18 



THE CUBA REVIEW. 



Dredging the Zanji, the channel between Sabinal and Marinavo bays. Scene of this important 

 work, long promised, but now begun. (From the Reconnaissance map of the U. S. War Depart- 

 ment, corrected to October, 1906.) 



Improvement Work Begun. 



The tug Cardenas, in the service of the 

 Department of Public Works, left Ha- 

 vana April 28, having in tow a dredge 

 and a water barge for Nuevitas to 

 dredge the canal connecting the Bay of 

 Martinavo, an arm of Nuevitas bay, with 

 the bay of Sabinal. This will open up a 

 passage for fairly large sized boats in 

 the inshore side of Sabinal Island. 



The work will be extended westward 

 through the shoals which prevail in the 

 waters landlocked by Guajaba Island, and 

 will be carried up to the Guanaja land- 

 ing. 



This colony has frequently asked for 

 the dredging now to be done, as it had 

 no connection with the outside world 

 by rail, while its water route was of 

 little value, it only permitting the shal- 

 lowest draft boats passing through the 

 passage behind the islands. When the 

 wind was not favorable the water would 

 all be driven out of the shallow cut, 

 and passage made impossible. — La Lu- 

 cha. 



On May 23 the steam dredge started 

 to work opening up the Zanji so that 

 steamers can go through. When com- 

 pleted a channel 150 feet wide and nine 



feet deep will be opened through the 

 bays protected by the long strings of 

 reefs and keys that extend from Nue- 

 vitas to Cardenas, so as to open up to 

 agriculture and commerce the fertile 

 lands of Cabaguey, Santa Clara and Ma- 

 tanzas, bordering these bays. 



Permit to Build Piers. 



By decree of the Provisional Govern- 

 or on June 16 the Jaragua Iron Company 

 of Santiago de Cuba have been allowed 

 permission to construct a pier and track 

 at Ensenada de la Cruz near the port of 

 Santiago de Cuba, Oriente. 



The Governor on the same day also 

 granted Dr. Manuel de J. Manduley, as 

 attorney for Sir William Van Home, 

 authorization for the construction of a 

 pier and wharf at Punta Piedra, Bay of 

 Nipe. 



Further construction work. 



Plans for the construction of various 

 bridges and railroad crossings of the 

 Spanish American Iron Coinpany rail- 

 road to San Luis with a miner's rail- 

 road from Mayari to Cayo Cojimar in 

 the Bay of Nipe, Santiago de Cuba, 

 were approved on June 10 by the rail- 

 road commission. 



