Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-04-22

mlnlcans being possessed Of proverbal
sbrewdness and much native ability.
Only one small and poorly equipped
| printing Office exists in the republic
The general political capacity Of the
people is regarded favorably, there hay
ing been for years neither slavery nor
caste spirit to deprive them Of manli-
ness. The courage and devotion wasted
| in insurrection, abundantly proves their
capacity for self government aud regu-
lar political actions. The Commissioners
estimate the actual population OF the Re
public at one hundred and fifty thou
sand, more than Dineteen-twentieths be-
ing Dominicans. White blood predomi-
mates largely, the majority being nearer
white than black.
RESOURCES & PROJECTIONS OF TIE COUNTRY.
The resources Of The county are vast and
various, and its products may be increased
with scarcely any other limit than the labor
expended upon them. There is evidence ei
mineral wealth in several parts'of the island.
/ The Geologists Expedition report the exist
ence Of ores Of iron, copper and gold, with de-
posits of Ignite, rock salt and petroleum. Iron
ore is abundant, easy Of access and will doubt
| less be made available for the production of
pig iron. The copper ores are Of fair de-
gree OF richness, and beds have been opened
to slight extent The reported coal en- Sa-
mana Peninsula and in the neighborbood Of
| the Peurto Plata was examined, and found to
be Ignite Of little value as fuel as compared
with Pennsylvania or English coal The gold
region is extensive, and though worked an.
GENTLY, is at present but lttel known. 1t in
yitcs patient exploration by practical miners.
| The salt deposits In the mountains Of Ncybs
are believed 10 be extensive and valuable
! The salt can be quarried out in large transpar.
ent blocks, and chemical analysis made for
the Commission, shows it TO be OF sufficient
purity for commercial purposes.
Summarily and practically viewed, for ag-
ricultural purposes, there are five classes OF
land in San Domingo. viz:
First-MouDtsin slopes and valleys. These
are uniformly rich and productive, except in
limited regions where rain is deficient, as on
the southern slope of the coast range, north
east of Monte Christie
Second - The extensive region of the
Lancos, lying east and north of San Domingo
city, and south Of the Ciboa range. This is
all admirable pasture land. A large portion
of it is capable OF profitable cultivation it is
intersected by wooded valleys and groves con-
tanning much excellent timber
Third-The rolling plain of Vega, which is
generally wooded, and is the finest body e
agricultural ground on the island.
Fourth-The dry lands, like a portion o
the plain of AZua, and the valley of the Yagui
where rain is partly or wholly wanting from
Typographical causes. These lands can be
made fertile by artificial irrigation.
Fi6h-Tha ri lapd lv oil hs
coast, underlaid by coraline limestone. These
are wholly covered by timber they are not
very rich or deep, but are susceptible of pro6ta-
bic cultivation. The vicinity of Santo Do.
mingo city is q fair average specimen of this
class of soils.
Hardly any portion of the island is
not capable of cultivation, and taken as
a whole, it is one of the most fertile
regions on the face of the earth. The
agricultural products include all the
tropical fruits and vegetables, as well as
commercial staples. Sugar cane is grown
most profitably on the low lands, and
the yield is much greater than in the
! leland of Jamaica, even though aided by
artificial irrigation and fifteen aunua
, cuttings from the original root are com
mon, and an abundance of fuel, give:
Santo Domingo an additional advantage
over the neighboring islands, in thi:
branch of industry. The mountain
regions are especially adapted for the
culture of coffee and cocoa and valuable
ibrous plants. The produce of wax and
honey is surprisingly large, thousands Of
hives of honey having been destroyed
for the sake of the wax alone. Wild
ginger and indigo grow everywhere, ir
the greatest profuSion, and cotton i;
raised near Azua. Circhona is success
fully Ia sed on the higher mountains ans
many vegetables and fruits of the TEN
perate zone, are also produced in abund
ance. The country everywhere is adapt
ed TO the cultivation of tobacco, and
three crops Of Indian corn are raised
annually, though the most valuable ma
terial grain, is of the species of rice
: More than forty distinct varieties o
tropical fruits are found growing.
The wild grasses of San Domingo fur
nish abundant forage of the best quality
Immense herds of cattle feed on tho
great savannas, and though they were
multiplied ten. fold could not exhaust
the abundant pasturage. Goats abound
IN the more ara ulslTlcts, anu III u
forests swine thrive in great numbers
Sheep are very scarce poultry is very
plentiful, wild Guinea fowls being seen
in many parts of the island horses arc
raised in great Rumbers, and only ma.
rauding expeditions have prevented
great developments in the business OF
stock raising. One OF the most remarka
BILE agricultural features of San Domingo
is the diversity of its natural grOwths il
different localities which will give rise l.
extensive internal commerce. insects
and noxious reptiles are not tonnd mor'
abundant than in the interior of oul
old States. In forest produces there Ii
an astonishing variety, including the
choicest cabinet woods, oak, pitchpine
lignumvita and an immense stock o
medicinal and commercial woods, man
houses being built OF mahogany. Tb
fisheries, once fiourishing, have, during
later years fallen into neglect. AT al
earlier period in the history of the islan'
more attention was paid to marin,
I,osoorcac and tho fisharies were carried