New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-09

01oQ ~ eho wholesale Of mou9n0ne 01Q4Dl
engenanseA in close an4 6lthl bafra6k1
devoid # N sanitary appliance. OF II
Spanish losses NO exact data could be OBJ
the Spaniards sent in all about thirty Nv.
thousand troops, of whom ak tor eigh
thousand were lost by deserti0n and othel
Although bitterly disappointed in the re
suits of the Spanish annexation, the people
who were soon involved in new revolu
tiOns. cease not to look abroad in hopes Of
relief.
To the surprise of the commissioners, il
almost all parts of the country, even the re
hottest, the people we're found to be familiar
with the question of annexation to the
United States, and have discussed it among
themselves with intelligence. All classes
in all points of the republic were consulted
grade, officials, both civil and military, citi-
zens Of all professions and occupations in
the towns and country, and everywhere
there was general agreement in the
declaration that their only hope of perma-
nent peace and prosperity is in annexation
to and becoming part Of the people Of the
United States. They generally declared
their belief that the strong arm of this re-
public, by taking them under protection as
q part Of the nation, would at once end the
efforts and hopes OF every seditiOus and
order and prosperity.
The incorporation into public sentiment of
q feeling strongly favorable to annexation
to the United States, in preference to any
other power, is partially due to the presence
in various parts of the country Of small
colonies of colOred people formerly from
the United States.
The commissioners entirely discredit the
reports that annexation would he resisted
by desperate measures in any part of the
island, and cite at length their own expert
ence and entire immunity from harm of
every kind while ON the island, as evidence
of the correctness of their conclusion.
The people Of San Domingo, of mixed
blood, are honest, temperate, inOffensive
and destitute Of prejudice of color; paupcr-
ism, beggary and high crimes being practi-
cally unknown. Among the popular vices
petty gambling is extensively INDUCED in by
the Spanish portion Of the population.
All are Roman Catholics, except the
American emigrants who are Methodists
and Baptists, though no intolerance or re-
igi0us persecution can be discovered.
The people generally own land, which
they cultivate, though agricultural opera
tiOns are limited by lack Of q market and
frequent disturbance, though DOminicans
are not averse to work when sure of q
reasonable reward. Labor IL in abundant
supply at $40. or less, per mouth.
Few schools exist and the people gener-
ally are uneducated, though the commits
siOners believe opportunities for education
would be eagerly improved, Dominicans
being possessed Of proverbial shrewdness
poorly equipped printing office exists in the
republic.
The general political capacity of the
people Is regarded favOrsbly, there having
been for years neither slavery nor caste
spirit to deprive them Of manliness. The
courage and devotion wasted in insur-
rectiOn abundantly prove their capacity for
self government and regular political
action. At
The commissioners estimate the actual
population Of the republic at l59, 900, more
than nineteen -twentieths being native Do
minicans. White blood dependencies
largely, the majority being much nearer
white than black.
various, and its products may be increased
with scarcely any other limit than the labor
expended upon them. There is evidence
Of mineral wealth in several parts of the
island. The biologists expedition reports
the existence Of ores OF iron, copper and
gold, with deposits of Ignite, rock salt
and petroleum. Iron ore is abundant and
easy Of access, aud will probably be made
available for the cheap production OF pig
IRON. The copper ores are of fair degree
Of richness, and leads have been opened to
slight extent, The reported coal on
SANTANA peninsula and the neighborbood of
Puerto Plata was examined and foand to
be Ignite, Of little value. as fuel, compared
With Pennsylvania or English coal. The
gold region is extensive and, though worked
is at present but little known.
It invites patient exploration by practical
miners. The salt deposits in the noun
tains near Neyba are believed to be extern
1--WE and valuable. The salt can be quar-
red out in large transparent blocks, and
chemical analysis, made for the commits
Sor commercial purposes.
A summary and practical view for agri-
cultural purposes shows there are five
classes of lands in Santo Domingo, viz:
First-Mountain slopes and valleys these
ne uniformly rich and productive, except
IS intimated in regions where rain is defi-
,ient, and ON the southern slope of the
,Oast range, northeast Of Monte Christi
Second-The extensive region of lands
ying east and north Of San Domingo City
md south of the Cibra range. This is all
pasture land. A large portion of
t is capable of profitable cultivation. 1t is
much excellent timber.
Third-The rolling plain of Vega, which
8 generally wooded, and is the finest body
# agricultural land on the island.
FOurth-The dog lands, like portion Of
he plain Asua, and valley of the TOgin,
where rain Is partly or wholly wanting
rom Typographical causes. These lands
an be made fertile by artificial irrigation.
Fifth-The red clay lands, mostly along
he coast, are underlaid by coralliOn lime
tone. These are wholly covered with tim
nut are susceptible Of profitable cultivation.
The vicinity of San Domingo City is fair
verage specimen Of this class of soil.
Hardly any portion Of the island is not
apable of cultivation. and taken as a
vh0le is one Of the most fertile regions on
he face of the earth.
The agricultural products include all |
ropical fruits and vegetables, as well as
staples. Sugar cane is grown |
most prOtitably on the low lands, and the |
ield is much greater than in the island of |
amaica, even though aided by artificial
irrigation. Fifteen annual cuttings from |
he original root is common, and the album |
ance OF fuel gives Santo Domingo an addi- |
iOnal advantage over the neighbOring |
stands in this branch of industry.
The mountain regions are especially |
dapted' to the culture of coffee and cusuco |
nd valuable fibrous plants. The product |
I wax and honey are surprisingly large,
thousands of hives of honey being DESTROYED |
Dr. the sake of the wax alone.
Wild ginger and indigo grow everywhere
4 the greatest prOfusion, and cotton is |
aised near Aqua. Cinchona is successfully
aised on the higher mountains, and many
egetables and fruits Of the temperate zone |
re produced in abundance.
The country everywhere is adapted to the