The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-04-06

/ COAOilAcS WulCu WOuC On 10 the island
years ago. The people seem more un-
animous for annexation than the Com
mission has known any people to be
upon a great political question. An ex-
ceedingly small portion is opposed to
annexation, and these are chiefly traders
or agents Of foreign houses, whose bust
ness would suffer by the change. The
Commission, and all connected with it,
Travelled in all parts of the island with
out guard or weapon, and in perfect
safety.
The physical, mental and moral condi-
ton was found much better than antici-
pated. The population is almost wholly
Of mixed blood, in every conceivable
degree. The cultivated and educated,
such as the officials, compare well with
the same class in other countries, and the
uneducated appear as well as the same
class elsewhere. There is an entire alb
sence of all prejudice of race or color !;
they appear respectful and polite, kind
and hospitable. High crimes, according
to the statements Of their judges, are
nearly unknown. All are Roman Cath
olics, except the American emigrants
sent out by the Colonization Society in
1924. They live among the Catholics in
peace and harmony. The people are
poor, and live in cheap dwellings, but in
the country all have as much land as
they desire to cultivate, and they are not
averse to work when certain Of return.
There are few schools, and the great
mass of the people are uneducated, but
show a strong desire to learn.
The resources of the country are vast
and various, and capable of great in
crease.
Iron ore is abundant, and possibly
available for manufacturing iron.
Copper ores are of fair degree, but
the mines have not been extensively
opened.
The reported coal of SANTANA is only
Ignite, and of little value as fuel.
Little is known of the gold regions.
Salt deposits are extensive and valu-
able.
Considerable space is devoted to set
ting forth the richness of the soil and
the variety Il tropical products. and
those of the temperate regions found on
the uplands.
The island is represented as generally
healthy, but accliinating is necessary.
This part of the report is not finished.
Earthquakes are not frequent. In
autumn hurricanes are.
The public debt statement is to be
compared with later data received by
the Commission to see if tAey have been
furnished with correct figures. AS now
made up, the debt is, in round numbers,
81, 100000; additional pending claims,
$2O4, 900 including one of $4,000 by
President Baez, for personal property
destroyed in the Spanish war; and under
the first head 100000 for back salaries.
The total is given at $1,556,OOO. The
official statement of receipts of tie
Government for 1870 show q total of
$772,OOO, and one of the items is for i'm
port dues alone over 100000.
The Commission find no foundation
for the statement that Dominica is bound
to Hayti for an indemnity sum to
France. No treaties of any consequence
exist between Dominica and other powers.
The only settled boundary between
Hayti and San Domingo is the old
Spanish and French line of 1777. When
the Haytiens were driven out of the east
part Of the island, there remained, as
disputed territory, considerable extent
east of the old boundary. This is still in
dispute. Of this the Haytiens have held
in practically constant control the towns
of San Rafael, San Miguel, and Los
Caubas.
The Bonica Valley, east of these, and
Neyba District, have been alternately
overrun by both parties The claim of
Hayti to the boundary of the Gefrard
map, which is the meridian through Alta
vela, is regarded as p, eposterous The
extent of territory within the old bound
airy of lit is found by new and careful
computation to be 22,212 square miles.
The portion Of this Republic referred to
as having been mainly in Haytien occu-
pancy is about 10000 square miles.
The history of grants and concessions
given by the Commission is about the
same as already widely published in the
North.
The report is very strong in condem-
natiol of the stories that Government
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