ADMINISTRATION OF PUERTO RICO. 



429 



return for sugar, molasses, and coffee. Nearly all tlie seaborne traffic is conducted 

 under foreign flags, the islanders showing little taste for seafaring life. 



In respect of its internal communications Puerto Hico is a model West Indian 

 island. All the towns are connected by highways, which develop round the 

 periphery of tlie quadrilateral a second quadrilateral all the sides of which are 

 united at intervals b}^ transverse routes. A railway has now been commenced, 

 which is also to follow the shore-line with a circuit of 300 miles, and short branches 

 to all the seaports and inland markets. All the main lines of the telegraph system 

 are already completed ; but little use is made either of the wices or the post-office 

 by a population only one -seventh of which was returned as capable of reading 

 or writing at the last census (1887). Since then, however, public instruction has 

 made considerable progress. 



Administration. 



For administrative purposes Puerto Rico is regarded, not as a colony, but as a 

 Spanish province, assimilated to those of the metropolis. The governor-general, 

 representing the monarchy, is at the same time captain-general of the armed forces. 

 In each departmental capital resides a military commandant, and each borough 

 has its alcalde nominated b}^ the central power. The provincial deputies are elected 

 by universal suffrage on the same conditions as in Spain. The garrison consists 

 of about 3,000 men, and the yearly budget averages £800,000. 



Including the district of the capital there are seven administrative departments, 

 which are tabulated in the Appendix. 



