The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-01-28
THE RAILROADS IN HAITI.
American Enterprise Will Open Up
Natural Riches Of the
Island.

~ ANlAaNHA az ape lli-kAtl Il utA
yet completed. hut the government has
taken over the enterprise and given il
some financial assistance, and it Is NOW
being pushed forward 10 completion. II
will nc doubt stimulate agriculture
throughout the rich farming district
through which it will pass. and be the
means OF rapidly ]augmentirg the proc
ucts Of thr country for home consump-
ton as well as for cNpurtation.
The concession lately granted for a
railroad about 100 miles long. EXTEND
ing through a very fertile part Of the
country from Gonaives TO Hinche. is be-
ing surveyed and building operations
will soon he commenced and pushed rap
idly to completion. The capital is fur
nished by q company organized in the
United States, ard The enterprise will
undoubtedly be successful. The coun-
try through which il will pass is very
rich and fertile. ana has an unlimited
supply Of fine woods. besides mineral
lands rich in copper. gold, silver, and
NN%A NA"' RaANf lNN'4il' uf'hlN III lhill.
portation for their development. The
building OF This road will soon increase
the production Ct other articles, which
alone would furnish sufficient traffic in
a short time to make a paying invest
ment, as has been the case with the CuI
de Sac railroad, extending from Port au
Prince to the Salt lakes. through very
rich plains,
Before the building Of The Cul de Sac
road there was scarcely any cultivation
on a large scale, for want of facilities
for Transporting the product. The rail-
road was built under a concession pro-
mulgated August |. 1900. Construc-
ton began on January Is. 1901 and on
March I, 1903. the last rail was laid.
The company issued 1,0C1 shares of
stock Of 81 1000 each. On October q.
tramway running through the city of
Port au Prince. which was bought from
the original owners by the government,
and transferred TO this company for
PANN'N'' iA lIG QUINN vi bhV Nbiipittltll
of the road it was accepted by the gov
eminent. In order TO get funds necGs-
sary Tor some urgent improvements OF
the tramway line. and to extend imme.
diateIy some parts OF the road. and also
to secure capital fer the first year Of
working, the general assembly author
lied the board Of administration to issue
100000 obligation paying Il per cent.
yearly interest. The greater part Of the
stock and Of the obligations are owned
by three American citizens.
The length Of the tramway is GU
miles, that Of the railroad 30 miles;
the gauge is 30 inches Ten locomo-
tives are employed, and II passenger
cars, carrying from AZ to co passengers
each; % platform cars, six box cars, and
eight g~ondoIas Of an average capacity Of
~ to IL tors.
As before said. the line crosses The rich
and fertile plains Of the Cul de Sac, eX-
to the Salt lakes. This railroad
is the key to all future lines to this city.
as under its concession il has the right
to extend its lines to Carrefour. to the
and to Carbarct, the entrance
door Of any railroad from the north Of
the island to the capital. The present
company has made plans for extensions
to Carrefour, 81 miles. to Carbaret.
miles and to Petionville. ga miles.
in the east.
From the fact that the value Of tho
traffic of the road increased from $7.675
in October. 1908, TO $500 in October.
1904, it may be concluded that this first
railroad undertaking in Hayti viii have
a fine future.
The Haitien government has guaran.
teed a net interest of six per cent. for
years on a construction capital of
sGSS, 600, and for that purpose has
abandoned to the company part Of the
duties. consisting Of 20 cents
IN each 1000 pounds Of cocoa and 20
on each 1000 pounds Of loqwood.
This guaranty covers very largely the
Xix per cent. Of the guaranteed capital.
The principal freight consists of log
wood. fustic wood. lignum-yitae, ma
wood for fuel. lumber for the
iawmill, cattle, sugar, rum, honey,
charcoal, cotton, wax, hides and all
Of vegetables and fruits as well
Is dry goods shipped to the merchants
the line OF the road.
| have gone into minute details Of the
abroad enterprise in this country tn
how what may be expected on the CON-
of the different projects. The
is rich in all valuable prod
lets, and The only thing wanted is e
# transportation TO the seaside.
TnIINT - TLpDpu