Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-25

Signs of Progress-WOnderful Resources
of the Island.

signs OF PfOEreSS-W OnderfuI resources
of the Island.
The following is from the London
Times: Holders CT the Santo Domingo
loan, who rem ember that Colonel Men
des, the diplomatic representative of
Santo Domingo, expressed before the
Foreign Loans Committee the willing
ness of his governm ent to refund to
those entitled the sum of $4,000,
which the government had received
out of the total proceeds of the loan,
will read with interest Major Stuart's
hopeful report upon the resources of
the Dominican Government. The re-
port appears among the commercial
papers recently issued by the Foreign
Office. Major Stuart is Minister Resi-
dent at Hayti and Charge d'Affaires to
the Dominican Republic. The imports
in 1875 were ELI, 159 in value, the ex-
ports 997 1886 at the port Of Santo Do
mingo alone. The direct imports from
Great Britain amounted to only G3, ISL,
but British manufactures COTTON, hard
ware, crockery) to the value of G72,OOO
were imported through st. Thomas and
Curacao. This country is thus the
leading state in the trade, the United
States coming next with e48,OO0, while
France, the next European state to our
selves, in this branch of commerce on
ly sends goods to the value of E13,731.
The principal exports are timber and
sugar, and although the timber trade
has declined, the result has been to di-
rect labor to more profitable employ
ment. Lignum vitae, logwood and fus-
tic do, indeed, still occupy large num-
Der of hands, but the sugar-cane and
coffee are increasing in favor France
took, in 1875 100000 pounds of extract
of logwood and $3.50 pounds of the
some material was shipped to the
West Indies, no doubt for re-exporta-
ton. From Porto Planta 1858, 800
pounds of leaf tobacco was exported
last year, principally to Hamburg.
The soil is equal to the production
of the most approved tobacco, as some
Cubans have proved in Santo Domingo;
but the plant is usually carelessly treat
ed. Porto Plata, q port of greater &C
tivity than the capital, is now the chief
port, and exported last year goods to
the value of ELS, 40, while receiving
others worth 91SS, $50 as imports. 1t
lies almost in direct line Of navigation
between the Old World snd Central
America, but SANTANA, whenever it is
turned to the commercial and econo-
mical advantages of which it is capable,
will become Tin ajor Stuart's opinion)
one of the greatest emporia of the
| Western world. The Dominicans are
$500 in number, and are favorable
to the immigration of foreigners with
out any distinction of race or color.
Of this hberality numbers of Cubans
and of British subjects from the Ba-
hamas are daily taking advantage,
bringing capital with them. French
science and enterprise are also estab-
lished on the soil. "One may well
hope" says Ma jor Stuart, " for speedy
Improvement in the condition of a
country rich in the chief endowments
of nature-a fine climate, fertile soil,
inviting to agriculture in some of it's
most important and lucrative branches,
mineral wealth of great variety, in
Guiding gold and coal, mountain forests
of precious and other woods, plains and
upland pastures, and deep-sea fisheries.
With a stable, efficient government,
honestly devoted to the true interests
of the country, the Dominicans would
rapidly advance toward a high place
among the mercantile peoples of the
world