Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-15
INCREASE IN REVENUE
American Administration of
Dominican Customs.
COL. COLTON'S REPORT
ExToLLS THE NATURAL WEALTH
OF THE COUNTRY.
Vast Agricultural Possibilities Of the
Island and Abundant Min
eral Resources.
COL. COLTON'S REPORT

The War Department has just made pub
lie the first complete report of Col. Cotton,
the controller and general receiver Of the
customs service of Santo Domingo" show
ing the customs receipts and other fiscal
data for April last, the first period of ad-
ministration Of the island revenues by the
Americans. Col. Cotton introduces his state
ment with some remarks respecting the
geographical and climatic conditions Of
Santo Domingo which perhaps are not gen.
orally known. For instance, he says that
there are no countries in the tropics, and
few elsewhere, possessed of a more health
full climate. No infectious or contagious
diseases or diseases peculiar to tropical CHI
mates prevalent, the average health Is
at least equal to that of the United States
and as much manual labor may be per-
formed without injury to the health as in
most of the American states. The average
mean temperature for July and August was
70 degrees. and for December and January
74.5 degrees. The population is va
riously estimated at from $4,000 to 100000.
the former number being more probably
correct"
Colonel Cotton describes the vast agricul-
tural possibilities of the island and the
abundant mineral resorces, and says: AL
together it would be difficult to imagine
country more richly endowed with the nat
ural elements of material wealth and COM
merc1al progress.
Commerce of the Island.
Colonel Cotton next takes up the treasury
figures showing how the finances of the
island and business are improving, and he
says:
THE most striking feature of the showing
for the month was the handsome balance Of
trade in favor of the republic amounting to
$473 224 Is: the total value of exports have
1a1
$249 224.76.
'Dutiable imports to the value of $40
255 A paid $145, 63 duties or say an aver
age of IS per cent upon the invoice values.
Merchandise free of duty was imported to
the value of $3.96932. Native products
valued at S257, IS paid export duties to
the amount Of $35, 514 a. or 1.3 per cent OF
their value while expectations to the value
of S4e4. 1918 were made without payment
of export duties
Col. Cotton reports that the United States
heads the list Of countries of origin and
destination, having received Dominican
products to the value of $516 1897. of
which $404 ,099.70 represents 13.336,477
pounds of raw sugar, and S64.6451 Ii repre-
sents 54S.O47 pounds Of cacao. the bean from
which chocolate is made. During the same
period the United States exported to Santo
Domingo merchandise valued at $159,54637.
Increase in Customs.
The report shows that the total customs
receipts for the month of April were $751;
%, as against S157 1854. u, for the CORE
spending month of 1904, representing an
annual rate of collection of s., Box. 343.4S, as
against 81 $50, 0S4. 80 for the year 1904, and
81, 56s, % for the year 1903.
Of the total imports, Col. Cotton says.
merchandise to the value of S151 ,S69.92 or
63.3 per cent of the whole, was carried in
American bottoms Next followed German
vessels with cargoes valued at So ,912.93,
and then FRENCH with cargoes to the value
Of $50 1862.