Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-08
President White on San Domingo

President Andrew White Of Cornell uni
yersty, one Of the commissioners, seems to be
iayorably disposed TO san Domingo by his
first observations, for lac writes home as fol-.
lows 80
We spent just one week at Samana and a
week most delightfully."- While the steamer
was coaling we pursued our investigations
on shore and on shipboard sending of ex.
plorug parties, taking copies Of documents
and localities, and taking down, at length
the dcpositious Of multitude of persons, Of
all sorts, as to points specified in the resolu-
tons Of Congress. We visited many planta-
tons, and were in a constant state Of aston
ishment at the luxuriancc of the growth Of
trees, plants fruits, nuts, everything.
Bananas and plantains and yams and sugar
cane and cocoanuts were growing all about
us Ten minutes pull in the boats, always
at our command, brought US to n shore
which few descriptions in novels ever sur
passed Mr.. Wade Dr. Howe, and myself.
with two or three others. were quite struck,
as we realized our positions, while waiting
for the boat, as we returned to the shore
from the vessel On the plantation Mr.. Wade
aud myself were seated on block Of mahoe-
any, cut, doubtless, not far off. Sheltering
US on one side was an orange tree, from
which hung plenty Of nice fruit on the
other side were cocca-nut trees, laden with
great masses Of nuts, from which we OBJ.
tanned plenty Of delicious milk In the back
ground, huts matched with palm leaves, and
a sugar mill beside them through which the
cane was passing and in front Of US the most
beautiful Of bays, and shore on which Law
a multitude of shels-among them the great
conch she'll, the object of my youthful ad.
miration. All this with naked black children
playing about in a warm atmosphere, on one
Of the last days Of January, was a picture
not soon to be forgotten
Among the most interesting parties we met
there were Mr.. Burr, of Maine, and his wife.
MIR. Burr came about two years since, and
built great airy house on beautiful spot
overlooking the bay. He had an immense
crop OF bananas and plantans, to say moth.
ing Of coffee, cocoa, etc He had planted
great number Of cocoanut trees, and they were
thriving admirably. Think of one Of these
enormous trees arriving at full maturity in
three years All that is done to produce
one of these groves is to lay the cocoanuts on
the ground with very little earth around
them, and in three years you have your re.
ward. Mr.. and Mrs. Burr gave US vast
deal Of interesting information. 1t is never
so hot and sultry as during our northern sum-
mer, and there is every day in the year with
very few exceptions, bracing breeze from
the sea during the day and from the noun.
tains during the night | wandered about
under the MONDAY sun and never felt 1.-THE
Of the gone feeling | am accustomed 10
have at Long Branch, aud other of our sea.
side places. Sickness of any sort is rare
There are slight attacts of bilious fever, but
a case of yellow fever is as rare as at New
York there has not been one in years, and
all there have been, have been brought here
from other parts There are no insect pests
to destroy the fruits, and Mrs. Burr has ncv-
or seen any flies, There are no venomous
snakes IN that part of the island, if on any.
part, and we went everywhere through mat.
ted vegetation and thckes, in canvas CATERS
and thin shoes. te-'fs