosa Sabana Abajoo Luquillo Juan Martin Vega Alta Ton Alta 30 Bayamono Monacillo San Antonio Almirantes Buena Vista Rio Lajas CORDILLERA Hoyomulas Loiza B A Hatoviejo S. Rosa Herrera REEFS Manillas o Minillas 2 Guayna bo Corozal Galated Guaragua Trujillo Altoo Trujillo Rio Grande Hatoviejo Las Cabezas Achote Morovis Cibao Bajo Rio Sie Cuevas o Florencia Sabana Dajoso Guadiana PALOMINOS Pitagalia Fajardo Farjardo Morovis Sud Cacao Carrulo Jimenez o Fajardo 오 Yo Barrio Nuevo Rio Padilla Lanaso 16. Cedro a de Luguillo Cuchillas Naranjitoo dro Cubuyo Guzman Canaymesa Sonadora El Yunque Demajagu RAMOS. Perchas Barrio Nuevo Cedrito Mamer Baroy Jaguar Masas Aguas Buenas Pt. Figuero Medio Patos Blancos Naranjo Saco Pt. Mundo Rioarriba o Ceiba S. Lorenzo Guaragu Gurabo Guraboabajo Rio Blanco Pasto o Salto Riohondo ranao Quayacon Hunda Bay Juan Asencio of Caguitas Rincon Maizales 10 Machosia PANEROS Barvancos IS Comerio Ceras Mulitas Caruas Mamey Juncos/Boqueron Orcones La Torre PiPuerca 18 Sabane Bayamono Cang.bon Turabo RLiebrado dguabo Vargas Lirios Naguabe Daguso ag Barros Pk: Quebradilla Ceiba PUERCA 1. 151 Saltos • Quebrada Canabonitao HucaresoAlgodones Bar Resolution Port Naquaho Arenas Pt. Puebloo Piedras o Pueblo Botijas Honduras Lima CABRAS 1. Pt. Cascajo CRAB Norte Beatriz Punta Collores Cabao Bauta Turabu San Lorenzo Humacao Santiago Seca Barranquitas Rabana Cidra Arriba Abajo Pt. Lima Culebras Cerrogordo Montones Helechos Co-Mariana Las Cruces La Plalate Arenas ibonito de Cajon SANTIAGO KEYS Catanol Morro de Humacao Pt.de la Vaca de Pedro Garcia Baiguillus Jaguas Quebradahonda acora Taita Beatri Plata Teja ri Caimilla Jayates. Pueblo Ea Lomas Gua Pt. Candelero Piedraso Coa yey Galabate Guayanes Algarrobaso Cayeyo Rincon NAbajo C Juan Martin Labucoa Harbor Mt. Pirata Farallono Pedro Sumido Pt. Guayanes Pastor Quebrada Avila Sta. Catalina Mulas (Cow Fr.) de Guyon Mt.Torito Cedro Yabacoa Playa Emajagual Coamo Lapa Cercadillos 16 Maton Jaguas ra Lisas Paloseeos O Montellano R. Guyon Matamella o Los L'anos Talante Diaz Los Banos Yeguas Pt. Tajoriealta Guamani Palmarejo Maton Guamuni Quebradama Pel-los Maunabo Quebrada Honda Tajomebajo Canasarril Yeguas Jueyes enajagua Patillas Janca Pozóhondo Calzada Lavurel G Jaciguas Salt 18 Caraital Jacaboa Port Maunabo Descala. S. Felicia o Pinyn Plains Palomos Pt. Tuna Rincon alinas Aguirre Gunyama Goame Pitnjava brado Bajo Salinas Central Boca o Sta Isabel Bay F Pt. Fama 6545′ G oyo Pt. Cavito, MATA 1.0 Aguirre o Pt Figures Ra C. San Juan Jobos Manchele Jobos Pt. Salinas Pt. Petrona • REEF THE WASHER Har. CORDILLERA /HERMANOS REEF Hermanos Passage RATONES • PAJARO IS. IS. BERBERIA 1. Port Aguirre Passa Y BOWL LAS MARCAS REEF JAUCA JS. PILOT ROCK Pt. Pozuelo CARIBES La Cabezas REEFS Flamingo B. Surf B. OCACTUS N.E.Pt. BARCA IS IS৯ BARILLES 4 Fajardo % PALOMINOS KEY 18. Barilles CROSS E Celba Pt. Medio Mundo Culebra KEY A Virgin Passage S.W.KEYS OUTER PERAGUA 1. CULEBRA Humacao (To )? P.t. Soldado Honda B. INNER PERAGUAS IS. PORTO RICO PINEROS IS. Mach Vieques Sound Pt. Puerca 1745 -18-15 L.H. Hunda Bay CORONA REEF • CABALLO BLANCO Quayacon SCALE OF STATUTE MILES CABRAS I. ieques La Campana Port Mula L.H. ROCK CUCARACHE ROCK Pt. Negra 20 5 10 15 Caballo Pt. SCALE OF KILOMETERS Resolution 5 • PELICAN KEYS 10 15 20 25 30 5 CRAB OR VIEQUES 1. East Pt. towns are shown in heavy face type Arenas. Pt. Baral To Humacao Dis Danes Bay DRSport Ferro AOCHIBA KEY Same scale as Steamship Lines onda Bay West Pt. glaya Grande Lort Mosquito Pt.de la Vaca West D from 66°15′ Green. E (Cow Pt.) 66° 65130 large map 1 other Spanish explorers. Ponce de Léon occupied the island with a large military force and maintained headquarters there for ten years. The Spaniards remained in control of the island until 1898. It was visited often by pirates . San Juan was sacked in 1595 by Sir Francis Drake. Other attacks by English forces were defeated. Porto Rico was created a province of Spain in 1869, and slavery was abolished in 1873. The fortifications of San Juan were bombarded by a fleet under Admiral Sampson, in July, 1898, and a military expedition under General Miles took possession without opposition. By the Treaty of Paris, in 1898, Porto Rico was ceded to the United States. With the exception of political struggles, the American administration was without important event. In 1912 laws were passed providing for sanitary reform, a bureau of labor, and the minority representation. The inhabitants of Porto Rico were granted ted citizenship on March 2 , 1917. Prohibition bition was voted by the people on July 16 of the same year. During 1918 officers ' training camps were opened on the island and a large number of young men were trained for military service. In 1918-1919 a new election law was passed. Amendments were also made to the labor laws. The population of Porto Rico in 1910 was 1,118,012; in 1920, 1,297,772 . The chief towns are San Juan, Ponce, and Mayaguez.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
