New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-13
THE Bay or Stamina.

The negotiations for the purchase OF the Bay
OF SANTANA by the United States, which broken OF
time back have been renewed 1t would appear by
the Secretary OF State, who, Tuesday evening last
gave detailed statement of them before the Senate Com
mittee Foreign Affairs and similar statement rela
tive TO the purchase OF ALASKA and the Island OF ST.
Thomas The Bay OF SANTANA lies on the northeastern
coast OF the magnificent Island Of Hayt and has advan
tages which have long made the possession Of it object
Of desire with the maritime nations OF Europe IL com
ands celebrated Mona Passage between the Islands
OF Hayti and Porto Rico from which latter it is not more
than 200 miles distant aud glance ut tho
map Will show that 1t Is situated just about
midway gof that chain Of small Islands, which,
beginning OFF the southeastern coast Of Florida,
and ending in the Gulf Of Parla completely enclres the
Caribbean Sea. The power that holds It, having the
needf naval strength would DO able 10 dominatc the
whole Of the Wndward and Leeward Islands on the one
side, with Hayu, Cuba, jamaica and the bahama group
on the other and control completely the two passages
leading from the Atlantic into the Caribbean, viz, the
WndWard passage and the Mona passage. To control
these would he in effect TO control tho whole trade on
Europe with the West Indies Central America and the
Northern States Of South America by way Of the Carb
boan.
The following description Of the bay the official
report Of Gen. William L. Cazneau, United States Special
Agent 10 81. Domingo:
SANTANA Bay grand land-locked harbor, rather
series of harbos 80 miles deep and in all its Characters
tics Is one OF the IN tropical America 1t
embraces within itself all the requisites FOR tho oonsrus-
repair and supply of vessels OF every class In al
dtiOn To Its safe ample and convenient anchoI.ges'
has fine timber for shipbuildng, excellent water eA
clsive coal neids ana Dolu shores beautHu lhuenSd
IN sheltered coves in which the nayies OF the world
~ ride out all weathers IN safety.
protecting line OF reefs and islcts stretches across
hc inner entrance OF the Bay, and Chccuay guards us
interior basin from the heavy seas or the open ocean, but
tlls barrier tVcTsed by deep and commOdlous Cnah
nell which affords easy 10 the largest ships just
within these protecting reels there are To the north-Ony
backed by commanding activities and sentineled IN front
by the CdyOs AierdHfGdOS IN entering them from the
east there about IL f8tEOms OF water which grad
uay shoals to eight six, and four Oh approaching the
beach.
~ personally verified. by soundings and measurement
on COastng visit which made m expectation that the
United States Government would establish naval depot
in the vicinity that wharf 200 feet long would enable
vessel 10 lay alongside il four fathOms or water win
clear bottom. Several springs OF the purest water fa
into this double BAY and forests OF excellent shmDcr
surround 10 for miles deep inland.
There are numerous other good harbors and anchor
ages this extensive bay, but examined these with
attention account Of their situation near tho
OF the bay, and the capabilities OF the position
IN military and naval point OF view. -
"The salient prOmOntorics which inClOse them and tho
rakng position OF the sentinel AcrdgdOs insure alb
sOuto command OF the bay and, with the deIenscs re-
Gently constructed By the Spanish engineers, this point
presents mpregnable fortress In our American seas
The territory part Of which ~ Is proposed 20 sell along
with the BAY comprises OF the finest portions OF the
island being unsurpassed by any other portion In beauty
fertility mineral wealth the head OF the Bay Tic
eastern termination OF the great plain or valley OF the
island known the Vega Real, or Royal Meadow, when
I'm the or the Island, between the
great chains OF mountains running acrOss 81 DO
mingo and watcred by the numerous streams which
flow thence forming the rivers Vague ana lunh the lat
ter OF which cmptes itself into the Bay and Il naygabo
steamers ~ light draft FOR distance ~ 30 or 90 miles
from mouth Immense beds OF coal have been dis
covered the district and the mineral D. found near
surface, ~ could be easily mined and wih hte th
pensc Specimens OF rich SILVER ore nave also Deem taken
out AZ Point BalaIdra the Peninsula, and marble oi
various kinds, we'll A. native iron u known to exist