Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-16

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island in the West Indies, yet it is
surrounded by dense populations and
is itself wilderness.
4 The explanation is simple. By a
succession Ofcrimes and misfortunes,
there has never been a steady and
enlightened government in Santo
Domingo. Life and property have
never been sufficiently secure to at
tract colonization. The commerce of
i the island has been carried on by for
eigners, and its profits are expended
elsewhere. The simple and unedu-
Gated people have never been reused
to activity by the investment of cap
| ital in agriculture. With few arti-
fetal wants, they subsist upon the
/ spontaneous products of nature. Yet
| they are honest and peaceable, and
tired of the political revolutions
in which they are involved by am
bilious leaders instigated by Haytian
| diplomacy.
Santo Domingo can never improve
until five conditions, now wanting,
are supplied: !. A government not
liable to sudden changes whereby
life and property may be made inse-
cure. 9. Roads, by which the pro-
ducts of the country may be trans
ported to the seaports. 3. Capital, to
be invested in machinery for clearing
and cultivating the soil. 4. Immi-
grafton, by which the energy and
example of civilized life may be inn
parted. 5. Schools, in which the
children may be educated in the ele-
mentary branches Of knowledge.
These last four must follow the first.
They cannot precede it. If annexa-
ton to the United States will supply
the first, all the rest will follow. The
question therefore arises: Is it for
the interest of the United States to
annex Santo Domingo? Ny object
will be to ascertain and report the
facts in regard to soil, climate, and
products, SO that your readers may
Judge for themselves.
SoIL.-The soil OF Santo Domingo
varies. There are rich alluvial bot
tom lands, undulating slopes Of strong
calcareous clay, covered with deep
vegetable soil; mellow, graveIly
ridges, and thin rocky land. There
is very little light, sandy land, and
no swamps. The country is well
watercd. The general character of
the surface isrolling. The mountain
slopes are often extremely steep, but
covered with rich soil. am much
surprised to find grass growing spon-
taneously in the streets, and wher-
ever the land is cleared. This must
be due to the richness of the soil and
the abundant rains and dew. Cattle
thrive the year round upon the Ma
tive grasses, and appear sleek ard
healthy. Horses, mules and gos IS do
likewise. SO far rs | can ast .rtain.
land has hitherto had Onlya .iOminal
value, and can be bought in large
tracts from the present owners for
very low prices.
The titles to land are very imper-
feet, owing to the numerous revolu-
tions and civil commotious. Espec.
tally, they haze been unsettled by
the genera destruction of the prov
incial records by the Spaniartls few
years ago. A general act has been
passed confirming titles based upon
thirty years Of undispnted possession.
The origin Of all private land titles
in Spanish America is the original
grant Of one hatO. This was circle
extending one league in every di-
rection from central point. 1t was
originally valned at $1,000 per hato,
and was granted blythe Spanish Gov
eminent to each colonist. At his
death, the hato was subdivided to
his children; or he sometimes sold
an undivided fraction of the whole.
Professor Gabb, who is employed
by the Dominican Government i'm
making a Typographical survey of
the island, expresses the opinion that
If strict technicalitles of law were en-
forced, more than one-half of all the
soil Of Santo Domingo has reverted
to the Government from tho inabil-
ity of any claimant to substantiate
his title, but that with literal con-
structiOn of the law, at least one-half
the entire area belongs to the Gov.
eminent. Good land can probably
now be bought from private parties
at prices varying from twenty-five
cents to $3.50 per acre, according to
quality and location. Or it may be