158 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



Fig. 137. — The beautiful plaza of Puerto Plata on the north coast of the 

 Dominican Republic. The streets of this town are well improved, the public 

 buildings substantial and dignified, and its plazas are strikingly ornamental. 

 Puerto Plata has lived through 400 3'ears of stormy history and an uncounted 

 number of revolutions. 



Fig. 138. — View from the harbor of Puerto Plata. The mountain Ijarrier in 

 the background is scaled by a railroad with one of the steepest track gradi- 

 ents in the world. The automobile highway from Puerto Plata to Santiago 

 in the great central Vega (meadow) in crossing the same mountains pro- 

 vides views of scenic splendor. 



