The evening times., 1898-07-15
OUR RICH NEN4[hR|T0RY
1yEifass 4 :
Features Of the District Surren-
dered by the -Spaniards.
FINE HARBoRS; FERTILE SOIL
Gold. Copper and Coal Found i'm
Eastern Cuba. and PETROLEUM
Oozes From the Rocks-Asphaltum
Beds Awaiting Devel0pment-Ce-
dar and Ebony Plentiful,

The territory surrendered by Gen.. To-
raj to the United States forces embraces
not far from one-third of the area of the
province of Santiago de Cuba. the largest
of the six provinces into which the ISL
| and is divided. Beginning at Acerrade-
ros. on the south coast, which Is about
twenty-five miles west of Santiago city.
the boundary line of the surrendered ter
ritory runs northeast over the Sierra del
Cobre Mountains to Palma Soriano. at
which place 1t veers to the east. and
runs In almost a straight line across
some Of the widest mountain country
in Cuba, terminating on the north coast
at the port of Sagua de Tanamo.
Not the least important fact about this
surrender is that 1t gives the United
States forces control Of four good har-
bors. two on the south coast and two
on the north. these being Santiago GU
antanamo, Baracoa and Tanamo. The
harbor of Santiago is spacious and capa-
BILE of being strongly defended; IN fact.
It may be made impregnable. 1t is acces-
sible to the largest vessels. Those draw
ing not over fourteen feet of water may
lie alongside the wharves.
Guantanamo, which is about forty miles
east of Santiago. also has fine harbor
and a roadstead in which all the ships
of our Atlantic fleet may lie A. anchor
safe from the severe storms which often
prevail on the coast, of Southern Cuba.
The two northern harbors are not as
important as those obtained on the south.
but they will be found useful and well
worth having. =. ..a.-5
Some of the highest mountains in CUBA
are in this territory over which Uncle
Sam is to rule, at least temporarily. ana
within sight of AcerraderoS on a clear
day is the highest point of land In Cuba,
the peak of Tarquino. 5000 feet. above
sea level.
The soil Of Santiago provsf.ce ts largely
of limestone forma ton, with secondary
formations OF syenstic ,and serpent.ne
strata, from the latter of which petro-
Ieum oozes in many places, and in the
extreme eastern end of the province gath
ers nj pools in the rocky districts. There
are many streams and small rivers in
this part of Cuba, but no important ones
included in the surrendered territory.
erhere are soma. very, .p.cturesqle
isleams however. tIbta6y the River
Moa. northeast Of Guantanamo. In
huge cavern in the hill of the same name
the river forms magnificent cascade
with a fall of three hundred feet. The
valleys are fertile, and between the higher
hills are drained by T. network Of tiny
streams which spread into swamps ana
marshes along the coast.
The climate of this mountainous region
is. in general. agreeable. Situated just
under the northern tropics, the four
seasons of the temperate zone are merg-
ed into the two which characterize
tropical climate. the wet and the dry.
S,rp last "a ApvH IA Ocrnhpr
while the cool or dry season, takes the
place of the autumn. Winter and early
Spring of more northern .lattfudeS
The average temperature of the year
at Santiago is 50 I-2 degrees. The July
and August average is S5.4 degrees; the
December and January average I2 de-
grees. But there IS a GodSend all along
this south Cuban coast in the sea breeze.
which makes itself felt from noon until
evening, by which time the sun has dis
appeared and the earth and air have been
cooled perceptibly.
The yellow fever affects the seaboard
during the hot season, but more because
of neglect of sanitation than for any
other reason. --
There are gold deposits In some OF the
rivers which are to be under General
Skaters provisional Jurisdiction. and in
the Sierra Cobre mountains are silver
and extensive lodes of copper. A smelter
at Santiago city has long done a we'll
pa.-ing business. Bituminous coal of eX-
celient quality. asphaltum beds and pc
troleum are found between the base of
the mountains and the eastern coast
Gypsum. slate. jasper and marble are
other products of Santiago province
In the valleys, except in some cases
where the rocky foundations of the noun
tains break out. the soil is of a splendid
tropical fertility, and every kind of vege-
table and tropical fruit grows rankly
Tobacco is also a good crop in some
places. Coffee. cocoa and chocolate
thrive; rice is easily cultivated, and In
dian corn is native. Sugar. of course is
a great product. -t-r
OF woods there are cedar mahogany.
ebony. granadilla and sabicci. Vast
stretches of land are covered with track
less forests.
The principal cities and towns in the
district surrendered are Santiago. Ell CO.
bre. Tanamo, Baracoa, Santa Catalina,
and Caimanera. Santiago has popula-
ton of some 5000. 1t is a seat of educa-
ton, an ecclesiastical center a govern.
mental and military headquarters. and
an important commercial and manufact-
uring place. 1t is one of the Oldest and
most picturesque cities in America, Its
dating from 1522. 1t was in
Santiago that the Vfrgfnius affair took
place in 1873 and which came near In
volving Spain in war with the United
States.
The inland transportation facilities of