por'to re'ko, an island of the West Indies . With several adjacent islets, it is now a possession of the United States . It lies at the eastern extremity of the Great Antilles, about 1,400 miles from the city of New York and 1,000 from Havana. In shape it is oblong. It has an area of 3,668 square miles. The surface is covered, for the most part, with low ranges of mountains culminating in the east in a peak 3,609 feet high. Between the ranges lie table lands and valleys. Owing to the prevailing direction of the winds, the eastern and northern slopes have abundant rainfall throughout the year and are clothed with heavy forests. The southern slopes are frequently parched and dry. There are over forty short streams reaching the sea. The best harbors are those of San Juan and Culebra. The forests of Porto Rico have, in the main, been well cared for. They still produce large quantities of valuable timber. Most varieties are unfamiliar to the American. Familiar names, however, are palms, tree ferns, cedar, sandalwood, ebony, and willow. There are said to be no native four-footed animals and no poisonous snakes. The shores are frequented by a gigantic tortoise closely related to that of the Galapagos Islands. The most noticeable birds of the forest are the green parrots. They live on fruit. Thousands of them rise in flocks, with a green shimmer unmatched outside of the tropics. There are indications of gold and iron, but, at present, the country yields no mineral wealth. The chief interests of the island are agricultural. About 50,000,000 pounds of coffee, 160,000,000 pounds of sugar, 12,000 pounds of tobacco, with rice, vegetables, and tropical fruits, are the principal productions. Cattle are raised on the uplands. Sugar is refined. Rum, cigars, cigarettes, and cabinet articles are produced. There are salt works of considerable magnitude. There are between 400 and 500 miles of railway. Good roads have been built along some of the principal valleys. The island has, of course, a telegraph, telephone, and postal system. Porto Rico was discovered in 1493 by Columbus. In 1509 Ponce de Leon was appointed governor. The early Spanish settlers were nearly exterminated by the Indians, but they finally reduced the natives not only to subjection, but to slavery. Negro slaves were introduced at an early date to work the rice, sugar, and tobacco plantations. The Spanish settlements suffered from attacks by Sir Francis Drake in 1595, and were for a long time subject to harassing demands by the buccaneers and pirates for which the West Indies were noted. Porto Rico took no part in the uprisings of the South American republics in the early part of the nineteenth century, but remained loyal to Spain. Slaves were freed in 1873, the slave holders being compensated by the government. July 25, 1898, the island was occupied by American forces. At the close of the Spanish-American War it was ceded to the United States. A form of government was established closely resembling that adopted by Great Britain for her numerous colonies. A governor is appointed by the president of the United States. A local assembly is elected by the people. At the present time Congress authorizes a duty of fifteen per cent on all merchandise passing into or out of the country. The status of Porto Rico is that of a colony. Its citizens are not necessarily citizens of the United States. At the beginning of the present century the population was returned at 953,243, of whom about one-half were whites, one-third mulattoes, and the remainder negroes and Chinese. The population is said to consist of three classes,--an aristocracy of excellent Spanish ancestry; the merchant classes, artisans, and tradespeople of the towns, and a country peasantry of poor whites and mulattoes. The last named are completely illiterate, incapable of government or independent action of any kind. Under American influence the Porto Rican government has established a complete system of public schools. Teachers have been imported from the United States, normal schools have been established to train teachers, and Porto Rican teachers have been sent to the United States to attend summer schools and to observe the ways and methods of Americans. 2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: BR 2026-07-22) 2026 Editor's Note: 'Porto Rico' — the official U.S. spelling until 1932 — had been American for a decade; citizenship came in 1917, commonwealth status in 1952, and the status question this entry opens is still open. See Puerto Rico . (Ed: BR 2026-07-09)