Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-07
SIN DOMINGO.
Conclusion of Synopsis of Commissioners
Report.

Conclusion of Synopsis of Commissioners
Report.
The losses of the Spanish army from illness
was largely due to the lack of sanitary care,
and the commissioners are satisfied that their
losses have been largely exaggerated. The
Commissioners have given special attention to
the matter of health, and besides are getting
information from other quarters. They have
charged two medical gentlemen to report
specially upon it, and their conclusions are
that the popular idea that Dominican territory
is particularly unhealthy, and that persons
visiting it are liable to yellow fever is en-
tirely erroneous. The average general health
and longevity is quite equal and probably
greater than that of the United States. As
whole immigrants are not liable to any more
disturbance of general health in the process
of acclmation than persons who pass from
the old to the new States of the United States,
taking the year through. AS much agricul-
tural labor can be done without affecting the
health as in our Middle and Western States,
and with greater results. Persons in all cir
cumstances can here, by selecting their local-
ty, enjoy the delicious climate and have abund-
ance of fruit with far less liability to diseases
of the lungs, scarlet fever and other fearful
epidemics, and without any liability of yellow
fever. The steamer Nantasket, with its full
/
the harbors of the island about 10 months and
has not had single case of yellow fever.
Earthquakes have done no serious damage
in the islands since 1916, and although slight
shocks occur almost every year, they are so
! nconsiderable that scarce one in dozen of
the Inhabitants are aware of them. Hurri-
canes are not unfrequcnt, and are sometimes
attended by considerable damage. The
island has several rivers navigable for
a short distance into the interior, while
the three great bays, SANTANA, Ocoa and
Mansanilla. 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, and the ultimate growth of an
important city that portion of the water front
which has already been acquired by citizens
of the United States being but small part of
what would be occupied by the site of great
| commercial city. Inland communication 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 Commissioners made a thorough and
careful examination of the debt of San Domin-
go, and find the sum total of all debts and
out standing claims against the Republic to
be 81 ,565, S3l. The receipts of the govern
ment for 1870 were S772, 6Si, of which $685.
| 705 was from customs and 1886, AGO from taxes
The Commissioners lay great stress on their
efforts TO get the exact state of the debt of the
Dominican Republic, and believe their con-
illusions substantially correct. San Domingo
is not believed to be liable for any of the in
demnity exacted by France from Hayti, and
the Commission is assured that no obligation
or negotiations have been entered into with
any country except the United States.
| The extent of undisputed Dominican terri
tory is 22,5l2 square miles. The portion
which formerly involved dispute with Hayti
being 1000 square miles. The Commissioners
present. full statement of all the grants and
concessions of public lands and franchise, and
declare that after the most searching and COM
plete investigation they were unable to find
any grant or concession in any form or man.
ner to any U. S. official, either in connection
with the negotiation or preparation of the
treaty. The Dominicans repeat their willing
ness to be annexed on the terms of the treaty
of 1863, asking in addition the payment of
rent for the Bay of SANTANA during the two
years that the negotiations have been pending.
They are also willing to appropriate one-fifth
of the public lands for public schools provid-
ed the United States will appropriate $500, 600
for the establishment of an agricultural and
scientific college.
L ne COMMISSION IN concluding this portion
of the report show that the Dominican indie
pendence never has been and probably never
will be fact; and say that the only chance of
the republic to recover its independence is to
become, after proper period, enc of union
OF States, the freedom and substantial indie
pendence of each being guaranteed by the
strength of all. 1t is beyond the province of the
Commissioners under the resolutions of Con-
gress to recommend that such course be
adopted or abstaned from. They simply state
it as their belief, founded upon all the obser-
vations they could make and facts they could
learn, that this is the only way in which Dom
nlcian independence can be construed, and
that If 1t be judged best not to adopt that
course even the present shadow of independ-
ence Will be taken away. To show the COM
mercial importance of annexation, the Com
missioners mention only the tobacco trade of
the island, which is rapidly becoming the mo-
nopoly of the German empire. Under a sta
BILE government San Domingo might be devel-
oped into powerful State, which, by the
laws of trade, would make slave labor in the
neighboring islands Improbable, and by the
spread of its ideas would make the whole
slave system odious.
The Commissioners conclude their report
by brief allusion to the unfrutful visit to
the Capital of Haytiin search of information,
and expressing confident opinion that the
annexation of San Domingo to the United
States will be of scarcely less benefit to Hayti
than the Dominican people.
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