The New York herald., 1869-07-04
ST. DOMINGO.
A VISIT TO THE COMING STATE.
THE OLDEST CITY In AMERICA

Thomas--The Island of Porto Ric0-Shores
of ST. DOmingO-The HarbOr.
- ST. DOMINGO, June Is, 1869.
At noon on the Sth OF the present month the screw
steamer Tybee, Captain Edwin A. Delanoy-Spoford,
Tileston q Co., owners-left New York city on q
pioneer cruise TO the ports OF the island OF st. Do
mingo. The rapidly increasing unity of sentiment
between United States and the West India islands
mas long suggested the numerous advantages to
accrue from more intimate commercial relations.
In the case OF ST. Domingo the strong friendship OF
her legitimate government and the unanimous de-
sire for speedy and complete annexation to the
United States present stronger claims, at present.
than any OF the other Islands for the opening OF
direct line of communication. Her unexamped
mineral resources, the ineXhaustible fertility OF
her sof' and the diversity OF her vegetable
productions promise lucrative trade, and
with the assistance OF American en-
terprise and capital, the streams OF wealth
drained from the country while under Spanish
dominion. misgovernment and oppression, our own
people, with fair investment of the means of de-
Nelopng the country and liberal business relations,
snight anticipate q vastly increased return. The
runs OF ancient palaces and the decayed splendor
of her towns in themselves bring vvdiy TO the i'm
Domingo. 1t is necessary TO go no further than to
contemplate the crumbing ruins OF the early Span
Ash cities TO satisfy the most ootuse mind OF the
hidden resources of the island.
In view of the much sought for political relations
on the part OF Baez's government and the tendency
OF American enterprise in this direction, the house
OF Spodord, Tileston 4 Co. have taken the initatory
step toward realizing the benefits Of the large trade
destined TO spring up between ST. Domingo and
nxnn pn1 nfrr In f1nr to fha ffra
regular line OF steam communication the fast pro-
pelier Tybee was lifted up for special cruise OF ex-
poration TO the ports OF ST. Domingo city, Say
mana Bay and Puerto Plata.
After good run OF six days and twenty-five hours
posed to spend about twelve hours in order to reach
Hhis port by daylight The approach to tnis resort of
terrestrial paroXysns and subterranean irruptons
rs by an open sea. The island presents from the
north line OF bold, barren hills from 500 to /, 900
teet In height ana about seven miles in length. The
port OF st. Thomas lying on the southern side, the
snips course lay around the western extremity of
lhe island heading for an Isolated peak, about fifty
eeet high, called 'Sail Rock' on the charts.
: About mile from the entrance to the harbor the
Tpilot came aboard and the steamer was again put
1lnder way and moved in slowly towards the narrow
passage leading into a small bay which proved to be
The much celebrated harhor In passing the fort on
the point on the left OF the entrance the Tybee fred
a salute OF one gun. No troops were visible on the
work-not even solitary seminal. The garrison
was asleep The commotlon raised by the salute had
fhardly died away when soldier threw open q
Shutter In the castle, and. wildly rubbing his eyes
seemed TO be looking out for an earthquake some
VIII say nothing OF st. Thomas at present, IN re-
9at0n to the negotiations for Its proprietorshp by
the United states, and price asked for such totally
inadequate facilities Tor either commercial or naval
purposes. The guests on board the TyDee passed
some hours shore doing the town, and partak
lng OF the hospitality OF our new Consul at that pork
Colonel True OF Kentucky. who had arrived at his\
post but few days before, and the members of the
American firms OF G. w. Smith & Co., George A.
Phillips Co., and many citizens Of the town.
AT daylight on the morning OF June l6 the Tybee
weighed anchor ana headed Tor this port. Towards
q RtcO an
peared In view. Our course lay along the entire
length Of the south side OF the island, about
SIX miles OF the shore. The mountains were
sparsey covered with trees TO their SUBMITS.
Along the beach at Intervals where the land
extensive plantations were visible TO the naked eye
From such remote point OF observation the sea
'front.' OF the island certainly presented an appearance
OF thrift notwithstanding the expressions TO which
1t reluctantly yields from its mother government.
=. BY eight O'Clock on Yesterday morning we bore
IN sight OF the loftier SUBMITS of the interior
mountain chains OF St Domingo The coast
was low, though 1t still stood about twenty
TO thirty feet above the sea level. The shores
were covered with vegetation In tropical pro-
uson. Down TO the very edge OF the tidal waves
the soil indicated every mark OF the utmost fertility
BY ten O'Clock the three lofty peaks OF the sierra
Gorda range, which we're known to lie west or the
city at a distance, pointed out our present port.
by noon we had "openedr the mouth OF the
Ozama, on the west bank of which tins
pilot instead Of coming out lay close in shore, allow
ing the steamer 10 come up. The ship hoisted the
American colors aft, with the jack and owners nag
the colors OF the Dominican republic were thrown
to the breeze from the main Entering the har-
bOr more properly the mouth Of the river passing
ine signal tower veneraDle structure dating back
to the days OF Columbus, the steamer saluted the
Dominican dag which was properly responded to-
From mast in front OF the residence OF General
CaZueau, an American Of many years. residence on
the island, the stars and stripes were foating also
nom the American Consulate. The troops in the
ports along the sea wall were drawn up under arms.
large number OF people assembled on the walls OF 7
the town overlooking the river from which they
watched the steamer in passing up the river The
vessel, after proceeding about nalf mile above the
mouth OF the 0zama, moored against the Custom
House dock.
For vessels OF great draft the river is unsuitable
for want OF sunicient depth of water. The anchor.
age the road in front OF the city is about three.
quarters Of mile from the shore and open TO all
winds. from south-southeast hall east by south.
west by west, and In a breeze 70 the southwark
there is q heavy swell The bottom is or black sand
and mud. with good holding ground. Within a
forty fifty fathoms diminishing towards the shore
TO ten fathoms, and thence gradually Swallowing to
river Is 1at and rocky. The river forms an excel.
lent harbor inside, but has bar OF solid rock at its
mouth, with never more than thirteen and half
feet OF water The river Is about two hundred yards
in width.
The arrival OF the Tybee is quite an event in the
history OF the CITY, and is hailed with delight by
hundreds OF men, women and children, who congre-
gate on the river bank to contemplate the mon
ster craft, compared with their own traders, she
lays at her moorings.
The Oldest City in America-Mcmeutos of
Coiumbus-Present Aspect-Chmate and
Diseases-An Interview with President
Baez md His Cabinet-views and FeeIinss
Regarding the Future.
ST. DOMINGO, June %, 1862
The past FIVE days have been unusually lively, both
on board the steamer and in the city On the steamer
in taking in an assorted cargo OF articles OF export
from the island shore In visiting the scenes OF
early historic associations dating from the remote
days Of Christopher Columbus, receiving the atten.
tions OF newly found and attentive friends and other
wise aereeabiy and prontably passing the time. The
hotel OF the town. kent by A Frenchman was onened