Report on a Geological Reconnoissance [Sic] of Cuba, Made
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LIBRARY OF WELLESLEY COLLEGE PRESENTED BY Mr. C. Vlllard Bayes i REPORT ON SOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE OF CUBA, MADE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OENERAL LEONARD WOOD, MII^ITARY GOV:eRNOR, BY "Willard Hayes, T. Wayland Vaoghan, and Arthar C» Spencer, GKOLOGISTS. 1901. Setr QE Z22 H3 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Washington, D. C. , December 8, 1901. General Leonard Wood^ Military Governor of Cuba, Havana, Cuba. Sir: I have the houor to submit herewith a report on a geological reconnaissance of Cuba, made in accordance with your instruc- tio.is. Both in the field work and in the preparation of the re| jrt the economic purpose of the reci nnoissance has bren constantly kept in mind. Only so much of the general physi- ography and geology has been included as appeared to be essen- tial to an intelligent comprehension of the economic problems. Very respectfully, C. WILLAED HAYES, Geologist. INTRODUCTION. The following official correspondence explains the circumstance under which the reconnoissance of the Island of Cuba was made. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY GOVERNOR ISLAND OF CUBA, Havana, February 26, 1901. The Adjutant General, United States Army, Washington, D. C. Sir: Mr. David T. Day, Chief of the Division of Mining and Mineral Resources, U. S. Geological Survey, has recently visited Cuba. During his visit he informed me that on formal request to the Department of the Interior, he believed that two Geologists of the United States Geological Survey 4 would be detailed for work in Cuba, provided their expenses were paid bj the island government. Mr. Day has just written me that he has arranoed the details and is only waiting my application; therefore, I have the honor to hereby request the detail of two geologists from the U. S. Geoh^gical Survey and to state that their expenses will be paid from iunds of tlie Island of Cuba. It is iu.^portant that a hasty geological survey of the Island should be made in order that its principal resources may be known and a statement thereof published. Very respectfully, LEONARD WOOD, Major General, Military Governor. WAR DEPARTiMENT. ^ Washington, March 7, 1901. The Honorable, The Secretary of the Interior. Sir: I have the honor to indorse a copy of a letter, dated the 26th ultimo- froni the .Vj^ilitarj^ Governor of Cuba, requesting the detail of two geolo. gists from the United States Geological S,urvey» for the purpose of making a hasty survey of the Island of Cuba, and stating that their expenses will be paid from Insular funds. In view of the importance of this work, I beg to sa^^ that the Department will be glad if you can find it practicable to comply with this request. ELIHU ROOT, Secretary of War. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. ^ V . Washington, . n. C., MaTch..l6., 1901. The Ronor&hle, The Ze&retary of the Interior. Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your reference on March 9 of a letter from Major General Wood, Military Governor of Cuba, asking the detail of two geologists for a geological reconnoissance of Cuba at the expense of the Island of Cuba. Compensation for the services of the persons detailed must be included in amount to be paid by the Island of Cuba, as we are not permitted to expend any part of our appropriation beyond the limits of the United " .. States For any purpose. geologists to , In accordance with \'()ur request for the names of two be detailed for the services mentioned, I beg to recommend Dr. C. Willard , I Hayes, in charge, with Mr T. Way land Vaughan. to make this investiga- the lateness of the season it is best to send another : tion. On account of Mr. A C. Spencer will also be suggested for detail as soon , assistant, and as he can be spared. e Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, CHAS. D. WALCOTT, Director. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Washington D. C. March 16, 1901. Major General Leonard Woody Military Governor. Havana, Cuba.. Sir: Your letter of February 26th, to the Adjutant General, has been favora- bly referred by the Secretary of War to the Secretary of the Interior, whose approval has been given for the geological reconnoissance of Cuba which you wish, provided that in addition to traveling expenses, salaries of the geologists detailed be paid by you. This is necessary, as our appropria- tions do not permit salaries to be paid in Cuba, and it was a point made in the conversation with 3^ou 03^ Dr. Day. Assuming that this is your understanding, I am placing the matter in the hands of Dr. C. Willard Haj-es, Geologist, who will leave for Cuba on next Monday with an assist- ant. He will take this matter up with 3"ou and be responsible for the investigation. Another assistant will be sent earh^ in April. Very respectfully, CHAS. D. WALCOTT. Director. