The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-11-29
asstriptire pietes.
The Island of Cuba.


In view Of the possible acquisition of
Cuba by the United States, the reader may
desire some accurate information concern
ing the area of the island, its geographical
features, agricultural and mineral resour-
ces, and the number and social condition
of its people. A great many tourists visit
Cuba every year, but in their descriptions
Of the island they confne themselves to
its picturesque scenery, and the employ
ments and amusements of the upper clas-
SEES. For statistics we must fall back upon
the encyclopedias. The extreme northern
edge Of the island touches latitude %
degrees ID minutes, north, and projec-
ton from the southern coast is bounded
by parallel running 10 degrees 40
minutes, north. A line bisecting the
island longitudinally would be diagonal, SO
that its breadth is not near so great as
would seem to be indicated by the number
Of degrees of latitude which it covers.
The length Of the island from east to west
is about eco miles; the width varies from
p to 1856 miles Including the small
islands near the coast, it has an area of
1852 square miles, being something
larger than the State Of Pennsylvania.
The island is intersected from east to
west by chain Of mountains extending
its entire length. The ramifcations Of
this mountain form ten principal groups
Of peaks, and between them lie fertile
valleys and extensive plains, some of the
latter being as much as two hundred miles
long by from twenty to fifty miles broad.
The most elevated SUBMITS Of the noun
tains are to be found toward the eastern
part, where the highest peak measures
1900 feet above the level of the sea.
There are in the island about two hundred
and sixty different rivers, besides innu-
merable rigulets which spring up every
where among the mountains and hills.
In consequence, however, Of the island
being 50 narrow, the greater number of
the streams are very shallow, and nayiga-
bic only for a short distance from the
coast. The largest of the rivers are the
Cauto, which is one hundred and eighty
miles in length, and is navigable for
distance Of about sixty miles; the Sagua
Ia Grande, navigable about twenty miles ;
and the Sagua de Tanamo, Caonao and
Cuyaguategc, which are navigable for
distance Of from eight to twelve miles
only.
The island has a coast line about eigh-
teen hundred miles in extent, but about
half Of the distance is lined by multitude
Of islands, inlets, shoals, reefs, keys and
small barren islands, while the rapidity Of
the currents which are produced by these
peculiar features renders navigation diff
cult and dangerous on greater portion Of
the coast. There are, however, numerous
stretches Of coast line which are free from
,hasa ohs..o,o. a.noa;.llr n. .a..a 4.
,woon f,.na M.;.a; ma o. NJ, 1. ~
south, between Cape Mass and Point Ma
ternillo on the northeast, and between Ma
..nv.s ara MIL q ~ no..h m.
no,,bsrn eoss, ! oe0or.,lv slsv.,od wh;la
N tbe south tbere ara rnmerons Low .nd
u.rsbv tracts No,w;.bs.,nd;nu ~ An
o.ro,s .na d;@.nl, oh.r..,or &c ~ 49,;
= cation !, son,a ,o;,,. ,ba,o 40 m.nv g.
5oan hans ,h;ah I'M. .w.aI,.... $500.
IN the ,r;ne;n.l m.r;,;ms
,hs.a .dv,n.aaas wb;lo ~ $500 &c
~ southern e ~, ssnse;sIIv Z .dm;r.bIv
.dansea i tbe olan , :s,,,,.nos -
vessol. g.o,n M =. Tha 49,. 80.
s,lness u NJ nart - q. saan;.h ~.
bo..s .na eo.., ,,,,,,,s e,;ls ! &. - -
q c.saa q defeat The sr,,,,,cl;,r orors,;ons
which are CONSTANTLY ga i5,,'' 81 betvsen
cuba and he IT,;tsa Stats and ~
neirhboring islands. The ;ppumerable
small stands already referred d are .caycelv
discernible At some distance from The
mainland The iutricacies Of the devious
water paths which wind through these are