Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-04-14
prepondcrates largely, a majority
being much nearer white than black.

being much nearer white than black.
THE RESOURCES OF THE couNTRr
are vast and various, and its pro-
ducts may be increased with scarce
ly any other limit than the labor ex-
pended upon them. There is cvi-
dence of mineral wealth in several
parts Of the island. The geologist's
expedition reports the existence of
ores Of iron, copper and gold, with
deposits of Ignite, rock salt and Pc
troleum. Iron ore is abundant, of
easy access, and will doubtless be
made available for the cheap pro-
duction Of pig iron. The copper
ores arc of fair degree of richness,
and leads have been opened to q
slight extent. The reported coal on
Samana peninsula and in the neigh
borhood of Puerto Prata was exam
ined, and found to be Ignite, of lit
tie value rs fuel compared with
Pennsylvania or English coal. The
gold region is extensive, and though
worked anciently, is at present but
little known. 1t invites patient ex-
ploration by practical miners. The
salt deposits in the mountains ncar
Nebay are believed to be extensive
and valuable. The salt can be quar-
ried out in large transparent blocks,
and chemical analysis made for the
Commissioners show it to be of suf-
ficicnt purity for commercial pur-
poses.
Summarily and practically review
ed, for agricultural purposes, there
are five classes of lands in Santo
Domingo, viz:
l. Mountain slopes and valleys.
These are uniformly rich and pro-
ductivc, except in limited regions
where the rain is deficient, as on the
southern slope Of the coast range,
northeast of Monte Christi.
2. The extensive region of Llanos,
lying east and north Of San-Domin-
60 City, south Of the Cibra range.
This is all admirable pasture land.
A large portion of it is capable of
profitable cultivation. 1t is inter-
sected by wooded valleys and groves
containing much excellent timber.
8. The rolling plain of Vega,
which is generally wooded, and is
the finest body ofagricultural ground
on the island.
4. The Daglands, like a portion
Of the plain Of Azaoa and the valley
Of the Yagin, where rain is partly
or wholly wanting, from topograph-
ical causes. These lands can be
made fertile by artificial irrigation.
5. The red clay lands, mostly
along the coast, covered by corral
ian limestone. These are wholly
covered with timber. They are not
generally very rich or deep, but are
susceptible of profitable cultivation.
The vicinity of San Domingo city is
a fair average specimen of this
class. The soil of hardly any por-
tion Of this island is not capable of
cultivation, and taken as a whole it
is one of the most fertile regions on
the face of the earth. The agricul-
tural products include all the tropi-
cal fruits and vegetables as we'll as
of numerous commercial staples.
Sugar cane is grown most profitably
on the low lands, and the yield is
much greater than in the island OF
Jamaica, even though aided by arti-
fetal irrigation. Fifteen annual
cuttings from the original root is
common, and the abundance of fuel
gives San Domingo additional ad-
vantages over the neighboring is
lands in this branch of industry.
The mountain regions are especial
ly adapted to the culture of coffee
and cocoa, and valuable fibrous
plants.
The product Of wax and honey is
very large, thousands of hives of
honey being destroyed for the sake
of the wax alone. Wild ginger and
indigo grow everywhere in the
greatest profusion, and cotton is
raised near Azua. Cinchona is sue
cessfully raised on the higher noun
tains, and many vegetables and
fruits of the temperate zone are also
produced in abundance. The coun-
try everywhere is adapted to the
cultivation of tobacco, and three
crops of Indian corn are raised an
nually, though the most valuable
natural grain is species Of rice.
More than forty distinct varieties
of tropical fruits are found growing
wild. The grasses of San Domingo
furnishes abundant forage of the
best quality. Immense herds of cat
tie feed on the great savannas, and
though they were multiplied tenfold
could not exhaust the abundant pas
turagc. They can be bought for a
cent pound on the hoof. Goats
abound in the more arid districts;
and in the forests swine thrive in
great numbers. Sheep are very
few; poultry plentiful, wild guinea
fowl being seen in many parts of the
island. Horses arc raised in great
numbers, and only marauding ex-
peditions have prevented great
development of the business of stock
raising.
One Of the most remarkable agri.
cultural features Of San Domingo is
the diversity of natural growths in
different localities, which will give
rise to extensive internal commerce.
Insects and noxious reptiles are not
found more abundant than in the in
terror of our old States. In forest
products there is an astonishing va
riety, including the choicest cabinet
wood, oak, pitch pine, liguam-vite,
and an immense stock of medical
and commercial woods, many houses
being built of mahogany.
The fisheries, once flourishing,
have during later years, fallen to
neglect. At an earlier period in the
history of the island more attention
was paid to marine resources, and
funny fishing. was carried on all
around the shores of the island, sup
plying the home want for salt fish,
and allowing an export to other col
onics. Both the surrounding seas
and rivers Of the islands are W ell
ctooEaI with fsch of ,uoux hind.