The evening times., 1900-01-20
THE HAIlIEN REPUBLIC
Economic Conditions Discussed by
Consul Livingston.
Increased Business Depression--Im-
portations Restricted to the Neces-
stiles of Life-The Country Greatly
i'm Need of Capitai-A Promising
Field for Profitable Investments.

| Economic conditions in Haiti is the sub
iect of a report just received by the State
Department from Consul Livingston, at
Cane Haitjen. Mr.. Livingston says:
THE severe business depression In Halti
noted last year has not only continued
but is supposed by conservative business
men to have increased. Importations are
restricted closely to the necessaries OF hte,
and a fall in the prices of home produc-
tions has diminished expectations. Money
| has shown all the sensitiveness of a ba-
rometer in its fluctuations, the premium
on gold varying from day to day anywhere
within the limits Of 125 and 200 per cent,
without any appreciable cause.
THE rumor of an attempt TO negotiate
a loan or of a minor financial operation,
| or of an incipient insurrection has been
sufficient to cause the premium TO take an
upward or downward leap, accordingly as
| the report was favorable or unfavorable TO
commercial improvement and stability.
The trade with the United States, although
it has fallen off very materially from its
former proportions, has not suffered in
an exact ratio with the general decline on
account of its character, the importations
from the United States being confined al
most wholly to provisions and the tough,
cheap cotton goods worn by the masses.
THE most probable causes of this in
| dustrial depression are the disordered
! condition of the finances, the heavy export
| duty on staple products. and the want OF
| capital to develop the natural resources
| of the country. A large proportion OF the
| silver money has been bought up at less
! than its intrinsic value during this pc
| riod of high premiums and shipped off TO
New York where it has probably been
| melted down. The guaranty for the paper
| in circulation is the export duty on coffee
| and this duty has become so high that II
| is sitting production. an anomaly in which
the weight of the prop is contributing 10
! the collapse of the very structure IL was
| designed TO support.
There is probably no other country in
the world where capital is so greatly need
ed as in Haiti, or where il ought to yield
greater results, all things considered.
| Capital invested here. with proper secur-
itv and protection-and it is believed that
security and protection are now easily OBJ
| tainable-ought not only TO yield hand
some profit but If coupled with the in
PRODUCTION of improved modern methods
| and appliances. would create vast mar
ket for agricultural and mining imple-
ments. railway and electrical supplies,
| machinery and general manufactures.
The present demand for the simplest
of these things is very small, and for most
of them entirely wanting. And yet mil
| lions of acres of the most fertile lands III
the world, suited to the growth of all spe-
cies Of tropical products, are either wholly
| idle or cultivated in a spasmodic ana
| primitive fashion. II is the natural SOIL
for the sugar cane, and yet no sugar is
made Tobacco of superior quality can
be grown, and yet all the tobacco con-
sumed is imported.
The Haitien orange is probably second
only to the Florida orange in the delicious
! and Juicy character of its pulp; but, not
withs.anding this fact, there are no orange
groves. Lands capable, in quality and ex-
| tent of enriching so small country
through the cultivation of the banana
alone remain untouched. Even coffee and
and cacao, the staple products, are lett al
most wholly TO nature. There are vast
! Quantities of mahogany and other cabinet
woods and deposits Of unknown extent OF
| iron coal, and other minerals.
The projected railroad from Cape
Haitien 10 La Grande Riviere, referred "a
at some length in a previous report from
this consulate is now well under con-
struction and. being the only one in the
republic, promises to be an important
factor in the development OF the country
The concession for the enterprise, as
| amended and now in force, is the most
liberal one ever granted by the Haitien
Government. allowing the formation of a
ioint-stock company in which foreigners
| not only can hold shares, but are able
through their holdings to acquire con-
trolling interest.
''One of the most active members of the
syndicate is an Englishman, a merchant
residing at Cape Haitien. All material for
/ the construction and equipment of the
road is admitted free of duty. The con-
cession is for sixty years and the govern
ment offers to guarantee an interest Of
per cent on 1900 per kilometer in the
| construction. The government also grants
| to the company for a period of twenty
years the tolls of an iron bridge at the
| Cape Haiten terminus which at present
amount to $500 a month in Haitien cur
rency.
.The distance from Cape Haten to La
Grande Riviere is only fifteen miles, but
| the concession includes the privilege of
constructing branch roads TO Ouanaminte,
a distance of thirty-five miles, and TO
Limbe about nineteen miles. The region
through which these roads are TO pass Is
one of the most fertile plains on the ISL
and. adapted to the cultivation OF all the
tropical products for which Haiti is noted.
..The government lands granted to the
company include 4,000 acres specially
suited to banana growing. Deposits OF
coal and iron have been discovered within
easy access Of the road, for the eXploita-
tion of which concessions can be secured
by the company. The company is now so
liciting capital to complete these roads,
cultivate the fertile lands included in its
grants. and develop the iron and coal
mines in the neighborhood. 1t is believed
to offer an unusually enticing field for the
investment of American capital"
HEAVY DISCOUNT ON LIGHT.
An Illuminating Company Offers