The New York herald., 1869-05-13
ST. DOMINGO.
Visit TO the Mining RegiOns-Skctch Of the
Countrywide Mining Survey.

Countrywide Mining Survey.
ST. DOMINGO, April 20, 1862
After two rruitless attempts have at last tracked
up the mining pioneers to their working places, and
however little it may be worth. here u the hard
won fruit of the research. Tie heavy 1ias had
continued six weeks later than usual Tins year. anl
besides destroying half OF the coffee crop. have OBJ
structed business by making the roads nearly Inn
passabe for bringing IN products for expectation
There Ia but one way of travelling in the Dominican
republlc--that is horseback, taking along q
burden animal to carry hammocks, blankets and
provisions for the trip. SO equipped, with native
guide three OF us started for weeks excursion to
the much debated mining region. Taking the way
through the suburb OF San Carlos which, according
to tradition, occupies the site OF the Sacred Palm
Groves OF the gentle tribes of Ozama exterminated
by the Spanish discoveries of this island OF Hayti
we rode for twelve miles along level road gener-
ally bordered by trees or thckets.
For this distance from st. Domingo the Spanish
forces made a complete desoaton during their late
occupation. Dwellings. fences and fruit trees were
destroyed with a zeal and energy which might have
finally saved the country had they been directed TO
protecting and conciating. instead Of destroying.
dominican interests. Nearer the CITY walls fine
groves OF orange trees and other fruit shIuDs were
cut down 10 make charcoal and turn penny while
the SpaEiards had the district still IN possession,
and the country wears the sad and ruined aspect
left by tins destructive work. At hfteen miles from
the city crossed the Jana by ford and
rode on through a chain OF beautiful rolling prairies
which sweled into hills as we approa ched the
Nigua. The first halt was twenty miles from the
city. the crest OF rather steep hill, command
ing q wide and charming landscape We were on
the eastern margin OF the Honneken estate, now
the hands OF an English company, we had coffee
made and enjoyed our lunch as ONLY travellers can.
beneath the dense, 0verarcning foliage OF the peer
less mango tree. We were now on the first spur Of
the great Cobre the copper fields lntersected by the
river Nigua which seems TO bound the historical
gold fields OF Columbus IN q continuous formation
large copper domain represented by the Italian Con.
sui. We were on an equally large domain repre-
sented by the British Consul. which is sagain bounded
at the west by the mining lands OF French COM
pany and beyond these again are the mines OF New
York company and Buena Vista, IN which alone
there Is some show OF work, To the north OF this
chain OF copper hills. and one formation, tapping
into each other az II were, gold becoming more pro-
nonnced a. the copper seems 10 disappear ron sne
received his first regular tribute OF gold levied upon
the natives OF the New World:
The copper zone is crossed in reaching the gold
fields but we left that with the iron and coal, which
IL said to fringe II on the south and west, for fu
e trip a e ar naSn Sr .He Ssre s he
geoogs-in-chief had his headquarters over the hills,
and bright, light-foofed youth OF fifteen, whom we
had picked up in previous trip, agreed to take us
there In two hours by short cut. He led
us up u steep hillside, aud then along
sharp rave 'a IN, iooy,ng ewn ioJ,g ang
slopes perpendicular crags ana deep forest arcades
IN rapid alienation ana IN strong contrast with the
~. Domingo. lie halted MS triumphantly before
an odd-looking cottage, pcrched high w rough
mountain pro,nontory. ''Ihis IL the Professors
house." said he. ''and here we shall find plenty for
ourselves and horscs.r But we didn't. The place
seemed strangely SILENT however, and II was only
after some mnues calling and searching woman
emerged and Informed us that the whole surveying
party had lett the week before, and were now max
lng their quarters some miles further on. We might
nave been reasonably well accommodated at THIS
eagles neat. hut thought IL beat TO proceed, as our
guide for the day knew these hil paths and we were
| by Ia a Wnuld i,p Ia ~ un
| once more reached the Professors house. and he
| was not there: but Captain SPEAR the practical
| miner, was, aud he not only conducted US 10 the
various diggngs selected by the state GeOlogst for
nnodlate worhing, but obtained little Of the gold
aust taken out IN these examinations. He had tle
| not nan an ounce should think which he and a
| native had helped Professor Gabb 10 wash out In an
Old indian digging at the head OF a rvulei that falls
INTO an ailuent OF the JaiDa about thirfy1ve miles
| west ny north OF st. Domingo. Mr.. Curtis, the
hssstant geOoHist, was arranging for the survey OF
the usticl INTO mining alotments; hut none viii be
assigneu iOr w0rkng until the whole cornun or
county OF san CrtstOba Ia surveyed reporcd OH
ciay aud the maps flied In the Mining Bureau of the
Interior Department atSt. Domingo. The govern
ment expected 70 nave NJ least this district omen TO
practical miners before the end Of January and com.
plains OF the slowness OF operations
The second day after we arrived on the ground we
rode TO the new quarters Of the survey and were
much surprised 10 lind the country 40 fertile and
vet so thlly inhabited Most OF the land ia publIc
DOMAIN but hitherto there h1s been nothing m nrc-
vent the squaters taking tithcs. They could have
had them almost for the asking m TO 1891 The time
III which the government decided TO grant inc land
| WIN inc mines, when The former was the property
| OF the state.
In our second and third DAYS trip we saw several
women washing gold "tv sell 10 the I,rnfoaaor u The