The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-11-20
Uncle Sans New Basis Of War.
fare at the Bay Of Guam
tanamo.
COLUMBUS WHEN THERE
h Discoverer of America Was the
First White Man to Visit the Place
Looks Now Much as 1t Did
Four Hundred Years Ago.

IA tlIc SlIGlCIi OIL SSdDOafQ ldClllS lne
channel which runS between Cuba and
Haiti. 1t was visited by Columbus in
1494 on his voyage TO the east end of
Cuba, and was the scene of an abortive
English scheme to capture Santiago
nj ~subjugate Cuba in l741. 1t was
also the spot where the Americans
first landed during the Spanish-Amer-
lean war, with the same impracticable
idea Of operating against Santiago.
During the entire period of the Span
lSh occupationits commercial and STRAIT
egic possibilities received scarcely any
attention, and today It's appearance diff
fers but little from that which it must
have presented 400 years ago. 1t is
about ten miles long and varies in
breadth from half a mile to four miles.
1t runs into the heart of a very ex-
tenslve plain, the bordering hills ris-
ing dimly on the far horizon.
Originally it seems to have covered a
much larger area; it is now flanked by
salt marshes and sand flats, while the
banks and i~sl2ts, which rise here and
there to a height Of thirty feet, are
constructed of coral of quite recent for
nation. The geological movement has
accumulated the shallowness Of the up
per part Of the bay, but it has left
deep and unobstructed the main chan
nels and lagoons at the mouth; In many
places the rock goes clear down to a
considerable depth. while a number Of
escarpments and islands have been
brought into greater prominence, and
these have been noted as suitable for
Qualifications and other works. On the
east The mountains gradually approach
the bay and finally sink into a low
range, called the Cuzco hills, which
runs along the a and terminates in
q broad bluff at the entrance to the
harbor. The same characteristic exists
on the west, but in a less pronounced
degree. Two rivers flow into the bay,
the river Guantanamo, which empties
Itself just inside the mouth on the
east, and the GuasO, on the same side
higher up, but both arc u~nimportant
physical features of the region.
The entrance between the leeward
n windward points is about two
miles wide. Both sides will be strongly
fortified, and it Is proposed to erect
barracks on the Cuzco Hills, where the
full force of the healthful ocean breeze
Is experienced. From the sea the cham
mel runs straight and wide into a spac-
ious anchorage, under the lee of the
eastern headlands. This range is the
chief element contributing to the secur-
ity OF h harbor. 1t protects it from
the winds and hurricanes that sweep
up from the southeast. and also from
the occasional south winds which blow
right into the O Of the bay, but
leave unruf1led the sheltered waters Of
the anchorage. Here at present lie the
Olympla n Vixen, with an attendant
collier, n here could ride the vessels
of a large fleet with perfect safety and
freedom Of movement In a blight at
the end Of the promontory on the lee
ward side neStles a small village, the
home of a few fishermen and the pilots
engaged in handling the scanty Ship
ping Of the port.
The Low Mangroves.
On the opposite side the low man
groves sweep around into a conspicu-
GUS coral ridge called Caracoles Point,
overlooking the anchorage; here it is
proposed to erect powerful batteries,
From this point the bay proceeds in a
~northerly direction and becomes broken
up into a series of lagoons, islands and
sWamps, but the main channel. which
passes to the left of an island called
Medic Cay, continues broad and deep.
1t has been discovered that the channel
to the right, though narrower, is deeper
and capable of taking vessels of the
greatest draught. The whole Of the
water area in this part Of the bay i'm
mediately back of the anchorage-it
has the name Of G~randadillo bay-is
we'll adapted for wharves and docks.
and 1t Is here that it is proposed to
place these and other works. The
LIZ 4 ouSSSSlGu DIS suitable for
hospitals. The bay then contracts. and
the bank on the right rises to a height
of about thirty feet; here can be seen
the ruins of a small Spanish fort which
was destroyed by the Americans. The
channel broadens out into the upper
portion of the bay, a beautiful sheet
Of still water.
Caimanera is situated on the left
shore; 1t is the only port on the BAY:
but 1t is merely the terminus Of the
guantanamo railroad, and consists of
a few wooden buildings n matched
huts, a government wharf, and the
railroad sheds. The custom house Off
Ger lives at Guantanamo, which is
twelve and one-half miles in the inte-
rior, beyond a stretch of sour, unpro-
ductive land. Guantanamo is a typical
Spanlsh-American town, without a ho-
tel, unpaved, unsanitary, it's only virtue
q good water supply, which was pro-
vided by the Americans during the
military occupation. 1t contains about
5000 inhabitants. A branch Of the rail-
road proceeds to Jamaica and another
TO Soledad, two sugar centers six miles
further on and near the foot of the
hills. One or two private wharves be-
longing to the sugar estates occupy
positions on the upper reaches of the
bay, but otherwise it's shores remain
under the dominion Of mangrove and
bush.
The country round the station is at
present destitute Of the facilities which
would add to it's amenity and security,
The chief drawback is the lack of an
adequate supply Of fresh water. It is
proposed to dig wells within the boun-
laries Of the station, and to supple
ment the provision thus obtained by
laying down pipes from Guantanamo,
probably also from a river some leagues
to the east. But the disadvantage of
depending on water conveyed from a
long distance is felt to be a serious
one in connection with the naval sta
tion in an alien country.
Complete Absence Of Roads.
There is also a complete absence of
roads in the neighborhood, the only
means of communication being mule
weather. The prospect of the establish
ment Of the naval station is, however,
stimulating railroad development. The
guantanamo Railroad company has com
pleted plans for an extension of their
Ene. The terminus will be shifted from
Caimanera to Deseo Point, a mile and a
half lower down. where a rier will be
erected In thirty-eight feet OF dater.
From Guantanamo the line is to be ex-
tended to join the Cuban Central railroad
&c La Maya. and thus connect thu it,