The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-21
FIRST EDITION
Description of the Bay and the
Land Adjoining-Climate,
Soil, and Productions
of the Territory.

SANTANA, Dec. l6.-The Stars and Stripes are float
ng to-day the Gibraltar of the Antilles in
and testimony OF sovereign possession. Leaving 70
other pens the details OF the brief but impressive
ceremony OF assuming dominion in the name aud
behalf fthe United States, let us take rapid sur
Ney Of our new acquisition.
FIRST IMPRESSION.
Entering the Bay of Samana with the United
States steamer Albany, whose commander, Captain
George B. Balch, had the pleasant charge of plant
ing the nag of the Union on this latest addition to
ts territory, long succession OF bold aud verdant
heights charm the eye by their varied and romantic
beauty. Deep coves, each fine harbor In itself, in
dent and divide into picturesque promontories these
like giant sentines on eternal guard over this out
post OF American supremacy in the Antilles. the
feet the other fully 1900 feet in height, and forming
striking landmarks for the mariner.
YEAR" and the never-fading verdure, always glow
ing with rich tints, and breathing the sweet fra
Enchanting effect OF the beautiful landscape. TO
0ne fresh from the leaness drearness of Northern
-oast scenes in November this delicious atmosphere
dlavsh variety Of graceful forms and vivid cOlors
a.Itlike vision of Arcadia and closer observa-
,it only serves TO confirm the impression that
amana will soon become favorite resort for IN
Aids and pleasure-hunters fleeing from the cold
1ay, with its Winding shores and numerous Islands,
offer eloquent invitation to boating, bathing and
NUMEROUS HAvENs.
The bay shore of SANTANA is SO rich IN fine shell
tered coves, protected by boldly-projectng head
lands that the Domnicans love TO say that 'every
farmer in Samana may have good seaport OF his
own;" but there are several of such marked excel
lenP that they demand special notice We are no
sooy ,r fairly wiChin the bay, with its enclosing
sh1r visibly defined on both sides from the deck OF
inv Ing sweep under the commanding heights of
the same name on which the Spanlards, during
tho last occupation had traced out the plan of
strong fortihcation. "a battery and monitor
would hold this point, protect the bay and keep out
the whole fleet of Spain" said oicer of some
perience not long since, when dilatng the value
of this outpost to American progress but he did not
state the number and caore OF the guns OF the pro-
pOaed pattery
Passing Cacao and leaving behind the "coal de-
pots' OF former negotiations, another beautiful cove
opens to view, having Punta del Serio Oily PoinD us
its western arm of demarcation. Thls Is the Care
nero Chouito a famous and favorite resort of pi-
rates in the reign OF the buccaneers in these seas for
the repair Of their vessels Hence its name OF Care
Between Punta Serio and Punta Garda sets back
the deep, well-shetered and easily defended inlet
which General (then Major Mcclellan selected for
entrance of this inner bay is caed-and the bay
itself as well-Careneo Grande winch the spaniards
used coal depot, and protected by battery,
which vanished with them.
Passing Punta Gorda, with the Paloma islet on
the other hand we come suddenly on the town OF
Santa Barbara the capital SO to speak OF the PENN
sula of Samana. 1t is stragSing village, built too
the bay, but it has pretty tree-embowered effect
when seen from the bay, as many cottages, sur
rounded by fruit trees, have been planted the
h-sides, and seem TO look costly out on the spark
ling waters, the bright little islands, and the long
embracing arms OF their own bay shores, with
dreamy satisfaction. Beyond Santa Barbara
several other fine coves, OF which those of Capuza
healthy position and crystal springs as for their safe
and commodious landing-places
EXTENT OF CEssIoN.
The territory ceded to the United States may be
stated i'm round numbers averaging eight miles in
breadth by length of nearly thirty miles. The area
has heen yarousy estimated at from 225 to 24O square
mles~the latter calculation including the islands
along the coast Counting in some superior landing
noces on these islands which the Spaniards valued
perV highly as general depots the peninsula OF Sa-
mana has seaboard line OF nearly 100 miles, pre-
senting series of good harbors that can scarcely be
atnha in TrODCal
rCa for the general service OF our growing trade.
our new domain is so nearly an island that up to
the close Of the last century coaStng craft passed
Nfrom Samana Bay to the Atlantic through the Gran
Estero at the head Of what has become S peninsula
versed the low isthmus now connecting it with the
II ain island. L. :. ~. -. -. -. -. -, o. -
the western limit Of Samana, and one who knew
how such things are done declares that two COM
nanies from any of our coored regiments would re-
omen the channel in one season II commanded by an
ofiicer OF the engineer corps, and so complete the
water bonndary OF possession, besides cut
ting off ninety miles OF navigation around the penin-
sua for vessels from una region bound to Puerto
the head of Samana bay and the side channels OF its
delta nterlace with the outlet OF the old canal tracks
that formerly cut through the isthmus and brought
the navigation of that river and of the most fer
tile districts in the Antilles directly to the port on
the hay' the much debated coal formations OF Sa-
mana crop out in numerous places, but they seem
to have never had careful scientific examination.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
For its limited extent the country presents great
diversity OF feature and large range OF production.
range of hills down the centre or the peninsula
from west to east, growing more sharp ana lofty as
II nears and passes Santa Barbara, untn II finally
eliminates in the two great mountain peaks before
named OF El Diavolo and Pilon. From these hills
ssue abundant springs OF puresJ water, ana Inere
are few indeed, so rugged as not TO produce full
crOps OF fruit and coffee. The RAPID and nardy
growth Of lines and oranges astonishes even those
familiar with the luXuriance OF tropical vegetation.
ID would be a superior orchard that would yield as
many bushels OF apples to the acre as the same area
in Samana will produce OF oranges. a.
Its pineapples are celebrated, and It's cocoanuts
for abundace but the whole island II rich III fruits,
and IL is not in Samana alone tnat clusters Oh ty or
sixty full-grown c0coanuts may oe tdheu ntee ulnes
wear from single tree They tnrlve on the poorest
soil and reuure next to no trouble in planting and
rearing Sugar indigo, cocoa tor cnocoate), make
generous returns. Almost every Ianly gathers
coffee enough for its own use from mule gardens,
and often have two or three hundred pounds picked
by the chldren for sale, In these patches OF half
- TILED ground one sees dozen or TWO neg
lected coffee bushes struggling iOI NE Win
wilderness OF corn, sweet poIatoes, SQUASH
corn ocra, eggplant, beans, and tomatoes planted
any how and at all seasons, yet conuNlng 10 Dear
and furnish supply OF fruits and vegetables the
year around to its thriftless owners. WllaI system
and industry might DO ior human c0uosS t ~ , enls
coffee garden of ours, only hve days steam IRON
New York, 1t is pleasant 10 contemplate. some
American settlers declare thaG ten acres IN co1ee
with an extra five acres for a cowJpasture anu pro
vision neld, will Keep a family as com1ortaDly as
one hundred acre farm in New England. H0weye
that NAV be, there Is now an open chance TO make
fair trial at Samana where the best of new land 10
coffee planting can be had within five miles Of a sea
mort for from three to five dollars per acre.
THE CLIMATE
~ caunana is much like the benign uniform ten
neratnre of the south side OF Cuba. From JanuaT
Ia lime IL is one long period or bloom ana brigf
Weafher with an occasional shower in the first an
last weeks OF tnls pleasant season. through th