The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-21
SANTANA BAY
OUR FooTHolD N THE ANTILLES.
Faii Description Of SANTANA Bay and the
Land Adjoining = Capacity, Extent,
Climate, Soil and Productions Of
the Prospective Territory.

The Stars and Stripes are noatng to-day over the
Gibraltar OF the Antilles In token and testimony OF
sovereign possession Leaving other pens the de-
tails OF the brief but impressive ceremony or
Ing dominion IN the name and behalf OF the United
States, let US take rapid survey OF new acqui-
sitlon.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Entering the Bay OF SANTANA with the United states
steamer Albany, whose commander, Captain George J
b. Bach had the pleasant charge OF planting the
Flag OF the Union this latest addition to It's terri
tory q long succession OF bold and verdant heights
charm the by their varied ana romantic beauty.
Deep coves. each ins harbor In ITSELF indent and
divide into picturesque promontores these lofty and
rounded hills and back Of them tower, like giant
sentinels on eternal guard over this outpost OF
American supremacy In the Antilles the mountains
OF Pion and Diavoo. the one Deary 1000 feet, the
other fully 1900 feet in height and forming striking
landmarks for the mariner. The soft climate, which
"has no winter In Its year" and the never fading
verdure, always glowing with the rich tints and
breathing the sweet fragrance OF rosy June, lent
finishing charm to tue enchanting effect OF the
beautiful landscape To fresh from the
ieaness drearlness OF Northern coast scenes in
November this delicious atmosphere and lavish
variety Of graceful forms and vivid coiors
WAS like q vision OF Arcadia, ana q closer
observation only serves to confirm the impression
nvalids aud pleasure hunters neeina from the cold
and windy rigors or q northern winter. The PLACID
bay with its winding shores and numerous islands
offer eloquent invitation 10 boating, bathing and
lahng parties.
NUMEROUS RAVENS.
The bay shore OF SANTANA Is rich IN nne shel-
tered cOves protected by boldly projecting head
lands, that the Dominicans love TO say that every
farmer in SANTANA may have good seaport Of his
~ uft hara Olof orkA
lencs that they demand special notice. We are no
sooner fairly within the bay, with It's enclosing
shores vsby defined on both sides from the deck of
ship, than the port OF Cacao rounds back into an
inviting sweep under the commanding heights OF
tho same name, which the Spanards, during
their last occupation, had traced out the plan Of
strong fertilization. "A battery and Y monitor
would hold this point protect the bay and keep out
the whole eet Of Spain" said oficer OF come ex
perence not long since, when dilating on the value
OF this outpost TO American progress; but he did not
state the number and cabre OF the guns OF the pro-
posed battery.
Passing Cacao and leaving behind the 'coai
depotsn VI former negotiations, another beautiful
cove opens 10 view, having Punta del Serto tLiiy
Pontl as Its western arm OF demarcaton. This Is
the Carenero Cmquito, famous and fayorite resort
OF pirates in the reign OF the buccaneers in these
seas fol the repair OF their vessels Hence name
OF Carenero-careenng place,
Between Funia Serio and funta Garda sets back
the deep, well sheltered and easily defended inlet
which General hen Majorl Mcclellan selected for a
United States naval station cav, or inlet OF Inc
entrance OF this inner bay Is caed-and the bay
itself Us weil-Careneo Grande, which the Spanarts
used as coal depot, ana protected by battery,
which vanished with them.
Passing Punla Gorda, with the Paloma slet on
tue other hand, we come suddenly on the town OF
Santa Barbara the capital to speak, OF the Penin-
sula OF Samana II Is struggling village, built too
the bay but It has pretty tree. embo wered eject
| when seen from the bay. as many cottages. sur
hlll Sides and seem to look costly out tue sparx-
ling waters. the bright little islands and the long
embracing arms OF their own bay shores with
dreamy satisfaction. Beyond santa barbara are
several other fine coves or which those OF Capuza
healthy position and crystal springs as for their
safe and commodl0us landing places.
EXTENT OF CESSION.
The territory coded to the United states may pe
stated Ia round numbers as averaging eight miles In
breadth BY Length Of nearly thr.I miles The area
square miles-sne latter calculation including the
islands along the coast Counting IN some superior
landing places these islands, which the Spanlards
valued very highly as general depots, the peninsula
of SANTANA has u seaboard line OF nearly loo miles,
presenting series OF good harb0rs that scarcely
DC matched III any similar space IN ali tropical Ame-
rca Tor The general service OF our growing trade
our new domain s so nearly an island that up 10
the close OF the last century coastlng craft passed
IRON SANTANA Bay to the Atlantic through the Gran
Estero at The head OF what has become a peninsula
by the dlng w oi the channels which formerly ira
vcrsed the low lsthmus now connecting 1t with the
main island. This Isthmus Is about five miles across
and forms the western limit OF SANTANA, ana one
who knew how sucn things are done declares that
two companies from any OF our coored regiments
would reopen the channel in one season
II commanded BIZ an o1cer of the engineer corps,
and complete the water boundary OF our new
CATION around the peninsula Tor vessels from the
Yuma region, bound 10 Puerto Plata Monte Cristi.
The river Yuma fails into the head OF Samana bay
ana the side channels OF Its delta interlace with the
outlet OF tho old canal TRACKS that formerly cut
through the isthmus and brought the navigation OF
that river and OF the fertile districts In the
Antilles directly 10 port on the Atlantic. Within
ten miles OF thus delta down the bay, the much
GUS places, but they TO have never mad care.
fur scientific examination
SOIL AND PRODUCTION.
For its limited extent the country presents great
diversity Of feature and large range Of production.
range Of hills run down the centre OF the PENN
lofty as IL nears and passes Santa Barbara, until
II nnally eliminates In the TWO great noun
aud Pilon. From these hills Issue abund-
ant springs OF purest water, ana there are few
ruit aud coffee The rapid and hardy gr o1v 81
lines and oranges ast0nishes even those familiar
win the Of epic .S i would
bushels OF apples to the acre the same area IN
SANTANA VIII produce OF oranges It's plneappea
the whole island Is rich In fruits. and II Is not In
SANTANA alone that clusters OF Nifty or sixty fun
grown coc0anuts may be taken three times year
from single trec They thrive the poorest soil
and require to trouble In planting and rear
ing. Sugar, indigo, cocoa for chocolatel make
generous returns. Almost every family gathers Gomez
enough Tor Its own use from little gardens ana
often have two or three hundred pounds picked by
the children for sale. In these patches Of half titled
ground one sees dozen or two neg
lsctsd coffee bushes struggling for life with
. wilderness OF corn, sweet potatoes, squash,
corn CORA, egg plant, beans ana tomatoes, planted
any how ana ut all seasons yet contriving to bear
year around to It's thriftIess owners What system
and industry might do for human comfort IN this |
coffee garden OF ours only I'VE days steam from
New YORK, ~ IL pleasant to contemplate. Some
American settlers declare that ten in cofce,
with extra i've acres for COW pasture and pro-
vision field, VIII keep family ~ comfortably as .
one hundred acre farm 10 New England. However |
that may he, there Is now an open chance to make
fair trial at 5amana where the best or land for
cofee planting can be had within I've miles OF