10 



T H E C r H A H K V 1 K W 



Hridfje 



>ver San Cristobal Kivc-r along the Central Koad after- repair: 

 Pinar del Rio Province. 



on than Cristo in direction, with Songo and with ,San Luis and LI Caney. Manzaniilo, the 

 Western port of commercial importance, connected with Bayamo by highway, is not entirely 

 constructed, lacking aVjout 6 kilometers, and this connected with Baire in the same way. In 

 the rest of the province there are whole sections without a road, as those there are are so small 

 compared with the size, that it can be said that in the districts mentioned the agricultural and 

 cijmmercial development of Orientc is limited for the present. 



From the study and consideration of this superficial description will be seen the necessity 

 for adopting a .system or general plan of highways to supply the present and future needs of 

 the country, which will in some way unite the sections most devoid of means of commtmica- 

 tion and which will extend the agricultural development of the Nation and carry progress and 

 advancement to those sections which have as much right to prosperity as the others. Ey this 

 plan the wealth of the country would be increased, and which, on account of its geographical 

 position, is po.sitively bound to have a fabulous increase with the opening of the Panama 

 Canal. 



For this reason the Secretary has devi.sed a general j)lan of highways. api)ro\ing those at 

 present constructed which meet the needs of the coimtry, and trying as far as possiljle to har- 

 monize all interests that might be affected by the adoption of such plan. 



The plan adopted has been that of three systems of highways: one North, connecting the 

 towns, villages and regions situated in the Northern part of the Republic; one Central, con- 

 necting those points situated in the center, and another South, which will connect those situated 

 in the Southern part of the Republic. In the Province of Pinar del Rio, and due to the narrow- 

 ness of same and to the lack of villages to unite in the Southern part, this latter system has not 

 been adopted, the Northern and Central systems being the only ones feasible. 



The three systems adopted are connected between them.selves by roads whose lines run 

 from North to South, connecting at tho.se jjoints which have V)een considered most convenient 

 and at the same time connecting others which at present have not any. 



