INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



315 



CHAPTEK XL 



INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Projected canal from Havana to Batabano — Survey and levels — 

 Difficulty of making roads — Estimated cost and advantages of the 

 Canal — [Note. — Present state of roads — Itinerary of principal 

 roads — Cross-roads — Turnpikes — Introduction of railroads — Their 

 adaptability to Cuba — Government determines to build the first — 

 Its immense cost — Receipts and expenses — Sale and extension — 

 Present system of railroads — Existing railroads in Cuba — Their 

 cost — Receipts — Steam navigation — Coasting trade— Shipbuilding 

 — Telegraph.] 



The laborious and costly means of internal com- 

 munication in Cuba, increase the cost of her 

 products in her ports, notwithstanding the short 

 distance between the northern and southern shore. 

 A projected canal, which shall combine the advan- 

 tages of uniting Havana with Batabano, and dimin- 

 ish, at the same time, the expense of transportation 

 to the native products, is worthy of special mention 

 here. The idea of the Guines canal was conceived 

 more than half a century since, for the single pur- 

 pose of supplying the Navy-yard of Havana with 



