Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-31

its Fertility and Beauty-Forests and Prod
ucts. ~.

its Fertility md I,eauty-Forests and Prod
New York Tribune.
The rich and fertile soil of Santo
Domingo produces coffee, tobacco,
cocoa and spices in large quantities,
but sugar has always been the chief
product, and it all comes to New York
| and Boston.
A writer on the subject says:
"Over century before the French
founded Quebec, or two centuries
before they founded New Orleans, old
Spain was drawing great wealth from
the sugar fields Of Santo Domingo, and
it is safe to say that more real wealth
was thus gathered by Spain for two
centuries,after Columbus than from all
her gold and silver"
Another great source of revenue to
Ssnto Domingo is the fruit business
Great banana plantations have been
developed by enterprising Dcminicans
and Americans, and large consignments
of the fruit are sent from the island,
most of the shipments being made from
SANTANA Bay to New York and Boston.
The dense forests OF Santo Domingo
are among the natural attractions Of
the country, and are also source OF
| prUub W bue luuhpithutS, MhiiOpduSY
stainwood, gransdulo guayacan and
yaya are among the many varieties
| that are exported. Wax, honey, mo-
lasses, cocoanuts, dyewoods and many
other articles are exported, the records
showing that about $4,000, 600 worth Of
various products leave the Republic
every year.
AS to the climate in the Republic a
| writer says:
1t must be heathful when one may
Is only eight to the thousand inhabi-
tants. There are no densely populated
places, yellow fever is unknown, and
| in Europe, with the smallest pre-
of the Republic where-all day long
the strong sea breezes do not bloS.
The mountain ranges run east and
we'll as the mountain sides, receive trade
winds, which blow continually from
| the east in that latitude. The city oil
Puerto Plata, on the north coast, and
the interior cities of La Vega, Moca
and Santiago, in the Royal Plain Vega
Real) of Columbus, are kept healthful
| and comfortable all the year by this
trade wind, which removes miasmatie
emanations. On the south the great
sugar raising plains are between the
mountains and the Caribbean Sea.
Although Santo Domingo city, the
capital, is situated only 1915 degrees
from the equator, and Puerto Plata,
the northern port, 20 degrees, and the
temperature in winter is quite mild,
tho Thermometer does not rise high il
midsummer. Carefully kept records
show that at Puerto Plata in foul
years, with the exception of one day,
tine mercury never rose higher than 81
degrees Fair. The rainy season. which
is dreaded in all tropical countries, il
not a period of continued rain 10 SAINT,
Domingo. 1t is period when the
sunshine is broken by clouds, with
occasional showers usually heavy, but
of short duration. "
The Central Dominican railway con
meets Puerto Plata, on the north coast
with Santiago, and IN the 40 miles O.
its length passes over one of the noun
tain ranges which extend over tn,
whole length of the island. This roac
was constructed by Americans and i:
being operated by an American com
pany, and another smaller railroad
from SANTANA Bay, in the east end d
the island, to La Vega, is operated b,
an English company. Within shor
distance of the modern railway ar,
buildings which were erected
hundreds Of years ago and ole
churches, inconsistencies ard cloister
are still in existence whici
were built by the men who came to tn,
island with the sou of Chrstorhe
Columbus. The low stone building OF
the river front at Santo Domingo
where Columbus son lived, is still il
a fair state of preservation. Ever,
little hamlet has its church, and ii
the larger places the churches ar
usually the chief architectural feature
of the place, the Cathedral of Santiago
where the funeral of the assassinate,
President was held, being an imposin,
edifice.
An American who lived there severa
years said:
''Santo Domingo is not only rich i,
natural products, but is beautiful an,
interesting. Old castles and churches
for which the iron work and ornament
were brought from Spain, may be seel
in tho larger places, while the village
offer other attractions in the way o
primitive habitations. The great forests
with their wealth of woods, are fire.
from reptiles, and one Of the point
which the natives make in speaking o
their island is that there is not q snak
on il. y
There are no positive records as t
the number of inhabitants, but til
population has been estimated at abou
600, 600. The city of Santo Doming
has about $4,000 Inhabitants. Santiag
between 6,000 and 5000, Puerto Plat
about 5000, Macoris. from which poin
nearly all the sugar shipments ar
made, has about 5000, and Moca an,
La Vega have each about 4 1000.
Santiago city, the terminus of th
American railroad, was founded b.
Diego Colon, the son of the discoverer
when he WAS governor of the province
and some of the buildings erected b
the founders are still there. The rail
road which runs from Puerto Plata t
the ancient town is narrow gaug
road, and in It's construction the noun
tain had to be pierced for tunnel so
feet long. which is the largest work @
! that kind on the island.
He saw the Point.
A man went to a local bank with
check which there was no cash ON de
posit to meet. When the paying telle
! declined to respond tho applican