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Washington, D. C, March 16, 1901. Dr. C. Willard Hayes, ^ U. S. Geological Survey, City. Dear Sir: In accordance with the request of Major General Leonard Wood, Mili- tary Governor of Cuba, to the Secretary of War, transmitted through the Secretary of the Interior, you are hereby detailed to report to Major Gen- eralWood, at Havana, Cuba, to carry out his instructions for a geological 0 rc-c«.iui()issaiioc ol' the Island ot Cuba. Vou will be acconipanied by Mr. T. Wayland Vaughan, and Mr. A. C. Spencer will he detailed to report to you at a later dale. The traveling expenses and salaries of yourself and assis- tants are to be paid for the period of your detail from the lunds for the Island of Cuba. It is expecte*! that this work will occupy you. personally for one month, after which it will be continued until the rainy season by your assistants. Very respectfully, CH.\S. D. WALCOTT, Director. DHPAKTxMENT OF THB liMTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Washington, D. C, Decembers, 1901. Genera J Leonard Wood, Military Governor of Cuba, Havana, Cuba. Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report on a geological reconnois- sance of Cuba, made in E^ccordance with your instructions. Both in the field work and in the preparation of the report the economic purpose of the reconnoissance has been constantl}^ kept in mind. Only so much of the general physiography and geology has been included as appeared to be essential to an intelligent comprehension of the economic problems. Very respectfully, C. WILLARD HAYES, Geologist. Itinerary. —Accompanied by Mr. T. Wayland Vanghati, I left Washington March 18, 1901, reaching Havana on the 2 1st. On the 23d, we left Havana for the Isle of Pines, going on the Government steamer Viking from Bataban6. Three days were spent in making a rapid reconnoissance of such portions of the Island as could be reached in that time. Keturning to Havana the next ten clays viere spent in a trip by rail to Matanzas, and thence with pack train to Cardenas, Hato Nuevo and Jovellanos: also by rail to Pinar del Rio and thence across the mountains to Vinales. From April 11 to the end of the month Mr. Vaughan was engaged in making a reconnoissance of Santa Clara, visiting the principal mineral localities in the central and northern portions of that Province. On May 4 he reached Manzanillo, from which point trips W' ere made to mineral deposits in the vicinity of Portillo and Zarzal. On the 16th he started with pack train for Santiago, going by way of Buecito, Bayamo, Dos Pal- mas and San Luis, visiting numerous reported mineral localities. He arrived at Santiago May 24. On April 11 I was joined in Havana by Mr. Arthur C. Spencer, and we proceeded at once b}' rail to Cienfiiegos and thence by steamer to Santiago. After spending a day at Cobre we started with a pack train into the interior on the 18th, making a careful study of the various manganese deposits in the Cristo district. From Sau Luis we followed the lelegiaph trail to Mayari on the north coast and thence returned b}^ the trail which crosses the Siena de Nipe, arriving at Santiago on the f25t,h. On the following day I toolc the steamer for New York. Mr. Spencer continued the study of the iron, manganese, and copper deposits in the vicinity of Santiago, and between May 7 and 21 made another trip with pack train from Santiago to the north coast some distance to the east of the former route. He also visited Guantauamo. On June 8 Messrs. Yaughan and Spencer left Santiago by the Havana steamer, stopping part of a day at Baracoa. Mr. Spencer left the steamer at Gibara while Mr. Yaughan continued on to Havana and on the 19th sailed for New York. From Gibara Mr. Spencer went by rail to Holguin and spent several days examining mineral deposits in that vicinity. On the 15th he w^ent to Nuevitas and was occupied for 10 days in examin- ing the region between that city and Puerto Principe. On the 28th he returned to Havana, and a few days later sailed for New York. From, the above brief itinerai-y it will be seen that both Mr. Yaughan and Mr. Spencer spent between 12 and 13 weeks in the field, while I was on the Island only 5 wrecks. The work in May and June was much delayed by heavy rains and extreme heat. Notwithstanding the brief field season and the adverse conditions under which much of the work was necessarily done, the reconnoissance w^as extended over portions of every province of Cuba, and the Isle of Pines.