Year: 1867

Full Description Of the Lately Acquired Sa-
mann Territory-The Bay and Peninsula
Climate. Products and People-Its Great Ini-
p0rtance as u Maritime Stntion-Necessity
for nm Extension Of the Cuban Cable.


SAMAsA Oct. 3. 1857.


The American people very little or the i'm
future importance Of the purchase made
by Mr. Secretary Seward Samana, the peninsula, is
part Of OF those gorgeous southern slanss which
Is terra incognita to majority Of the people OF the
States and which must visited DO fully appreciated
1t is situated in latitude nineteen degrees eighteen
minutes north, and longitude sixynins degrees eight
minutes The royal palm and the cocoa, and even
the cactus (which Texas affords abundanty), thrive
here in unsurpassed luxuriance.


Its highest peak the Sugar Loaf attans altitude OF
nearly two thousand feet and the Mone du Diabe
thirteen hundred feet above the level of the sea


What is peninsula island; for,
formerly there existed water communication
its west end separating 1t from the island Of HaytL
This old quasi canal could easily be reopened and the
enterprise Of people would ind in the obstacles but
pleasing incentive acton-a labor that must bring
forth remuneratlve results.


The soil is emnenty fertile, and for its full develop
ment requires only the practical appliances and tho
energy which alike the distinguishing attributes Of
tho people Of the United States The Understandable
for shpbuding and cabinet works. abundant





most profitable trade. In addition to this
the territory contains copper, gold and bitnmn-
Gus coal and under proper management these
products would yield enterprsng parties ready and
remunerative return for their investments. Indeed,
the OF this acquisition little Under
stood as they unknown and they will remain hidden
from the world until developed by that enterprise which
is par excellence, the attribute of our nation.


The bay Is forty three miles in length and with an
OF eight miles In BREADTH being eleven miles at
its widest point. its end IT receives the Yuma,
the largest river OF the republic. This noble bay OF
Samana forms OF the finest barbors in the world,
and may be regarded as most important maritime posi-
on with reference 10 the trade OF the Gulf OF Mexico


The population Of the peninsula at this time about
23O0 At accessible points u Catholic church,
now much out OF repair and Wesleyan chapel. Your
correspondent found that neither of these. however,
has very devout or very numerous worshiupers There
Is very general apathy la religious matters and great
need Tor that quckening infuence which ever accom-.
panies the march Of our more progressive conmnntos


The present Custom House might serve shell 10
shelter incoming oficais, but wiil OF course
be replaced by structure worthy OF the interests
which 1t will maintain. The garrison controlling the
peninsula consists of battalion the command of
colonel aud has been hitherto sufficient to secure good
order.


For news from the outer world we are almost entirely
dependent upon stray copies OF the NEw YORK HERAp
waves kindly bear to our shores some friendy bark.


The character Of the people here Of that etharcc


type which s common to the inhabitants 0! tho tropics
generally. Enough for to-day Ia enough, and anything
for TO- would be too much, s evidently their
gospel They doce tractabIe race, and easiiv
be moulded To whatever s desired under the Influence
Of superior intelligence. When the came Of the
absorption OF this peninsula by the United states there
greater rejoicing than has been known here within
the period or century. and the sentiment OF loyalty
to the flag Is which obtains even though 1t be not
fully understood AS brought more and
nearly relation with central this feel
ing will be intensified, and the influence upon the peo-
pla Of this community proporsionatey beneficial.


In q short tmc must OF course be connected with
the States by the tcegraph:c cabe for II will only
bc necessary have rapid communication with this I'M
portant naval station but highly desirable other
counts As the Cuban cable could be extended without
great additional cost, we trust that not many months
will elapse before the undertaking is begun