Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-23
THE SAN DOMINGO JOB IN A
NEW SHAPE.
Curious Operations OF an Alleged
Syndicate of New York Specula-
tors - West India Annexation
Schemes.
Washington Correspondent N. 2. Commercial
bulletin

Washington Correspondent ~ 2. Commercial
Bulletin.
1t is strongly believed here that something
Is going on with reference to San Domingo.
There was treaty for the acquisition or
lease, November 20, 1869, of Samana Bay TO
the United States. This led to the sending
of General Babcock and the well known
commission to the city Of San Domingo.
In 1871 or 1872, or somewhere about that
time, General Babcock was sent as com
missioner to negotiate treaty with the Do
minican republic, with the view also of
absorbing Hayti and every part of the
autonomy Of these two republics from the
Bay OF Samsna to Saint Marc, and around
and about to the Bay st. Nicholas la Mole.
1t was discovered that these two parts
OF the island Of Santa Domingo had
been in chronic revolution, and 1t was
thought that through these Spanish and
French concessions the Americans would
not only utilize the entire island, but would
also make such a showing, by enterprise
and energy, as would make Cuba and Porto
Rico drop like ripe apple into the lap of
the new empire. and make the West Indies
q part of the United States. A few wears
before this, the Samana Bay Company, a
company chartered at Albany, under the
laws of the State of New York, led by men
who run the steamer "Tybee," for instance
such men as Marshall o. Roberts, VIM. r.
Grace, the present Mayor of New York,
Commodore Garrison, and others-under-
took to make trade between New York
and San Domingo City. for the purpose of
developing San Domingo and bringing
hence to this country the products
Of that island, which were prin-
cipally mahogony, coffee, and to-
bacco equal to the best produced and called
Vuelra Abajo in the Cincho Was of Cuba
The company had a concession from the
Dominican Government, taking in the
waters and islands and the frontage of Sa-
mana Bay, and a railroad grant reaching
from Samana to Santa Domingo. The op.
position TO this scheme of the government
to acquire the island brought about the
well-known fight against the administra-
tion OF Charles Sumner which resulted in
his deposition from the Chairmanship of the
Foreign Relations Committee of the United
States Senate, and which fight created a
commission, consisting Of Benjamin F.
Wade, of Ohio, as Chairman, Professor
Howe, Frederick Douglass, and a num-
Der OF specialists, who were d.
and investigate and report upon the charac-
ter OF its climate, its agricultural produc-
tions, and upon the general resources of the
country. They were further directed to re-
port upon the financial condition of the
government, debts and obligations due to
foreign governments or creditors, giving In
detail full statement of such debts or OBJ
legations. This commission was further In
structed to report fully as to the character
OF all grants and concessions of whatever
nature given by the Government of Do
minica to any individual or corporation,
particularly with respect to concessions
granting lands upon the Bay of Sa-
mana. The committees report is
well known. There is little island
around there go newhere which has
been bought up by syndicate of New York
spectators, who seem to have an object lust
now, knowing all these facts, to make coal
ing station for American vessels. They are
trying their best to have our government
purchase 1t In expectation of the annexation
Of the West Indies. This idea is in connec-
tion with the Isthmus canal. Their agents
are here and have secured already the de-
falling OF vessel from the North Atlantic
squadron to make thorough survey of Sa-
mana Bay. This bay was surveyed in 1870
or thereabouts, but the survey was only par
tial. The English Government made sur
vey for their own use some years ago.
At the photographic Office in this city,
where the navy records are kept, they say
that this is preliminary affair simply to
the survey CT the harbors of the world that
have not been surveyed, for purposes of
general information. do not think there
is anything in the statement of the HYDRO
graphic Office in this matter of exploring
West Indian harbors beyond a desire to
establish coaling station somewhere down
there. Whether It be in the Bay of Ssmana.
the Bay of st. Nicholas la Mole, or the
Island of st. Thomas, or point in Cuba, is,
with the proposed coaling station itself, a
matter of the futIre