New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-22
How far do they live

What are their religious advantages, including the
number OF churches and communicates OF eachf .
6. What are the apparent means Of instruction. III
there are schools, to what extent they attended,
divided TO any extent among small ownersi
Please ask Of all intelligent persons their oPn nn5
Statesi
Ask why, after the general demand for the reunion
with Spain they so soon and so unanimously sough' "
sever that connecticut ,,,.o =,
TO- Ask their views az 70 the union OF the Republics OF
Hayt and Dominica under one independent govern nr
How far DOES the desire Of annexation to fOre8h po"o
arise from fear OF subjugation by Haynf .
Besides this mass of most valuable information II
furnished by the informal conversations heid Win
| the natives who are communicative and generahy
well informed and Intelligent far beyond the aver
age of their race in the United States, the result
doubtless of their more independent life here.
For the last few days the narrow streets OF oahha
have swarmed with reporters who, note III iu'
interviewed the worthy inhabitants from the do'er-
nor and Commandant down to the most moues' pro-
prietor of a boat. and generally with the same
| result. If the political unanimity shoulu
prevail in the future in SANTANA, IL VIII DC
most discouragng place of residence Tor candidates
of the opposition 1t is the best place perhaps to
begin with the natives are intelligent, and speak
little of every language. English predominatlng.
II was quite discouraging to start out in burst
of pathological ardor and poke your head through
the window of some palm-thatched dwelling and
say politely to the worthy matrOn, who was proba-
bly, watching with maternal interest nude infant
basking on the clay floor: Bon jour Madame, es-ce
que pares ErGHCGis Buenos dias Sonora hdbid
T. EspaHol9 and be answered What" with most
unmistakable American accent AS a matter of fact
more French is spoken than Spanish, and both very
horribly: but every understands little
English, so that investigation is rendered compare
lively easy for those who speak no foreign Ian
guage.
But while informal talks and hasty notes may
give general idea of the condition and sentiment
of the people. the Commission desire something
more. and have accordingly drawn up a guide the
following sketch Of family monograph the idea
being to fill up large number of them. and then, as
the saying is, to strike a average.
Monograph Of the Family Of
A.-FANTY LIFE.-Man-OccupatiOn name, age, where
born race color. ChildronNumber living. at what age
of mother first child born, number dead, on WHAT
coffec liquors. fermentcd or distilled. Clobng-Matc
rails, where made aud how fashioned. Family work
prevailing diseases prevention and treatment. Educa
uonWhat provision for. how many In family read ana
BCHousE-Matcrials and construction-Size approx
imately numbers of stories and rooms Outbudings
barns. stOrchOuSes &C. Sleeping room-Whothtr one or
CILlND-Extcnto of property; how obtained and held;
mode of cultivation. assistance, tools. Vegetable pro
ducti-Roots. grains. grls7es fruit, Be. How long will
and Vegetables keep comparatively win northern
clatci Excess vegetables produced beyond need OF
family. Live stock-GIorses and mules cattle, hogs,
fowls How much beyond needs Of family Vrimn
destructive troublesome; miscellaneous particulars
what money nsedf Any trouble from thc Pm,G aiI VIII
FEELING regarding annexation ideas regarding spanish
occupation and evacuation. ideas regarding Ihl'J"nS
with Hayt
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR WISHES.
The Commissioners were especially struck by the
remarkable intelligence and independence OF the
negroes of American descent as compared with the
their brethren OF the present day III the United
States By thcirO unaded efforts they have won
for themselves the respect of their nclghbors and
have steadily advanced in material prosperity.
Their great desire is for annexation, for to them Il
represents order and quiet, as one expressed It,
the privilege of reapng what has sown. They
are tired of instructions and revolutions, and mid
night attacks The Catholic priest, very inteli-
gent and wcll-cducatcd Italian, spoke favorably Of
annexation for he said ne had what the
Yankees could do in California The same testimony
WAS of course given by tire Rev Mr. James and his
brother, the former the pastor OF the Methodist
Church and the latter the teacher OF the school
established under the supervision of the church.
The Rev. Mr.. James is one of the American einl-
grants of 1924 and a most intelligent and valuable
man. He said that the kindeSt relations existed
between the l'rotcstants and the Catholics. Some
of the latter send their children 10 the Methodist
school and seem to have i great respect for their
Protestant
sent the most enlightened and prosperous portion of
the community The only interruption Of friendly
relations was during the last Spanish invasion and
occupation. when the Methodist Church was closed
and afterward burned. Hayt il cordially dctosted
by all classes. The Commissioners came with the
idea that the tie between the fblOodcd negroes of
Santo Domingo and Hayti stronger than be-
tween the blacks and the mulattOos. Such hOwoy cr
is not the
The question was generally asked. Why did you
all vote for annexation 10 Spain and then shortly
rebelY Tie answer invariably was We did not al
vote for it, there respectable opposition;
besides there was general misunderstanding about
it, large number who voted for it supposed IT was
only PrOtectorate, and in no sense annexation The
Spaniards came and ruled with a high hand rs they
have done since the days OF Columbus, and the POO
pie rose and expelled them.
Among the most important interviews was one
held with Mr. and Mrs Burr, Americans from Maine,
who came to SANTANA two years ago and leased
piece of land on which Mr. Burr has built cOmInO-
dious house, and devoted himself TO the raising Of
fruit for the Northern market. At present he Is Tals
ing bananas He said he had found no difficulty in
working hard at all seasons and hours OF the day.
He would advise all new -cOmeTs to rest an h0ur or
two at noon. He and family had been well with the
exception Of slight acclimating fever at first, but
no more serious than mild fever and ague iii the
Northern States. The weather never so hot and
uncomfortable as during our Summers, for the heat
was always tempered by land and sea breezes. BY
general testimony there no snakes or poisonous
vernin in the island and no insects which destroy
tropical fruit with Northern fruits are 80 fire.
quently destroyed. The ants are o little trouble
some, but they easily kept ont and there no
flies the year round. Mr.. Burr asked if, in his
g a
from the diseases of the country die in New-En-
gland from consumntion. He answered Dromptlv