The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-20
TEE HAITIEN REPUBLIC
Economic Conditions Discussed by
Consul Livingston.
Increased Business Depression-Im-
portHtiOns Restricted 10 the Neces-
In Need of CapitnI-A Promising
Field for Profitable Investments.

Economic conditions in Haiti is the sub
jet Of report just received by the State
Department from Consul Livingston, at
Cape Haitien. Mr.. Livingston says;
The severe business depression in Haiti
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 life,
and fan IN the prices OF home produc-
| lions has diminished expectations. Money
has shown all the constituencies of ba-
rometer in its fluctuations The premium
on gold varying from day to day anywhere
within the limits OF rs and 200 per cent,
without any appreciable cause
THE rumor OF an attempt to negotiate
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 unfavcrable to
! commercial improvement and stability
The trade with the United States. although
it has fallen of very materially from its
| former proportions, has not suffered in
an exact ratio with the general decline on
account Of its character the importatien5
/ 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 dis0rdered
! condition Of the finances, the heavy export
( duty on staple products, and the want Of
! capital to deve op 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 il 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 il
1 is sitting production. an anomaly in which
| the weight Of the prop is contributing 10
| the collapse Of the very structure it 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 it ought 20 yield
| greater results, all things considered
! Capital invested here. with proper secur-
I ity and protectiou-and IL is believed that
/ security and protection are now easily OBJ
/ tainable-oug'-, not only 20 yield a hand
/ some pro.-, but, II coupled with the in
/ PRODUCTION Of improved modern methods
l and appliances would create a vast mar
ket for agricultural and mining nipple
| ments. railway and electrical supplies,
| machinery. and general manufactures.
/ The present demand for the simplest
of these things is very small ana for uost
Of them entirely wanting. And yet mill
lions Of acres Of the most fertile lands In
the world suited TO the growth Of all spe-
Cies Of tropical products, are either wholly
idle or cultivated in a spasmodic and
primitive fashion. 1t is the natural soil
for the sugar cane, and yet no sugar is
1 made. Tobacco OF a superior quality can
be grown, and yet all the tobacco con-
/ sumed is imported.
The Haitieu orange Is probably second
| only 10 the Florida orange in the delicious
and juicy character Of its pulp, but, not
| withstanding this fact, there are no orange
| groves Lands capable, in quality and eX-
! tent, Of enriching so small q country
| through the cultivation OF the banana
alone remain untouched. Even coffee and
and cacao the staple products, are left al
( ECst wholly 10 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 to l. Grande Riviere. referred 10
at some length in a previous report from
! this consulate, is now well under con-
| struction and being the only one 10 the
| republic promises TO be an important
l 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 HaiIen
! Government, allowing the formation Of a
I joint-stock company in which foreigners
not only can hold shares. but are able
through their holdings 10 acquire con-
/ trolling intele est
zone Of ttC most active members Of the
I syndicate is an Englishman. a merchant
I residing "a cape Haitien. All material FOR
the construction and equipment of the
Z road is admitted free of duty. The con-
cession is for sixty years and the govern
ment offers TO guarantee an interest or 6
per cent on S24 coo per kilometer in the
/ construction The government also grants
| TO the company for period Of twenty
| years the tolls of an iron bridge at the
/ Cape Haitien terminus. which at present
| amount TO $500 a month in Haitien cur
/ rency.
The distance from Cape Hatien to La
/ Grande Riyiera is only fifteen miles. LIT
! the concession Includes the privilege OF
/ constructing branch roads 10 Ousnaminte
/ a distance Of thi-ty-fye miles and 10
. Limbe about nineteen miles The region
! through which these roads are 10 pass is
one Of the most fertile plains on the ISL
I and adapted 10 the cultivation OF all the
/ tropical products for which Haiti is noted
] THE government lands granted TO the
/ company include 1000 acres specially
suited 10 banana growing Deposits or
4 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
/ Letting capital to complete these roads.
cultivate the fertile lands included in its
/ grants. and de elop the iron and coal
mines in the neighborhoOd. 1t IS believed
/ to offer an unusually enticing field for the
I investment OF American capital"
HEAVY DISCOUNT ON LIGHT.
An Illuminating Company Offers