Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-16
Santo Domingo as II Is.

40 TAR as can 5eaIHs Acu1M ana
Home is the only paper Of its class in
the United States that has had the
enterprise to engage special CORE
spondent in connection with the
Santo Domingo expedition; and l
am duly impressed with the honor Of
being thus the especial representa-
tive of the great agricultural interest
Of oar country.
And vet, in view Of the negotia-
tions now pending for the annexa-
ton Of Dominica. reliable descrip-
iioa Of the island, Of its soil, climate,
situation. extent and resources, be-
comes o matter Of special interest TO
our farmers and agricuiturists. The
question at once arises: Do we want
il. Have we not enough territory
already? With a vast amount of fer
tie soil still undeveloped upon our
own continent, already traversed by
railroads, and accessible by land,
why should we cross the sea to take
possession Of region so distant?
VIII it pay the formers Of America
to assume its debt: Will they have
any use for i. if they get it?
To obtain the facts upon which to
base an intelligent reply to these
questions, ! set sail on the Tybee
from New York. on the lst Of Feb
rnary. On the 9TH inst, / landed at
Puerto Plata, the principal seaport
on the northern coast Of the island.
Santo Domingo is 300 miles from
New York city, ina direction little
east of south. 1t is Of irregular form,
and contains about 10000 square
miles. The western end of the island
i known as Hayti, and is inhabited
almost exclusively by colored peo-
pie who speak the French language.
They number about 100000, and
occupy one-third Of the island.
The eastern end Of the island con-
tains about 1000 square miles, and
is peopled by mixed race, descend
ed from the Spaniards and Indians,
with a considerable African admix-
ture. The whole number of inhab-
itants will probably not exceed 1885,
900. They are kind and hospitablc
but poor, INDECENT and uncducatcd.
They are Roman Catholics, but have
established freedom Of religious opin-
ion, and a government republican in
form. Perfect social equality pre-
walls. / see no distinction of any
kind based upon color, and find in
teliigent and ignorant people Of all
grades Of complexion. Not one-tenth
part of the people are white, and
these are mostly foreigners engaged
in mercantile pursuits.
Santo Domingo contains at least
12,0O0,00O acres of fertile landau
most all capable of profitable cuItiva-
ton. Three-fourths Of it is high
rolling country. 1t is traversed by
three principal ranges Of mountains,
running northeast and southwest,
and varying in hight from 1000 to
10000 feet. Between these ranges,
and on the margin of the sea, are
wide and beautiful valleys and sa-
vannas, with climate and vegeta-
ton thoroughly tropical. The high
lands furnish permanent and abun.
dant streams of pure spring water,
which flow rapidly to the sea. The
hills are clothed with forests TO their
very SUBMITS. The timber is of al
most innumerable species. Many
kinds are valuable and profitable for
export. Among these are mahoga-
ny, lignumvite, satinwood, logwood,
fustic, oak, pine, etc. Nine-tenths of
the entire area of Dominica is to-day
virgin forest, largely composed Of
valuable timber. Yet there is not
single saW-mill in the country. The
hills are full Of streams, affording
unfailing water power. They are
intersected with rivers navigable for
RATS and canoes, and terminating in
secure harbors. Logwood and ma
hogany can be shipped to New York
and Boston by sailing vessels for IS
per ton, by steamer for SO per ton.
Without exaggeration we may say
that Ave hundred saw-mills could be
probably employed, and make for.
tunes for their proprietors.
But Dominica may be briefly de-
scribed as region of unfulfllled pos
sibilities. In the whole country there
is not a pillow, nor q carriage-road,
nor a frst-class plantation. The soil
is of better average quality than that
of Cuba, as / am assured by very in
telligent Cubans resident on the is
l,x al A..