The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-03

santa Barbara Is to be drained and guttered, and
ali modern improvements introduced. Looking
down the bay to your right from the hotel runs
. reef extending one mile In an east-southeast
direction, over which there is water from one to
ave feet In Depth This reef is from i've hundred
to seven hundred feet and there right on 1t you
observe the Bannister islets, abont fifty feet in
height, composed of red clay and gravel, which win
be used as filing stun, and in that way
Joining the reef to the mainland, thereby
making o Jetty 500 feet wide, one mile
In length and with wharf accommodation
on both sides. The basin formed by this improve
ment Will be half q mile wide and q mile in depth,
with q draught OF water varying from fourteen to
sortythree feet. giving vessels alongside the jetty
from sixteen to twenty-cight feet OF water. Atone
edge OF the town of Santa Barbara is . magnificent
stream or water-the Aquado-which comes down
from the mountains In sufficient quantity to supply
the necessities of 900 people, Beyond the mouth
OF the basin you observe the LevaD tadOs. having
reef extending from them across the mouth OF the
great bay joining the mainland and forming nat
ura breakwater, leaving the mouth Of the entrance
between the LevantadOs and the Peninsula three.
quarters Of mile wide, and nine 1athoms OF water
free OF all instructions, easy Of navigation night
and day by the greatest stranger.
WHAT Mr.. HALSEY PROPOSES TO Do.
The Captain having furnished this much infDrma-
tion turned to inquire what was Mr. Halseys par.
ticular business, and that gentleman said:-"We
propose first to examine the Yuma River, which
drops into the other end OF the bay TO clear it OF
all Instructions and give 1t a sufficient depth OF
water for vessels Of average tonnage. From the
head OF navigation We propose to commence at
once and cut wagon road to Santiago,
and in that drain the trade OF the La Vega valley
down to SANTANA, the distance from Santiago to
SANTANA being less than from SANTANA to Porto
district, and either put up sawmills there or float
the logs down ana manufacture all the lumber we
need for our own purposes Then We intend to
improve and widen the road through the Peninsula,
making o splendid drive from east to west. We
hope to have steamboats, on the Yuma in time to
move the tobacco down to the bay for shipment"
GOLD FIELDS AND COAL DEPOSITS
Mr.. Obey said his part Of the business was to in
vestgate the gold fields, prospect the coal deposits
said to exist, ascertain the extent OF the deposits
and the facilities for working them. He should be
able to prove there was gold IN the country, but Of
course he could not venture 10 say in what guam
titles. CAPTAIN Runners share Of work would
consist In taking soundings OF the bay and river
and doing other engineering business. These four
gentlemen represented the working force OF the
company, and they are individually men OF expe-
rence and ability. We left several OF our emigrants
In Samana and Of course the Harlem carpenters.
Then In the early morning, we left for St. Domingo
City.
How the Churchmen Regard the
Change-The Way the Vote Was
Taken. t
y ST.. DOMINGO CITY, Feb. Is, 1873.
On our arrival at this, one OF the most ancient of
cities this side OF the Atlantic, we found the
government Of Baez had just completed the count
Ing Of the vote for the ratification OF the renting OF
Raw Al I Of N hut 70,
dissentient votes just 10 out of total of ,9OO
The Tybee takes with her copies OF the deed OF
rental and the proclamation Of the President
declaring the transfer. AS / said before,
there was no need for the taking Of the
vote. The people are decidedly in favor
Of the transfer, but even If they CHANGED to
be otherwise disposed the voting would never
reveal 1t, for, repeat, 1t Is farce just much
voting was in New York in the days of the Tam
many Ring. called to see the officers of the gov
eminent at the Palace, but failed to see Baez, who
suspect, was conveniently sick and invitatlngly
disposed to the HERALD commissioner However,
had quite long talk with Gautier, Minister of
State; DelmOnte, Minister OF War, and Curiel,
Minister OF Finance At the same interview net
Padre Zamoyas, OF Santiago dc los Caveeros, and
as Twas curious to ascertain what way the Catholic
priesthood were inclined in the matter of annexa-
ton or the sellng Of territory to Americans asked
the padre the feeling among his brethren. He said
there were seven priests OF his acquaintance in
favor and two opposed. This, apprehend, judg-
ing from what have seen and learned, is about
the proportion in the ranks Of the clergy Minister
Gautier looked as wise as an owl and as amiable as
bear He said they 1.-THE governmenb we've
laborng hard for the good Of the country; that az
Deminicans and as honest men they were not
likely to urge orrard anything that would be of
injury to the people or that might be likely to in
nict blow upon the integrity and prosperity
Of the country He (Gautier) was panied to see
that everything done by the government OF St.
Domingo was tortured so by portion Of the press
OF the United States as to make it appear there
was nothing but intrigue and dishonesty in the af-
fairs Of the Dominican government. He contended
they ought be allowed credit for meaning as well
Tor their own country as the oflcial representa-.
tves OF any other nation. GLOW has this vote on
the ratification Of the transfer been taken ~ in
quired.
TAKING THE SENSE OF THE NATION
The Minister answered -FOUR system Of voting is
ainerent from yours. In this instance 1t has occu-
pied about month to take the sense Of the
tton, but we have Q larger vote recorded in favor
OF the policy Of the government than ever was
known before. There were only 1000 votes given
for Spanish annexation In 1861, and the question
OF annexation to America 1e,soO. In the matter Of
SANTANA Bay the vote exceeds 5000, and II the full
returns were in would swell that number to q, 900.
Each province and district is subdivided into
communes and communes into sections In each
section book IL kept by the csmmandante con-
tanning the names Of all legal voters To each Of
these notice is sent Of the question to be voted
upon, and the people are requested to come up and
record themselves for or against. Owing to the
want OF communication in the island and other OBJ
vious causes, such as business apathy, &C., the
books have to be kept open for mapy weeks before
the sense Of all the voters 10 secured. Thus you
see we cannot have q full and proper poll of the
people, as you do, in q single day."
"But has not every voter to put himself on
record as in favor Of the government measure, or
suffer in consequencef'