The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1871-03-08

TproGRArHY, SOIL, PRODUCTIONS. CLIMATE AND NJ
II sRALs.
The following article, from the pen of I
S. Thorpe, Esq. with pr,fero,ory remark
by tie editor. We copy from the N. o. Il,
publican of the 23d of December last:
Frum the earnest manner in which Pres
dent Grant urges the acquisition {
ST. Domingo. and from his position (enabln
hun to obtain the be.t and most reliable in
fOrmatiOn)w judge he possesses aknowledg
of it superior to mvst of those who hav
written structures on his message regardin,
the subject. The message, speaking of tn,
island. says: 1T possesses the richest soil
| best and mos! capaciOus harbors, most salu
briOus climate, and the most valuable pro
ducts of the forests. mine and soil. of an,
If the West India islands, and /, o.e Of .h.
richest territories under The sun, capable OF
supporting population of ten millions OF
people in laxury.' All this is true.
The writer Of this. from his personal tx
p-rirnce, knows its margins and its harbors,
and has travelled for months hundreds oi
miles iuto the interior over its mountains.
SsrSss IS diii. .ls Valleys. has been c1
posed to all its attitudes, seasons, and varie-
ties Of climat, and had daily Intercourse
with the inhabitants, and can truthfully
vOucl, for all the message expresses respect
ing the island. Unlike Cuba. and some of
the other West India islands, San Domingo
hns no barren mountains or waste land.
Vegetation und valuable forest trees cover
it in Iuxuriant growth, from its lowest val
leys aud savanDas to its highest elevation.
q Il. 6 A.. Al
slo,ms Of its mountains l have frequently
been astonished to see natural parks of mag
ni6cent trees as if the cultivated hand of
man placed them there. Nature had done
that which took centuries IF care TO pro-
duce in old England's justly boosted parks.
Equally surprising to see on some of these
attitudes, all within the reach of the eye, at
once, the yellow pine. palm tree, cocoanut.
orange-swcet and sOur-lemon and lime.
and guavas, intersperse' with valuable
forest growths peculiar to other laiitudcs.
The topography of the forest strongly in
dica,es volcanic origin. but Of Il slow and
gradual upheaving, giving time to subdue
and utilize IL mual the beautiful island form
ing in u favored cline for his use. The
island is indeed tropical in its latitude. but
from its location, in the midst of the ocean s
fresh and cool mountain breezcs, and
streams Of cool running water. never stug-
nant in marshes or lagoons which the rich
est of coils. at various attitudes, for ona's
own choice, without an extreme of any eli
mute. more desirable spot cannot he found.
The early Spanish writer's are enthusiastic
about the island. and Columbus. the great
discovcrer, druwn by the hand Of Gud to the
spot, writes of it with reverential admira-
fion, To those who have not visited and trav-
eiled into the interior, such representations
muv appear somewhat fabulous; but to the
writer of this. they are not So. am com
pellcd 10 confess that cannot believe that
there is not another spot in creation, Of it.
sizr, presenting to man greater Inducements
As ~ agrituIrhrur Trrdter les<.. tail
necessary 10 state that that favored cline
and l"cation most favors all agriculture.
About the Santiago district (Oncc famed
as the city Of gold artisans) the Mocha
coffee flourishes. The whole island is in.
dig.nous with the choicest of tobacco; with
the snme care, the Sun Domingo tobacco
would be superior to th. productions Of to.
bacc., thrown out from the worn out lands
in Cuba. England. Germany and France
however. now obtain it all. Two crops O.
rice can be grown in one srason on the same
land. Cane grows to great size, perfection
and richness, not needing rcpiamting fol
wears. Cotton is bienniel, and pays well i
cultivated with half the Gaze in the United
States.
Santiago, at the head of the Yuna ant
and YAque rivers. and in the eastern margin
of the .sLa Vega Real" or Royal Meadow
| is shout sixty miles from the Puerto Platte
| aud about ninety miles from Monte Christi
or Mansanilla bay, into which the Yaqu'
empties. There is almost natural grade
from that bay. through the entire valley TO
railroad aud canal. The Vague is navi
eablG at its lowest water for fifty miles frou
the bay by steamboats, suitable to the Obi
river in how watef. That valley. LA Veg
Real,'' situated between the mountain
Maymon a,d neat sos,hern range. is capa
blr Of being made Que Of the richest agri
cuhurul spots ON eartn. AT present it is al
mott to,nily un.lcvcloped. On the maps til
Ysaue is represented MS nearer the Maymol
mountains than in fact. On the south side
over the southern range or ranges, tho to
pogrsPky is mora rolling and beautiful. il
large SECTIONS. adapted to either agricultur
Or grazing. On some Of the sloping hills
alongside Of oranges, pine-apples. bananas