The age-herald., 1902-03-23

two miles above it's mouth on the North coast. It is advantageously situated on picturesque plateau, between the Ca- ballos and Casas Mountains at the base of the latter, about 90 feet above the sea. It is well drained and, exposed to the constant breezes from the sea, free from malarial influences. Its water comes from a magnetism spring. said to be very bene- flcial in cases of stomach trouble, and baths have been built into which water from the same spring is conducted. Pop ulation, 1000.
 Invalids arriving at this town proceed to Santa Fe, about the center of the is- land, fifteen miles in a Southeasterly dt- rection over an American built road.
 It is also an American postofftce.
 Santa Fe is situated on the left bank of the river of the same name, fifteen miles S. S. E. of Nueva Corona, and has an American postoff1ce. The port of the town Jucaro. Is about seven miles dig tant Santa Fe Is place of 1050 inhabi- tants and has thermal baths and medi- cinal springs of magnesia and iron, fav- orably known and patronized from Ha- bana In the summer.
 Jucaro the port of Santa Fe at d1s- tance of seven miles. is connected by a fine road A steamer touches here once a week The means of communication with Santa Fe is by the volante or OK cart There is also a telephone to Santa Fe projected.
 In addition to these three important centers are twenty-six villages and ha- ciendes scattered throughout the island. Of the land lying North of the Cienaga- the swamp and low ground with man. groves is estimated at 25 per cent; the savannas or meadows covered with these mangroves and scrub palmetto at % per cent; land of doubtful agricultural value 10 per cent; rich land, 10 per cent; moun- tains and steep hills, 5 per cent; pine lands unsuitable for agriculture, % per cent.
 Of the land denominated rich a very small percentage Is actually under culti- vation, but the nature of the growth upon it shows the value of the soil
 As an example of the variety of pro- duct finca or farm of less than B acres actual cultivation produces coffee, sugar chocolate (cocoa), cocoanuts, plan tains, bananas, boniatos (sweet potatoes), yuca (cassava), furnishing laundry starch), malangoes Answering for pota- toes), rice, beans, luttice, tobacco, honey, fowls, pigs and cattle.
 Of the staple tobacco, the island ex- ported in 1899 about 5000 bales of 100 pounds each, selling in Habane at the highest market rates. The cultivation of sugar In 1900 was confined to a single es- tate.
 It is also reported that the island Is adapted to the growth of rubber.
 The minerals are marble, kaolin, gold, iron and salt.
 The quality of the marble Is reported to be available to the finest statuary, the color being the purest white. Other va rieties of different hues are suitable for ornamentation as they take on an ex- celent polish. The stone Is free from cracks and will furnish slabs of any size, the deposits varying from 5 to 9 feet in thickness. They are also situated to meet all requirements or convenient and economical transportation to points of shipment on the coast
 It's valuable trees are mahogany, lig mum vitae coco-wood, from which reed instruments are made; cedrella odorata, used to make cigar boxes; log wood, pine and Royal palm.
 Fruits and nuts, both cultivated and wild, are celebrated for their quality and