The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-31
American Harbor Is Located in
Guantanamo Bay, Locality
Visited by Columbus.
40 MILES EAST OF SANTIAGO.
Our Fleet First Landed Here
When War Began-PrcS"nt
Appearance Same as
400 Years Ago.

The London Times prints an article from
/ its West Indian correspondent descriptive
I OF our rev naval base in Cuba. Guanta-
namo. the purchase Of which was an
nounced in recent cable.
According 10 the writer. Guantanamo
Bay lies about forty miles east Of San
tiaEo on the stretch of ssaboard facing
the channel which runs between Cuba and
Hayti.
Il was also the spot where the Ameri-
his voyage TO the east end Of Cuba. and
was the scene Of an abortive English
scheme 10 capture Santiago and subjusate
Cuba in I74l.
1t va salsO the spot where the Ameri-
cans first landed during the Spanish
American War with the same impractical
bic idea OF operating against Santiago.
During the entire period OF the Spanish
occupation its commercial and strategic
possibilities received scarcely any atten-
ton; and TO-DAY its appearance differs but
| little from that which it must have pre-
sented 4oJ years ago.
II Is about ten miles long. and varies in
breadth from half mile TO four miles.
II runs into the heart Of very extensive
plain. the bordering mills rising dimly on
the far horizon.
Originally II seems to have covered a
much larger area; IL is now hanked by
salt marshes and sand fats, while the
banks and is-ets, which rise here and there
to height of thirty feet, are constructed
Of coral of quite recent formation.
SHALLOWNESS ACCENTCATED.
The geological movement has Rccentu-
ated the shallowness of the upper part Of
the bay. but it has left deep and unob-
structed the main channels and lsgoons at
the mouth; in many places the rock goes
clear down to a considerable depth. while
a number OF escarprrents and islands have
been brought into greater prominence,
and these have been noted as suitable for
fortificatiOns and other works
On the east the mountains gradually
approach the bay and finally sink into
low range. called the Cuzco Hills. which
runs along the coast and terminates in a
broad blum at the entrance to the harbOr.
The same characteristic exists on the
west. but In less pronounced degree
| Two rivers flow into the bay. the River
Guantanamo. which empties itself Just In
side the mouth on the east, and the
Guaso, on the same side higher up: but
both are unimportant physical features of
the regiO,.
The entrance. between the leeward and
windward points, is about two miles wide
Both sides will be strongly fortified. and
II Is proposed to erect barracks on the
Cuzco Hills, where the full force OF the
healthful ocean breeze is experienced.
From the sea the channel runs straight
and wide, into spacious anchorage IN
der the lee of the eastern headlands.
uting TO the security OF the harbOr. It
protects 1t from the winds and hurricanes
that sweep up from the southeast, and
also from the occasional south winds
which blow right into the mouth of the
bay. but leave unruffed the sheltered wa
tiers Of the anchorage.
Here at present lie the Olympia and
Vixen. with an attendant collier. and here
could ride the vessels OF a large fleet with
perfect safety and freedom of movement.
In blight at the end OF the promontory
the Toward eide nRGf1PE
lage, the home of a few fishermen and the
pilots engaged in handling the scanty ship
ping of the port.
THE LOW MANGRoVE.
On the opposite side the low mangroves
sweep round into conspicuous coral ridge
called Caracoles Point. overlooking the an
chorage; here It is proposed to erect pow
erful 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. II
has been discovered that the channel to
the right, though narrower, Is deeper and
capable OF taking vessels Of the greatest
The whole Of the water area in this part
Of the bay Immediately back OF the an
chorage-it. has the name OF Granadillo
Bays well adapted for wharves and
docks, and It is here that ii Is proposed
| islands are suggested as suitable for hos
pitals. The bay then contracts. and the
bank on the right rises to height OF
about thirty feet; here can be seen the
ruins Of a smal; 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;
| II is the only port on the bay: but IL IS
| merely the terminus Of the Guantanamo
Railroad. and consists Of few wooden
/ hV,TrdEr--. n htrfG q
whan and the railroad sheds.
The Custom-house officer lives at Guam
| tanamo, which is twelve and one-halt
| miles in the interior. beyond a stretch Of
sour, unproductive land. Guantanamo Is
| a typical Sparish-American town, with
| out a hotel. unpaved. unsanitary, its only
virtue a good water supply, which was
| provided by the Americans during the
/ military occupation. 1t contains about 5000
Inhabitants. A branch OF the railroad
| proceeds to Jamaica and another TO Sole
| dad. two sugar centers six miles further
on al near the foot OF the hills.
One OF two private wharyes belonging
/ to sugar estates occupy positions on the
/ upper reaches Of the bay. but otherwise
| its shores remain under the dominion OF
mangrove and bush.
ent destitute Of the facilities which would
add to its amenity and security. The chief
drawback is the lack OF an adequate sup
1t is proposed to dig wells within the
/ boundaries Of the station and to supple
|
| ing down pipes from Guantanamo. proba-
/ bly, also from 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 a naval station 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 tracks
| which are impossible in rainy weather.
The prospect OF the establishment of the
naval station is, however. stimulating
railroad development. The Guantanamo
| Railroad Company has completed plans
| for an extension of its line.
The terminus will be shifted from Cal
| manera to Deseo Point, mile and a half
/ lower down. where pier will be erected
/ in thirty-eight feet Of water. From Guam
| tanamo the line is 10 be extended to Join
| the Cuban Central Railroad at La Maya
| and thus connect the station with Santa
| go and create through line from Ha-
| vana to Guantanamo Bay. This new sec
| tion VIII open up a part OF the country
| rich in agricultural possibilities.
PADUcAH WEDDINGS.
Paducah. KY. Oct. so-Announcement wss
made to-day Of the wedding OF Mr Louis T
| Harris and Miss Nora NJ Mitchell OF this city
| az Metropolis, Ill. Wednesday. They had kept
| their affair secret.