PORTO RICO 
187 
which sugar is cultivated being along the 
coast. The climate is warm but equable and 
comfortable, the trade winds moderating any 
tendency toward excessive heat. Porto Rico 
is a land of continual summer, and maintains 
its extreme verdure owing to its rainfall which 
has an annual average of 77.30 inches. 
Porto Rico has about 500 miles of steam 
railways, and nearly 1000 miles of excellent 
roads. There are no navigable rivers, but 
many good harbors. 
Its government is under the control of the 
Insular Board of the United States War De 
partment, a governor being appointed by the 
President of the United States. The Gov 
ernor has as Council, six resident American 
officials, and six natives, who with a House of 
Delegates of 33 members, constitute the Leg 
islative Assembly, the veto power being held 
by the Executive; legislation is subject to the 
final revision of the Congress of the United 
States. A Resident Commissioner to the 
United States having a seat in Congress is 
elected by the people every two years.