The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-04-13

| paralyZed the industry, discouraged ac'
emulation, and so impoverished the
country, that, for the last two years, the
| financial resources of the government,
as its officers informed us, have been
inadequate to pay the expenses.
Tie insur. ections, Which still exist, are
headed, one by Luperon, and the other
by Cabral. The former is simply ban.
dit and robber, who has no regular plan
of operations. Cabral has only q few
hundred men, and does not pretend to
have any claim to the government, but
| styles himself Chief of the Revolution
The Commissioners found that Cabral is
assisted by the Huytiens, receiving cup.
plies through Hayti, and having their
arms and soldiers at his disposal. But
for this fact, the Commissioners believe
the insurgents would have long since
been put down.
Jealousies between the north and
south sides of the Island, and numbers
of petty military clans, tend to aggra.
vate the difficulties of the Dominican
government; but all these, the Com
missioners believe, would disappear
should the Republic be etfectuaIly pro.
tected by connection with strong ma
ton.
The Spanish occupation Of the Island
in 1861, the Commissioners found, had
been contaminated by fraud, and was
most unsatisfactory and oppressive in
its results.
The people, though bitterly disap-
pointed in the result of Spanish annex
alton, still look abroad in hope of relief.
The Commissioners were surprised to
find the people of all classes. in all parts
of the island, familiar with the question
of annexation to the United States, and
all agree that their only hope of perma-
nent peace and prosperity is in such an
NeXation.
The people of San Domingo are of
mixed blood, honest, temperate, inoflen-
sive, destitute OF prejudices in regard to
race or color. Pauperism and high
crimes are practically unknown. The
Spanish Eortion Of the population are
rather addicted to petty gambling. The
people generally own the land, but az
ricu!turaI operations are limited by lack
of market, and frequent revolutions.
There are few schools, and the people
are generally uneducated, but possess
shrewdness and natural ability and the
mis- wi l,nx
~ improve an opportunity foreducation.
There is only one very small, poorly
equipped printing Office iu the repub-
lie.
The Commissioners are of opinion that
the people here lave capacity for self
government and regular political action.
The Commissioners estimate the actual
population of the Republic at $50 thous-
and, nineteen twentieths being native
Dominicans. White blood preponder-
ates largely, majority being much
nearer white than Elack.
The resources of the country are vast
and various, and its products may be
increased with scarcely any other limit
than that of labor expended. There is
evidence Of mineral wealth in several
parts of the Island, the geologist expe.
dltion finding iron, copper, and gold
ore, with Ignite, rock salt, and petro-
leum.
The report divides the lands of San
Domingo into five classes, all of which
are capable of cultivation, and taken as
whole, the Commissioners say the
Island is one of the most fertile regions
on the fsce of the globe, Agricultural
products, including all the tropical fruits
of which more than forty distinct vari-
cites are found growing wild, as well as
the commercial staple, sugar cane, can
lee proftably grown. Cotton is raised i'm
some portions. Three crops of Indian
corn is raised annually. Pasturage is of
the best quality, and almost ineXhaust-
ible, supporting immense herds of cat
tie, which can Le bought at cert
pound on the hoof. Swine abound In
the woods, also goats in the wild parts
of the Island. Insects and noyious rep
tiles are not found more abundant than
in our Own States. The astonishing
variety Of tie products of the forest, liz
Guiding the choicest cabinet wood, oak,
pitch pine. lignumvii:r, and immense
stocks Of medicinal and commercial
woods. Many houses are built of ma
ho2any.
The seas and rivers of the Island are
well stocked with fish of many varieties
and turtles, both green and hard Shell
are abundant in the deep sea few miles
from land.
s'an Domigo, according to all testimo-
ny, is generally healthy country, es
pecial'y i'll the interior among the
mountains where white men labor safe
~ and successfully.
Earthquakes have done no serious
damage on the island since 1916,
though shocks occur almost every wear.
hurricanes are not infreuuent, 'and
sometimes do considerable damage.
The Commissioners believe great al
vaAtaGes will be secured by The acquisi-
ton o!Samana Bay and the important
city to be built up there.
The Commissioners submit a detailed
report Of tie financial condition of Do
minica, from which it appears the sum
total OF tie Debt and claims are $I5G, 5G2,
10, while the assets Of the government
are S77,2G3,i7j. Many claims are in.
cluded in the statement that the San
Domingo government claim as unjust
and Illegal, but the Commits toner's de-
sired to get at the bottom of the matter,
and irclHded all the Indebtedness or