New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-23

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SIs,r Orleans Republican.
6fficiEI JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS
Communicated
SAN DOMINGO.
r.,exraphy, Soil, Productions. Climate
and Minerals.
From the urgent manner in which Preei-
dent Grant urges the acquisition OF the
Island Of St. Domingo, and from his posi-
ton (enabling him to obtain the best and
most reliable information), we Judge he pos
sesses q knowledge of it superior to most OF
those who have written structures on MS
message regarding that subject. The mes
sage, speaking Of the island, says: 1t
possesses the richest soil, best and most
capacious harbors, most salubrious climate
and the most valuable products of the forests
mine and soil of any Of the West India
Islands, and is one of the richest terri
tories under the sun, capable of supportinga
population Of ten millions OF people IN lux
ury." All this is true.
The writer of this, from his personal
experience, knows it's margins and harbors
and has travelled for months, hundreds of
miles into the interior, over its mountains,
across its savannas and rivers, has
encamped on its hills aud in the val
leys, been exposed to all its attitudes.
seasons and varieties OF climate, and
had daily intercourse with the inhabitants.
and can truthfully vouch for all the mes
sage expresses respecting the island. Unlike
Cuba and some Of the other West India
Islands, San Domingo has no barren noun
tains or waste land. Vegetation and valu-
able forest trees cover it in luxuriant
growth from its lowest valleys and savan-
mas to its highest elevation. Particularly
on some of the gentle southern slopes Of the
mountains l have frequently been aston
ished to see natural parks of magnificent
trees as if the cultivated hand Of man
placed them there. Nature had done that
which took centuries of care to produce in
old England's Justly boosted parks. Equally
surprising to see ON some Of these attitudes,
all within the reach Of the eye, Mt once, the
yellow pine, palm tree, cOcOanut, orange
sweet and sour-lemOn and lime, and the
guavas, Interpreted with valuable forest
growths peculiar to other latitudes.
The topography Of the island strongly in
dictates volcanic origin, but Of a slow and
gradual upheaving, giving time to subdue
and utilize to man the beautiful island
forming in favored cline for his use. The
island is indeed tropical in it's latitude, but
from it's location in the midst Of the oceans
fresh and cool mountain breezes, and
streams of cool running water, never stag
nant in marshes or lag0ohs, with the richest
choice, without an extreme of any climate,
. more desirable spot can not be found
The early Spanish writer's are enthusiastic
about the island, and Columbus, the great
discoverer, drawn by the hand of God to
the spot, writes of it with q reverential
admiration. To those who have not
visited and travelled into the interior, such
representations may appear somewhat fab
nleus; but to the writer of this, they are
can not believe there is another spot in
creation. Of its size, presenting to man
greater Inducements to live in luxuriantly,
with less toll. As to agricultural prOduc-
h0ns, it is scarcely necessary to state that
that favored cline and location most fayOrs
all agriculture.
About the Santiago district (once famed
- the city of gold artisans) the Mocha
coffee flOurishes. The whole island is in
digenous with the choicest of tobacco; with
the same care, the San Domingo tobacco
would be superior to the productions Of
tobacco thrown out from lands in Cuba.
England, Germany and France, however,
now obtain it all Two crops of rice can
be grown in one season ON the same land.
Cane grows to great size, perfection and
richness, not needing replanting for years.
Cotton is biennial, and pays well if cult
waited with half the care in the United
States. Santiago, at the head of the Yuma
and Vague rivers, and in the eastern margin
of the LA Vega Rear or Royal Meadow
is about sixty miles from Puerta Plata and
about ninety miles from Monte Christie or
Mansanilla bay, in which the Vague empties.
There is almost natural grade from that
bay through that entire valley for
railroad and a canal. The Vague is naviga-
BILE at its lowest water for fifty miles from
the bay by steamboats, suitable to the Ohio
river in low water. That valley, LA Vega
Real" situated between the mountains
Maymon and next southern range, is capa-
bleof being made ~ Of the richest agricul-
tural spots on eartAD At present it is almost
totally undeyeloped. On the maps the
Vague is represented nearer the Maymon
mountains than in fact. On the south side,
over the southern range or ranges, the to-
Biography is more rolling and beautiful, in
large sections, adapted to either agriculture
or grazing. On some of the sloping hills,
alongside Of oranges, pineapples, bananas,
plantains. figs, lemons, lines, plums and
coffee, have seen Indian corn, Irish and
yam potatoes and other vegetables familiar
to other ATTITUDES, all growing at the same
time. often met with the finest quality Of
ginger growing in a wild state, and from the
extensive fora, honey and beeswax could
be made most valuable article Of export.
There were three Of us in our party, be-
side two guides, and five jacks loaded with
provisions and implements. We were adj
vised we needed no provisions for our ami
mails, and such We found to be the fact. In
truth, with our guns only, we could have
supplied ourselves, as we found plenty of
wild hogs and occasionally wild cattle, wild
pigeons, doves, parrots, crows and wild
Guinea fowl.
The natives have manner of curing
their meat, thus: First skinning the animal
thin on the hide; taking the bones from the
meat, then rubbing the meat with lime
juice, saltsend red pepper; after that, by
hanging in the sun it cures perfectly. We
found the meat thus cured very excellent
The guinea fowl thus cured is also very fine.
In the Ponton district, in the southwest of
the island, near the Haytian line, we crossed
a beautiful stream, called the SOyenette,
which presented mill sites which would
give power sufficient for any purpose the
country required. The stream runs through
and on the margin OF broad savanna
capable Of sustaining thousands of herds