The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-06

The communes of San Juan Los Matos, Bonica,
Neyba, &C., are st down AZ % 600, but they have
been depopulated by revolution and invasion, aud
their actual number is fixed by local residents and
other competent witnesses at from 5000 to 5000.
Comparing these figures of the ecclesiastical court
with certain known facts, and with all evidence
we could gather from intelligent witnesses and per-
sonal observation, the Commissioners estimate that
the actual population of the Republic does not K
ceed 600. This does not include the many who
have voluntarily expatriated Themselves on &C.
count Of tie continual disturbances, nor the few
Il seems probable that more than nine-tenths,
perhaps nineteen-twenteths are native Domini-
cans The others First colorcd emi grants from
the United States; Secoi diy, European traders
who DO not settle anywhere but sojourn At COM
merCial points. Negro blood prepouderafes very
largely in Hayt, but the pure negro of African
type is not con mon even there. White blood pre-
pCnderates largely in Dominica, but pure whites,
in the popular sense of the word are not numerous
The majority sre of mixed race, much nearer
white than black.
The resources of the country are vast and various,
and its products may be increased with scarcely
any other limit than the labor expended upon
them. There is evidence Of mineral wealth in va
rious parts of the island. The geoloRsts OF the
Tedtion report the existence of the of iron, OF
copper end of gold with deposits of Ignite, rock
salt and petroleum. Iron ore is abundant easy of
access, and will, doubtless, in time be made avail
able for the cheap production of pig iron. The
copper ores are Of fair degree of richness, and the
beds have been opened to slight extent.
The reported coal of SANTANA peninsula and in
the neigh lboThood of Puerto Plata was examined
and found TO be Ignite, of little value a fuel,
compared with Pennsylvania or English coal The
anciently, is at present but little known, and in
vites patient exploration by practical miners. The
salt deposits in the mountains near Neyba be-
leved TO be extensive and valuable. The salt can
be uuarTied out in large transparent blocks aud a
chemical analysis made for the Commission shows
it to be of sufficient purity for commercial pur-
poses.
raj purposes there five classes Of lands In SantO
Domingo, viz: First, the mountain slopes and val
leys these are uniformly rich and productive, ex-
cept in limited regions where rain is deficient, or
nj thp southern slopes of coast northeast of
second. The extensive prairie region of the llan,s
lying east and north of Santo Domingo City, south
OF the CibsO range. This ls all admirable pasture
land, large portion of it is capable of profitable
cultivation 1t is intersected by wooded valleys
and gloves containing much excellent timber.
Third The rolling plain of the Vega, which is
generally wooded and is the finest body Of agrcul-
tural land on the island.
Fourth The dry lands are like portion of the
plain Of Azua and the valley of the Taque, where
rain is partly or wholly wanting from topographi-
cal causes. These lands can be made fertile by ar
tfcial irrigation,
Fifth. The red clay lands are mostly along the
coast and underlaid by coraline limestone. These
are usually covered with timber.
They are not generally very susceptible of profit
able cultivation. The vicinity OF San Domingo
City is fair average specimen of this class of soils
proportionably capable Of cultivation. though
San Domingo contains almost every variety of
soil, there is very little swampy or sandy land In
this respect it differs widely from Florida and the
other Gulf States. The country is varied in sur
face, unusually well watered, and eScels III natural
drainage There is hardly any portion OF the
island where the land capable OF cult iVatiOn
The mountains support vegetation widely known,
differing from that Of the low lands, but they no.
where rise 70 high as to be covered with snow.
Everywhere they are fertile, except the few
small districts already mentioned, the plain of
the Taquie and part Of the Azua region, whose
character could be changed by irrigation. Taken
as a whole the republic is one of the most fertile
regoI S on the face of the earth. The evidence of
men well acquainted with the other West India
island declare this to be naturally the richest OF
them all in agricultural products while the geo
graz hcal position Of San Domingo within the tro-
mi the succpSsful BrOluctiDn Of all hp
tropical fruits and vegetables, including the
mercial staples the differences of exposure, eeva
ton above the sea, and char 2cter of s0i present
variation Of circumstances adapting particular dis
tricts to many different classes of growths aud
branches of agricultural industry. In the rich 10 w.
lands and valleys sugar-cane yields the most profit
able return.
The extent and average richness Of the tracts
suited to this purpose are unsurpassed in the West
Indies. The evidence shows that the average
quality OF sail in San Domingo, especi ally the
plains of the Vega and portions Of the country on
the forth shcre are better adapted 20 raising gar
IT, an the sugar growing districts OF the ad-
jacent islands. This is corIoboreted by the oh bger-
walton of the Commissioners. They and their agents
inspected several of the principal sugar plantations
in Jamaica The production of these is very great
where irrigation is practiced In some cases it is
said to exceed two tons per acre. But in many OF
the circumstances conducive TO The most prohta HE
manufacture, Jamaica is less favored than San Do
mngo. mnch larger portion of the latter ia natu-
rally wateIed to degree suitable for this and other
agricultural purposes.
In many parts of San Domingo the canes do not
need Teplanting for many years. Fifteen success
mon upon the richest land. Excellent cane is found
OF much greater age. This is due partly to the
greater frequence and abundance of rain, resulting
from the easterly or windward position OF San Do.
mingo, which gives it fTeer access to the trade
winOs than the islands further within the gulf and
partly also to the rich vegetable mould which covers
the surface of extensive plains and valleys, the re-
suit OF centurl les of forest growth and decav The
greater abundance of fuel would appear TO give to
San Domingo an additional advantage over aiioin-
ng islands in this branch of industry.
The mountain regions are especially suited TO the
nttNt M n an hA anil nf him
s usually rich; even where too steep to be poWed
they can be cultivated with the hoe. The salubrity
of climate and the beauty OF scenery make them
exceedingly attractive. To persons acclimsted and
accustomed TO the northern temperature these
mountain regions offer peculiar Inducements. At
prefe ent these high lands, which form more than
one half the area OF the island are generally
hRbited and almost unvisited by man. In Jamaica
many fine plantatiOnso OF coffee in similar situa-
TORS at an altitude of $500 TO 1900 feet above the
sea.
The culture of coffee and cocoa requires much
less labor and capital than that of sugar, aud Is
peculiarly adapted TO families of moderate means.
The coffee tree begins to bear at the age Of four
years, and continues 10 yield annual crop for
more than fifty years. The cocoa is equally produc-
tive and easy OF culture. Native chocolate, pre-
pared fIom The cocoa bean, is of excellent quality
ana IN general use. Both these trees have become
thoroughly Daturalized and are found growing wild
in the woods and m free from diseases and enc
the genus agave, which produce valuable hbres,
already employed to some extent in San Domingo
for domestic purposes.
The cabuia is the most common. Il grows wild
in the dTest and most arid districts 1t Is suscep
tble OF easy cultivation. The Dominicans make IL
into ropes, halteTs, hammock fastenings, DC. BY
the rough process of extracting fibre by hand, now
used it could not be proftably manufactured, bat
with suitable machinery IL would form an import
ent article of export. The product Of wax and
honey is surprisingly large. Ia many places the
rocks and hollow trees abound in bees. The honey
is 80 cheap and plentiful that comparative little of
IL is saved. Thousands of hives are destroyed for
the sake OF the wax alone. Wax candles are in ge-