Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-04-11

Doou iOT yohio uoitucT slavery uOi
caste spirit to deprive them of their
manliness. The courage and devo-
tion wasted in insurrection abundant
ly prove their capacity for self-gov-
eminent and regular political action.
The commissioners estimate that the
actual population of the republic at
$50 1000, more than nineteen TWEEN
tieths being native Dominicans.
White blood prepondsrates largely,
q majority being much nearer white
than black. aSI4 PIa
THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY
are vast and various, and it's pro-
ducts may be increased with scarcely
any other limit than the labor ex-
pended upon them. There is evil
dence Of mineral wealth in several
parts of the island, The geologist's
expedition reports the existence of
ores of iron, copper and gold, with
deposits of Ignite, rock salt, and
petroleum. Iron ore is abundant, of
easy access, and will doubtless be
made available for the cheap produc-
tion of pig iron. The copper ores
ere of fair degree of richness, and
leads have been opened TO a slight
extent. The reported coal on SANTANA
peninsula and in the neighborhood
of Puerto Prata was examined, and
found TO be Ignite, Of little valuo as
fuel, compared with Pennsylvania
or English coal. The gold region is
extensive, and though worked an
GENTLY, is at present but little known.
IL invites patient exploration by
practical miners. The salt deposits
in the mountains near Nebay. are
believed to be extensive and valu-
able. The salt can be quarried out
in large transparent blocks, and
chemical analysis made for the Com
missioners shows it TO be Of sufficient
purity for commercial purposes.
Summarily aud practically review
ed, for agricultural purposes. there
are five classes of lands in Santo
Domingo, viz: l Mountain slopes
and valleys. hese are uniformly
rich aud productive, except in limit
ed regions where the rain is deficient,
as on The southern slope of the coast
range, northeast of Monte Christi
2 The extensive region of Llanos
lying east and north Of San Domingo
City, south of the Cibra range. This
is all admirable pasture land. A
large portion oft is capable ofprofit-
able cultivation. 1t is intersected by
wooden valleys and groves contain.
ing much excellent timber. 3. The
rolling plain of Vega, which is gencr-
ally wooded, and is the finest body
Of agricultural ground on the island
4. The Daglands. like portion o.
the plain of Azaoa and the valley Of
the Pagin, where rain is partly oil
wholly wanting, from Typographical
causes. These lands can be made
fertile by artificial irrigation The
red clay lands, mostly along The
coast. covered by corralian limestone
These are wholly covered with tim
Der. They are not generally very
rich or deep, but are susceptible o
profitable cultivation. The vicinity
of San Domingo city is fair average
specimen Of this class. The soil o
hardly any portion of this island il
not incapable of cultivation taker
rs whole it is one of the most fertile
regions on the face of the earth. Tn,
agricultural products include all the
tropical fruits and vegetables as vel
as of numerous commercial staples
Sugar cane is grown most profitably
on the low lands, and the yield il
much greater than in The island o
Samaico, even though nidvd ~ "r'i
nclaI irrigation. Fifteen annual cut
tings from the original root is com
mon, and the abundance of fnel gives
San Domingo additional advantages
over the neighboring islands in thii
branch of industry. The mountain
regions are especially adapted to the
culture of coffee and cocoa, and valu
able ibrous plants. The product O.
wax and honey is very large, thous
ands of hives Of honey being destroy
ed for the sake of the new wax alone
Wild ginger and indigo grow every,
where 10 the greatest profusion, anC
cotton is raised near Aus. Ciuchoni
is successfully raised on the higher
mountains, and many vegetables and
fruits of the temperate zone are also
produced in abundance. The coun
try everywhere is adapted to The
cultivation of tobacco, and tire,
crops of Indian corn are raised an
nually, though the most valuable
natural grain is a species of rice
More than forty distinct varieties o.
tropical fruits are found growing
wild. The grasses Of San Domingo
furnish abundant forage Of the best
quality. Immense herds of cattle
feed on the great savannas, and
though they were multiplied ten-fold
could not exhaust the abundant pas.
tuaage. They can be bought for q
cent pound on the hoof. Goats
abound in the more arid districts
and in the forests swine thrive in
great numbers, Sheep are very few;
poultry plentiful, wild guinea fowl
being seen in many parts Of the is
land. Horses are raised in great
numbers, and only marauding expe
ditions have prevented a great de-
velopement of the business of stock
raising. One of the most remark able
agricultural features of San Domingo
is the diversity of natural growths in
different localities, which will give
rise to extensive internal commerce.
Insects and noxious reptiles are not
found more abundant than in the
interior of our old States. In forest
products there is an astonishing
variety. including the choicest cabi-
net wood, oak, pitch pine, lignum-
vitae, and an immense stock of med
ical and commercial woods. MANY
houses being built of mahogany.
The fisheries, once fourishing, have,
during later years. fallen to neglect.
At an earlier period in the history of
the island more attention was paid
-. a