The Washington herald., 1908-08-23

Of John Barrett. director o. L-ie bureau
Of American Republics. from data con-
tanned in the library o. the bureau-
The ancient island Of Hispaniola, n
which took place tie hrst European set
tlenenu IN the New World Is now divided
into rwo republics. each Unit fl the
International Union Of American Repub-
lies. called Haiti and the Dominican Re
public. Due south from the city Of New
York at q distance % about 1,=o0 niles
is the capital ot the one, Port Gl Prince.
and practically due south from TIE city
Of Boston. also 1.450 miles. IS the capital
Of the other the city g Santo Domingo
Haiti covers the western third OF the
island. the Dominican Republic the east
eru JwO-th.rds.
Cuba IS only nifty miles 10 the west
Porto Rico the same distance 70 the east.
while The City OF Mexico Is about the
sane distance as Is New York from The
center o. tie island II IS the hub Of the
Greater Antilles. It's Sres est length from
east 70 west IS q little more than 20
miles It's greatest breadth from north %
sr-rh Is loo miles The whole island is
mountainous. fertile. and tropical with
q richness Of produCtiveDess that aroused
The admiration OF Columbus In fact. on
HispanioIa Columbus located. and It was
in the city Of Sauto Domingo that his
bones reposed-
Hairi Settled in 1880.
Haiti has an area Of 16304 square miles.
somewhat larger than New Hampshire.
Il was settled by the French in 1899
They increased in numbers and power In
1775 the treaty Of the boundaries was
signed. and shortly after recruits from
this colony assisted the United states
troops IL the war Of independence French
became the language Of The country. and
II IS now the official speech Of the nation.
The population has steadily risen until
to-day il IS registered at l.4st.95g-
The republic has had an eve1tful h.S-
ro-y. and always stood IN Jhe advance OF
the struggle for independent government
There have been crises IN its life, and
periods OF unrest in political and social
affairs. but measured by generations.
progress has been steadily upward. 50
that intellectually and iudustrlally Haiti
well deserves careful attention from ire
traveller and investor from the United
states There have been so many caluTT--
MES about this republic that its early
struggles might well be subject Of i'm
partial study. but an examination OF the
material Development VIII show what
great progress has been made
Trade Worth S5,OOO,OOO.
Commerce with the United States. which
forms much the larger share OF the toczI
commerce, was in 1917 almost $5000,yJ5.
about twice as much going from the
United States as was brought from Haiti
Coffee, the leading article Of export gUes
chiefly 10 Europe, and last year over
100000 pounds were shipped Coca
IS another article shipped in quantity,
and cotton. hides, hemp, and nuts are
staples OF export As far as bulk ; con
Cerued. however. woods Of various kinds
make up a much higher quantity Log
wood. CedaF. fustic, mahogany, and white
wood carry the total above the 10000, 20
pound mark
Sugar IS a growing product although
none OF II IS as yet exported, but the
manufacture tOr home consumption Is ad-
vancing. This IS true also Of tobacco.
As q country, Haiti Is essentially ag-i-
cultural, Yet Il is, nevertheless. ricn in
minerals as the geologic surveys testify
Gold. silver. copper, iron, antimony. tin,
sulphur. and nickel have been found and
worked. but not always in paying quaUJi-
ties The deposits Of manganese ores ara
rich and VIII repay an earnest effort at
exploiting them. Such natural resources
and since the earliest days Of the Spanish
and French the fertility OF the soil mas
been the theme Of poets and planters
are bound within a few years 10 make
Haiti potent factor in the worlds max
kers- The government itself has not been
behind in adjusting conditions 10 the de-
Tnands OF modern life
Has Ten Good HarbOrs.
There are ten or more good harbors on
the coast from north 70 south. and light
cation Wharves have been erected at the
principal ports, and most OF these cities
are supplied with electric lighting plants
Railways are in operation toward the IN
terror from the ports. but a system has
been outlined whereby land communion
Iion viii BE- established. and ultimately Il
IS planned 70 connect the capital OF the
republic Port aU Prince. with the capital
Of the adjacent republic. Santo Domingo
Port aU Prince has five miles Of tram
way. All towns and cities are n lee
graphic communication. and there are
cables running 20 Cuba and Po-.o Rico,
thus placing the country directly IN coE-
necticn with the whole world
Shipping IS very active In the two
principal ports, Port au Prince and AUX
Cayes. vessels Of 625.o00 aggregate tonnage
entered and cleared during the last re
ported fiscal year
OF equal interest TO the commerce Of the
country IS the question Of education This
Is vel developed in Haiti: instruction IS
compulsory, and absolutely free, from the
primary TO the highest schools From a
budget OF 100000 the nation expends
Ss53500 for public instruction, a proportion
OF expenditure 10 revenue seldom eQuaied
in any country in the world
The Dominican Republic.
This republic, at one tine called Santo
Domingo. must not be confounded with
the little island Of Dominica. which is a
pat OF the British West Indies. in tbs
group known as the LeeBard Islands
The Dominican Republic IS the eastern
tvo-thirds Of the ancient island Of HIS
PAMELA Its area Is 1905 square miles.
and the population numbers $1,000
The Dominican Republic has taken a
good start in the twentieth century. A
new constitution was promulgated in 1871.
under which gratifying development Of
internal conditions IS noticeable. Besides
this, a treaty between the republic and
the United States was ratified by the IN
cerested governments in July. 49, so that
commercially and financially there is
every promise for industrial progress
As proof OF this. the increased customs
collections enabled a deposit Of sI-5i3,e0o
20 be made with the National City Bank
OF New York fo- the purpose Of Hquidat-
ing the national debt. and a net balance
from this IS still 10 the nations credit
For 1871 the total foreign commerce OF
tlEe Dominican Republic exceeded So SOD
CO. the greatest yet attained by the coun-
Try The exports trade was the maxi
mum in its history, being valued at