New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-13

| cess Is so gentie as 10 escape notice. Taking
the year through. as much agricultural work
can be done without affecting health as can be
done in our Middle and Western States and
with greater results.
EARTHQUAKES AND HURRICANES.
! Almost every year very slight shocks occur,
so uncomfortable that scarce one in a dozen OF
! the inhabitants is aware Of them
About the time of the autumnal equinox
hurricanes are not unfrequent and are some
times attended with damage, especially to ship
ping along the coast, and even to trees and
| crops on land
There are several rivers, as the Yuma, Yaoui.
and Ozama, which, during the greater part of
the year, can be navigated by vessels of light
draught to . considerable distance into the
interior. At present they simply afford facili.
ties for floating down the timber which grows
within easy distance Of their banks.
BAYS AND HARBoRs.
The territory of the Dominican Republic is
indented with numerous harbors, generally ac-
cessible only to vessels of light draught. The
three great bays of SANTANA, Ocoa, and Man
zanillo admit vessels of the largest draught,
and are important as outlets of the commerce
OF the country surrounding them.
THE BAY OF SANTANA.
1t Is at the northeastern extremity of the
island is thirty miles long by about ten miles
broad, and Is sufficiently commedous for the
largest fleets. 1t is we'll protected from the
winds, especially those of the northeast, by the
mountains of the peninsula. Its entrance pre-
SCENTS no obstacle to ships of the largest draught
is narrower than that of the harbor of st.
| Thomas, but is the more easily fortified on that
re- off, - i
| OF the Mona Passage, the most important
eastern avenue to the Gulf of Mexico, whose
Importance will be immensely enhanced should
any new passage be opened to the world 8 com
merce through the isthmus of Darien. To any
power having occasion to maintain a fleet in
the West Indies, and especially to the United
States, as having vast interests to protect in
the Gulf of Mexico, the value of the position
as coalIng station can hardly be overrated
Under secure and liberal government a city
would grow up at some point on this bay which
would be one OF the great commercial centers
of the West Indies. Its value to the coasting
trade is enhanced by the fact that what is com.
monty called the peninsula is in reality an
| island as there is passage which could easily
| be made available for ships of moderate size
! from the west end of the bay to the north sea
coast.
The Commissioners were notified while in
| yestIgatlng matters at the capital of the Do
| minican Republic that, although the Govern
nent of the United States had not relinouished
possession Of the Bay of SANTANA, but had con-
stantly enjoyed the use and occupation thereof
as a naval station, the rent due was in default
| for more than one year.
| PUBLIC DEBT.
| The Commissioners made a careful and pro-
! longed investigation into the important subject
IF NJ
| The receipts of the last three years have
been mostly used for previous war debts, and
Tor the canceling OF outstanding paper money.
! The latter, which originally amounted to the
sum OF 81 ,628, 800, left in circulation by Cabral
has been nearly all redeemed by customs re-
| ceipts, as was also the amount of S243, O7O in
! Spanish war bonds.
|. The salaries due amount to 5000, 900 90
ii. Bonds, treasury notes &C..
| l. Spanish war bonds,
amount issued. 1924, loo 90
Amount cancelled. 243 ,070 90
| Amount outstanding 81 ,090 90
:. TreasurynOtes, nomi-
nal balance in circula-
| ton, $l47, 516.lS, at
| price fixed by senate
| rial decree, 400 for
81, (silver,) gives re-
ally. 1868 934
| B. Notes OF credit, new
| paper money nomi-
| nal balance out of
| Comptroller's Office,
$50, S32. 80, at 80 for
| one silver dollar. 49,. 1861 o.
| f. Obligations of pres
ent administration, is
| sued by Comptroller. 9,76l SO
| 3. Obligations of pres
ent administration, is
sued by Comptroller,
| at per cent. 1853 90
Total bonds, treasury notes,
&C.. Observation-Disclosures. %, 334 364
| III. Sundrv debts and loans due
towns and individuals. 49,. 49,443 o2s
DEFERRED DEBT.
| ~. ''V allies" and obligations of
Cabrals administration unpaid,
| because of doubtful origin, the
gross amount of which is. 22l $40 II
| Note. This debt is now in pro.
| cess of consolidation, and NAV
be reduced to less than one
| third of its nominal sum.
V. Notes of national bank, coun-
tersigned by general treasurer. 4,l30 90
| VI. Sundry loans bearing inter-
est, back interest not included) 293,5ll %
VII. Loan without interest, (sub-
ject to rebate for advances). 20,223 20
VIII. Debt of 1859:
Amount not known, because it is
not known whether any was re-
deemed during Spanish admin
istration. 1t cannot exceed
$4,000 or $60, GEO. reckOned at $4,000 90
Total debt: ....-......,$ 81, 1884, 457 So
TX. Pending claims:
OF Jesurun l. Son, claim
before Senate, for loan
of 100000 in 1857,
| contested since and
now under considera-
ton by the chamber
of accounts $50. lO0, 900 90
OF Jesurun & Son, for
hire of schooner Ame-
liza, in 1857, less than 10000 90
OF Rofman x LOwen-
thai and others. -. $4,000 90
OF General Baez, for
spoliations. ........ 10000 90
OF w. l.. Cazneau, for
spoliations in 1868 10000 90
Totai..... Observation-Disclosures. 204, 900 90
: Total nf debt and oIaimnJ s9S Ag7 col