New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-09

exn~t 70 Other colonies; Vt H. =! -
kin6 500 and &ovego apUy4 -
Hshes 81 many kinda Tho black feh g
orannna. : small member Of ~ Wha!'
| familv. f. somewhat abundant ON the nOrtn
ern shore. where several ecoro are ceugn
| eyerv wear, and their blubber tf,ed e0TI
! for ell The tastaes-beea - 49, cu.D =
species and the hams-bill' are spnposns =
the deep sea few miles nom isn ...;v
il generally healthy country, especialiy =
Tie interior among the mountains, where
white men labor safely and successfully
The acclimatiOn Of strangers presents no
greater obstacles to immigratton than IN nSw !.
States. The eastern portion Of the island Y
| constantly swept by trade winds, ana ~
therefore, much more healthy than Hayti,
to which the ravagcs of the yellow lever aIe
chiefly confined. The losses Of the spanish
army from illness were largely due TO iacH
of sanitary care, and the commissioners are
satisfied that their losses have been largely
exaggerated. RI.
The commissioners have given spfcia! at
tention to the matter of health, and besides
getting information from other quarters,
they have charged two medical men to re-
port specially upon it, and their reports are
appended. Their conclusion is this: The
popular idea that Dominican territory il
particularly unhealthy, and that persons
visiting it are particularly liable to yellow
fever, Is entirely erroneous. The average
general health and longevity is quite equal
to and probably greater than in the United
States.
AS whole, immigrants are not liable to
any moro disturbance of general health than
persons who pass from the old to the new
States of the United States, and acclimation
upon the sea coast il q process 60 simple as
to escape notice. Taking the year through
as much agricultural work can be done
without affecting the health as can be done
in our Middle and Western States, and with
greater results.
Persons in all circumstances can here, by
kselecting their locality, enjoy a delicitu,
climate and abundance Of fruit, with far
less liability to diseases of lungs, TO scarlet
fever and other fearful epillemics, and
without any liability to yellow fever.
The commission, its attaches and gentle
men of the press; numbered -; the officers
and crew Of the frigate numbered 496
This company of 528 sojourned in the har-
bOrs supposed to be the most unhealthy
parts of the country, or in the interior Of
the island about two months; few, il any,
had been acclimated. Nevertheless there
was but one case Of mortal disease, and that
from causes unconnected with the climate.
There was no severe sickness among them.
The steamer Nantucket, with its full COM
plement Of officers and men, has been in
the harbor Of the island for about fifteen
months, and has not had single case of
yellow fever.
Earthquakes have done NO serious damage
to the island since 1876, and though slight
shocks occur almost avery year, they are 20
uncomfortable that scarcely one in twelve
of the inhabitants are aware of them. Hur-
ricanes are not unfrequent, and sometimes
attended by considerable damages.
The island has several rivers navigable
for short distance into the interior, while
three great bays-Samana, Acoa, and Man
zanil'a-admit vessels Of the largest draft,
though only the first has any importance in
a military point of view.
The commissioners state the advantages
of the acquisition of SANTANA bay, to be .
powerful military and naval station, the
doubtless growth of an important city,
portion of the water front Of which has al
ready been acquired by. citizens Of the
United States, but which is only small
part of what would be occupied BY the site
Of great commercial city. Inland com
municatiOn, by water and rail. would be
easy, and the future of SANTANA bay, under
the authority Of the United States, could not
fail to be of national importance.
The following statement, receipts for
1870, is here presented, in order to give as
far a. possible q complete view Of the
financial condition Of the Dominican re-
public:
Revenue and income of the government
for 1870: First-COtOms receipts: tonnage,
q, 900; entrance fees, 4l46,995; peta-
logue, $l4S go; lighterage, Ssl 500; inter
quarantine, $43,0i6 So; wharfage, Sos, 1913;
recargo. municipal, $ll9,5 50; recargo for
steamer, 4568,6l4; water, 324,lO0; import
dues, 369. 139, 1864; one quarters export dues,
$9,14l $40 50; coast fees, $751;, Ill.
The commissioners believe that the State
ment given above includes all the indebted
ness or obligations for which the Domini-
can republic is in any degree liable, a. well
ing, as that which it regards as unfounded
or over stated by the claimants.- Through
out the inquiry it was urged upon the Do
minican authorities that every claim known
to exist, Of Whatever character, should be
exhibited to the commissioners, whose OBJ
ject was not to determine the precise
amount that was justly due and binding,
but to get at the bottom and find the ut
most limit of their obligations, setting for
which the government could, under any
be made liable. The above
accC unit contains much that the Dominican
government believes to be partly or wholly
groundless, and some of which, upon in
spection, will appear unquestionable.
Among pending claims IL one of President
Baez, for destruction Of property. 1t is
alleged by claimant that the spanish gov
eminent recognized this claim as valid, al d
ordered an examination to fix the amount;
but the commissioners can not understand
how this claim could be voted against the
government.
A question has been raised in our courts
whether the government and people Of the
Dominican republic, having once been
under the rule of the Hayti0ns, might not
be liable for portion OF the indemnity ex-
acted by France from Hayti for estates of
French families who had been driven out
of the island, and whose property had been
confiscated by the Haytions during the rev.
olution of 1896
The commission made inquiries on this
subject Of the Dominican government and
also in Hayti, and they could not learn that
the Haytien government had ever made
this claim upon the Dominican republic.
and they think that if made it would be
wholly without foundation.
The commissioners were informed by the
Dominican authorities that the present ad-
OF the government has not had
diplomatic representatives or made treaties
Or engagements with any other govern
ment except US.
An examination of the treaties made
during the previous history OF the republic,
with France, Great Britain and other
powers, will be found in executive docu-
ment No. III. First Congress, second SEES
sion. They are mostly treaties Of naviga-
ton and commerce, and contain no unusual
provisions requiring notice here.
The extent of undisputed Dominican ter
ritOry, twenty-five Thousand two hundred
and twelve square miles, the portion Of
which has been formerly involved in dis.