BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-19
The Island vf SanaT.

1
! Division OF Insular Affairs OF the War Dep
arment, the following abstract has been
prepared concerning the Island of Samar.
This island lies along the Pacific line of
Treaty boundary, with its N. shore 81 miles
s. Of the center of Latitude of the Archipel
ago. 1t is the northeastern and largest of
the islands of the Vissysn group. The
Pacific ocean extends along the N. and e.
Across an arm of the same on the s., at a
distance of 35 miles, lies Dinagat, the most
northern island Of Mndanao. The bay of
San Pedro and San Pablo and the strait of
San Juanico. pass between it and Leyte on
the s. W. Tae sea of Samar on the w.
separates it from the island Of Blirand and
the Province Of Masbatee
With respect to the trade of the Northern
Pacific, Sansr is probably the most advan
tageously situated Of the Philippines ISL
ands. The strait of San Bernardino divides
its Northwestern point from the Southeast
ern extreme of Luzon. This well lighted
channel is the thoIughfare of steam com
merce between the United States and the
islands of the Pacific by the Southern route
to Manila.
A steamer taxing its course eastward
from Bri, one of the dependent islands of
Samar within sight of the eastern San
Bernardino strait light, wonld pass 800
nautical miles North of the Pellew islands
90 miles 5 of Guam U. s |; 360 miles
North Of the Carolnes Jamestown Har
borE the same d stance n. Of the Marshall
Islands Bonhaml; 1000 miles N. of Tutuila
| u. s. 500 miles 5. OF Hawaii and make
she land near Corruio at the Pacific ou led
of the Nicaragua lnter oceanic Canal.
S,mar is the third island size in the Ar |
being 1856 miles from Northwest
to Southeast and 70 miles from Esst to |
West, with an area ofmainlsnd 5, 1913 and |
Dependent Islands 300 square miles, or !
total of 5.488 sqnare N les. 1t is 403 squa.e |
miles larger than Connecticut, twice the
size Of DeIeware and over four and half
times as large as Rhode Island.
This island is almost a continuation Of the |
southeastern peninsula of LuzoD, being |
from it by the strait Of San Ber |
nardino, but lO-1 p miles wide. A mountain
c ain of moderate height scarcely exceeding
100 to 1900 f., trneds frcm NCrlh to South,
with lower hills toward the coast. The ex
tensive valleys between these rarges are
watered bv q number OF rivers, among them
the Oras, SuFibao and Ulut emptying on the
East; the Lsguan, Bsto and Timonini on
The North; the Buqui on the South, aud
SilaDgo, Matinao, Bsc-hao BaDgahon,
Pagsanhan and Mauo on the West. There
are also fou. large lakes, one of which
Oalibga is natural curiosity on the enOr-
nous boulder, which line its shores.
This strait Of San Jaanico which divides
he island from Leyte on the s. w, from
500 to 1900 yards wide, is one OF the most
interesting features OF the Visayan scenery. Il
In the caves along the Samar shore in
prehistoric days, we're buried the remains
of human ings Of much superior statute
10 those nov living. Another curiosity OIL
nature is an arch II limestone rock, 40 #
high over the Basjg river in Tho South. A
cave nearby known as g Uueves de Sojotonv
presents some fine specimens Of stalactites.
The coaslline, about 4l1 miles, ras o.
number Of fine bays and harbors. Those
,f Balicuatro on the North, Borongan on
he East, Canahauap on tho West, and
9uiuan on the South, offer safo refuge for
veeae|s during the stormy weather Of the
nonaoons. Pambojan on the East coast Is
me Of the best bays 10 tho Archipelago.
n tho San BernardIuo strait the fout hern /