New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-27
SANTO DOMINGO.


S.Nro DOMINGO CITY, Jan. 4.-Tbe journey
from NewYork to this ancient city is one that cannot be
ACCOMPLISHED without some incidents worthy OF note.
When we left New-York at o'clock on the evening or
Dec o. il was intensely cold, and before O'Clock the
mercury had fallen to degrees below The steamer
Tybee was only provided with short supply OF steam
heaters for the cabins and compelled to resort
To the engine room and stand over cylinders TO keep
ourselves comfortable We suffered with cold during the
night under six heavy blankets Ourvoyage was rather
rough and against strong head-wind nearly the whole
distance by the close of the second day. found the
temperature comfortable that Overcoats were dis
pensed with deck. Sea-siokness became general
thai, for several days. more than half the pas
Stngcrs failed TO make their appearance ut meal times
At O'clock p No. the 28th. came in sight OF the
light house at Turks Islands, The largest Of these
islands is the Grand Turk" about ten miles long by
two IN width. "Sat Cay" and "Caicos are smaller
with colony Of about $500 persons They are
praying Great Britain whose subjects they 10 re-
The burden OF their yoke and let them take care OF
themselves. The islands barren of vegetation, their
only product being salt, which is procured 10y the eVap
Grafton Of water in ponds on the islands
From these islands we passed through "HandRorchief
Passage" and thence direct to POrt-auPatte dis
of les miles from Turks Island lighthouse. We
reached this Dominican port at o'clock 2. M, Dec 90
The view approaching the harbor was exceedingly
beautiful The place contains about 5000 inhabitants,
nestled close under the base Of grand old noun
form of the letter Che upper part of the curve be-
Ing prOmontory, which is old fort, the promon-
tor hiding the business part Of the city from the sea
view The base OF the mountains beautifully skrted with
paine above which rises covered with forest trees 10
It's summit Across the harbor west Of the town. the
mountains rise a base OF bold rocky cliffs, and
extend along the coast as far the eye reach.
There are occasional pea6 rising above the range so
regularly formed and sharply defined as 10 leave the
Impression Of work Of art There Is said 10 be fresh
water Lake the top Of Mount Isabel-frst alluded to-
in Which there is abundance OF fresh-water fish and
tcraprs. The place occupied by the lake. is supposed
10 have once been the crater of a volcano The pro-
Jnouory front OF the town is clad in beautiful coat
y: green grass, dotted here and there with palm trees,
under the shade of which numerous d0nkeys
foedirs The view from the south side of the harbOr,
With j,e old fort, donkeys aud palms, out
lined ainst the northern sky with the mercury at TO-,
Was Ike oriental scene.
PORT-AUPLATTE.
Tho DATES received at the Custom house at Port-au-
Platte during the last four months have averaged $4,000
per month 1t is claimed that the receipts from
at tbs port alone sufficient TO meet the
whole oxpeuse Of the Dominican Government. Hereto
fore, c,.hcr through mismanagement dishonesty
plr OF officials the Government has realized very
htic: but since Durochae into Office in June last
the b ,uesS appears have been honestly and thor
ou.ly done. Capt Delaney adds his testimony TO the
universal sentiment Of he place that DurOchae IS capa
bic. and OF the most honest Of living men. Senior
Duro hac says that the troubles in the Northwest
stoned by LUpeTOn the revolutionary leader, have come
end His best advices that Luperon has fed TO
ST. Thomas, from which place he sends word back by
German vessels that he win again attempt
luton and win not probably lever again set
loot the Island. His adherents have gone-sOme Of
ten 10 Turks Island and some TO Curacao. Since the
CabTal in San Juan in June last, outbreaks
have been heard Of the island Several Cuban patriots
have bought land Port-au-Patte, and firm.
Urng A 70 tiup lapr Dla pfQ
three miles from the city. The engineer who is to make
their plans for buildings and machinery, was passenger
with us the Tybee from NewYork. While there are
many settlers from Venezuela, St. Thomas and
CuracOa there from the United States There
is a large German population at PortauPlatte, and
Ia the country lying between that place and
!. Santiago, all, nearly all of them, engaged In
"a the tobacco trade. There is very neat, and
really comfortable hotel in the place, kept by Ger
~ man On the I'D of last August, POrtau-Platte was
visited bY destructive fire, which laid in ruins AZ build
ils-s IN The best part OF the city. The
busy engaged in rebuilding with substantial ma
terss There is not that Incidence which noticed at
the City Of sano Domingo last Winter. The Tybee
anchor in the harbor at the 2oth and by
o'clock the day. had discharged $500 barrels
ofne-ht This freight had to be taken in lighters about
half a mile then loaded into bul-carts in the shOal
water and transported 800 400 yards further TO the
shore and then the warehouses; where every barrel
neatly piled up. I Yankees work better,
equal numbers of them accomplish in the
time.
shortly after arrival port visited the Governor
Ramon Damian PachecO, who received me very kindly.
him learned that the city and surrounding
try a prosperous condition than at any
time before for many years. The President has been
VISIT and left only days before arrival
During this journey President Baez travelled through
whole length OF the province Of Cbao unarmed and
only accompanied by the members Of his Cabinet. he
was everywhere enthusiastically received. The Gov
naa1
ia CbaO excellent omen, that province contains
nearly twothirds of the population of the Republic.
Besides the Catholic Church. the church of the
country there is at PorauPatte Methodist Church Of
lOO members There is also very good school, with
from 30 TO schOlars and application is pending be-
the Council asking for the establishment Of another
found Mr.. Carstenson, Danish artist, in his studio
island Among them q view of the city and harbor Of
POrtau-Patte, with Mount Isabel in the background,
artist tells that in natural beauty PortauPate far
exceeds the farfamed Bay Of Naples Just now, Port
showers almost every hour yet the sun seems to be
always shining These oftrepeated showers always
adding new beauty 10 the fields, gardens and forests OF
perpetual green.
DEPARTURE FROM PoRT-AU-PLATTE
We left PortauPatte about O'Clock D. OF the 29tb.
Passing eastward along the coast, few miles tho
city, the residence OF Castillo, a Cuban planter
was pointed out; and about Is miles from the city,
nestled between the hills the lar orange groves OF
FLORIDA planter, who emgrated to this country many
years ago. Capt Delaney tells that the products OF
these groves, which he takes 10 New-York are
the best oranges that to the
market Nearly the whole distance Of liz miles from
Portau Platte SANTANA the presents the appear
aDce Of an unbroken forest There occasional
mountains rising from the shore but the general
surface seems be fair and unduatng The tops Of the
mountain range far inland Our approach to
the bay and harbOr Of Samapa from the west even