The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-02
HAYTI.
Which May Become a Part of
Uncle Sans Possessions.

- was 1OA 1AIGI1y Cdl6Qs 10 AOW ZIG
storm center of disturbance in the
West Indies, and, therefore, assumes
an Importance never before known in
its history. Since the beginning of this
century so little has been heard from
the island that to all intents and pur-
poses it might as well have dropped off
the face of the earth, but now that fleets
are circling about it, and dispatches
are being forwarded from it's ports as
to the relative position of ships, and
especially since it's inhabitants have
developed an ability equal to that of
the New Highlander for hearing bomb
ardments off shore, Hayti becomes a
point of considerable interest, and ere
the conclusion of the struggle may be
of great Importance.
The island of Hayti, small as it APP
pears on the maps of the West Indies,
is of considerable size, the greatest
length being about 400 miles, from east
to west, the greatest breadth about
$50 miles, and the area something
less than 10000 square miles. 1t is thus,
to make a familiar comparison, about
equal in size to that portion of the state
of Missouri lying north of the river In
an island of this size there is abundant
space for diversity of scenery, partic-.
three mountain chains, and when this
fact is borne in mind no surprise can
be felt at the statements of travellers
that Hayti contains some of the most
magnificent landscapes to be found
anywhere in the Antilles Wherever
there are mountains there is opportu-
nifty for diversity of climate. Porto
Rico has only few ranges of hills of
no great altitude, and consequently
Porto Rico has but one kind of climate:
in Hayti the mountain chains are high
enough to defect the winds, and con-
sequently there is every variety of eli
mate possible in an island situated al
most under the equator
the two great chains of Hayti, one to
the north, the other to the south of the
island, inclOse one of the noblest plains
in the world, the Vega Real or ROYAL
Plain. 1t occupies almost the center of
the island, is. nearly level, is watered
by number of streams flowing down
from the foothills, and, bounded by two
ranges, with it's waving pampas, Stretch
ing away into almost illimitable dis
lance to the east and west, is a sight
long to be remembered. Under proper
cultivation the Vega Real could supply
millions of people with food, for it's soil
in character closely resembles that of
the famous American bottom of Illi-
noiS, but the natives, beyond planting
patch of corn, cotton or cane here and
there, make little agricultural use of
this noble property, and it is given up
to grazing. Thousands of half wild cat
tie roam over it, finding at all seasons
a succulent heritage which satisfies
their wants. In such a climate they
need no shelter. Once or twice in the
year they are rounded up, the calves
are branded for future recognition and
during the rest of the time they are left
unattended.
The island produces an excellent quail
ity of sugar and cotton of good grade.
TlTT1rI DIV
the latter was greatly stimulated by
the advance in price, the quantity ris-
ing in one year to over 1000, 900 pounds,
but after the southern states came
again into the cotton market the indus
try in Hayti declined, and now the is
land is an insignificant factor in the
worlds supply.
Although by proper industry the is
land could become one of the leading
centerS of sugar, coffee and cotton, it's
entire output is comparatively insignifi-
cant. In the mountain chains there are
found many kinds of metal; gold, iron,
lead, copper and zinc are known to ex-
list, but the Incidence of the inhabitants
has prevented their working the mines
themselves, and the unreliability andin-
security of the government have for
hidden the investment Of capital by
foreigners.
The principal production of the island
is the darby. Hayti is the colored mans
paradise, figuratively, literally and
81 degrees, and what need is there of
house in such a climate. A roof and
pretense of walls to keep out the rains
are all that are necessary, so when the
Haytian has constructed these, which
are about all he does construct, he looks
upon his work, sees what he has done,
and pronounces it good. A solidly con-
Structed building would keep out the
breezes, and in a country where the
winter temperature is so and the sum-
mer is up to the top of the thermometer
the sable citizen of the island republic
wants all the breeze he can get. The
same objection which lies against a
welI-built house is of equal potency
against well-cOnstructed clothes. The
Haytians, in the matter of clothing, are
a considerable distance ahead of their
fellows in Africa, but in the rural dis
tricts of the island the children go en-
tirely nude until 10 or II years old, while
the apparel of the parents, it must be
confessed, lacks much of satisfying the
requirements of more civilized regions.
The banana, the bread-fruit, the plan
tain grow without the slightest pre-
tense of cultivation, and with food at
hand and no particular need of house
or clothing, the Haytian has no provo
cation to work, and so religiously re-
Trains from any toll calculated to make
his ebony skin shine. He laughs and
grows fat, and also multiplies to an ex-
tent that would give Nautilus or any
other student of political economy a
fright at the prospect of future ia
mine in Haytt, arising from its over
populousneSS.
There is, however, no danger of any
such catastrophe, for whenever the
population becomes sufficiently nurner-
Gus the people take measures to re-
duce the number by getting up a revo-
luton which kills off a few hundred or
thousand and so brings things back to
their normal condition. The island has
been the scene of as many political up
heavals as any other fragment of the
former Spanish Empire in America, for
the Haytians are apt scholars and have
To he eva ~