The times., 1899-08-02
HAITI EFFECTS A.LOAN.
a New York Syndicate to Operate
the Copper Mines.

the
]. N Leger, the Haitian Minister who
came in from Deer Park. Maryland, yester-
day on diplomatic business, talked last
night to a reporter for The Times in re-
gard TO the recently successful negotia-
tions made with a New York syndicate to
operate the copper, iron, and coal mines
in northern Haiti with the view of re-
lieving the present depressed financial and
economic situation in the island.
"A few months ago." said the Haitian
Minister. Edmond Roumain, professor
OF mathematics in the college at Port au
Prince. went to New York as the repre-
sentative of the Haitian Government to
see II he could not induce a syndicate of
New York capitalists to attempt to operate
the copper, iron and coal mines IN the
northern section of the island. l have
Just learned that Mr.. Roumain has been
highly successful In his mission, and that
he is now returning to Haiti, accompanied
by a civil engineer representing the New
York syndicate. with directions to prose-
cute the work in the mines.
This success of MIR. Roumain will mean
much to our people.
| lieye the present distressed economic con-
ditions in the island and put the country
upon a safe and sound financial basis.
! The situation there for the last year or
| two has been discouraging TO many OF us
on account of the exceedingly low price of
| coffee, caused by competition with the
| overproduction of the Brazilian fields. Our
| people have been unable to realize any
profit upon their coffee plantations. OF
! course that means in Haiti, financial stag
nation. Money has been exceedingly tight
| Gold has steadily been exported and silver
and paper money substituted in its place
| At length the pressure became so great
that silver began to be exported also and
| the Government was compelled to issue
paper money to meet the emergencies of
the situation. We have now in circulation
about 100000 gourdes of paper money.
| We are trying to redeem 1t as fast as We
| can. To do so We have resorted TO duty
of % per cent ad valorem on all imported
articles. We expect to redeem every
gourde within the next three years.
"Our people wish TO do away with paper
fiat money, and TO get the country
gold basis. To accomplish that purpose, We
desire to negotiate a loan payable in gold
| here in the United States. II the people
| here understood more clearly the resources
of Haiti and the character of the inhabi-
| tants, they would not. l think, hesitate &c
! take our DO0OS. but lnSy nave UOW u his
/ taken idea of our people. They believe
these silly Mothes Goose stories about the
island-stories in which the inhabitants are
represented as oannibals who worship
| snakes, etc, etc. The real condition of
Haiti is little known. Our people are free,
| civilized, educated, intelligent. The free
school system established more than ten
| years ago has produced benefcent results.
Wherever you go in Haiti today, even in
4 ba in, dfstr ipfz Will
find that landmark of liberty-the free
school house. By means of it. our people
| have become educated and their moral con-
dition sensibly heightened.
I'VE now wish to gain our economic free
dom. Haiti is an agricultural country.
Ordinarily ii would be prosperous through
its agriculture alone. But we have learned
that we must diversity our fields of labor.
We must utilize the opportunities which
bountiful nation has placed within our
| reach. We must dig the mine and turn
the wheel and set the sail, as well as till
the soil. Through Mr.. Roumains success
full negotiations We shall now be able to
follow all these pursuits.
81 believe that money invested in mining
or in other industries at this time in Haiti
will yield satisfactory returns. Our people
are peaceful and industrious. They are
satisfied with their Government They are
not encouraging or desiring any form OF
revolution.
What are the prospects in Santo Do
mingo?" was asked.
Il should think that the Government of
Vice President Figuereo would prove to be
acceptable to the people there, answered
Mr. Leger. 1T is now more than six days
since President Heureauxs assassination
and there has yet been no forcible demon
stration by the malcontents. l think that
augurs well for the new condition of affairs
in Santo Domingo. JimmineZ Is, however,
an aggressive leader. He may be able to
persuade his followers to attempt revolu-
ton. If he should openly resist the Gov
ernment, he would, l think, be defeated.
The military arm of the present Govern
ment is efficient enough to crush him
swiftly. In addition to that fact, 1t should
be said that the people of Santo Domingo
are growing very tired Of these spasmodic
revolutions. What they want is peace
permanent, abiding peace-and the bless
ings of progress and prosperity which al
ways grow out of pacific relations"
| End OF A WAR OFFICE DISPUTE