Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20
hogany and other valuable cabinet woods
and a long-leafed pine abounds.
Minerals Lie Dormant,


There has been no extended investiga-
ton Of the mineral resources. except one
that was made in 1871 by Prof Gabb an
American, whose reports were pub ished
only in the proceedings Of the American
Philosophical Society, and are thus in
accessible to the public. For many years
after the arrival of the Spaniards-and
the city of Santo Domingo was founued
In 14%j-millions of gold was sent back
to Spain from the island. The natives. III
Iact. We're eXterminated by compelling
them to work as slaves in the mines.
Then attention was diverted by the
wonderful tales Of the riches of Mexico
and Peru. and Santo Domingo. which had
been the capital of the new world was
passed by. Since those days there has
been little serious mining. good many
natives still make q living b. washing
the sands of several rivers in a most
primitive way, and l saw in Santiago
nuggets larger than hens eggs which had
been found in taose streams. The appli-
cation OK modern methods. like the
dredges used in California and Alaska
would undoubtedly prove very prohta hle
There are said to be Indications of copper
iron and coal. but they have not been eN-
amined by competent experts. etroIe I'm
has been found near Aqua.
Confidence in Future.
"Santo Domingo las not attracted more
ural resources because political situa-
tons in other countries have been more
inviting, but now that conditions have
changed and there is peace and quiet
the Donlonican republic must develop as
Cuba. Porto Rico and jamaica are doin.
The AGRICULTURAL. mineral and forestry
resources certainly are worthy of investI-
2atson.
LAS an indication oe tie Improvement
conditions ra1. h.
public las :isen from $J.JI2.3Gl in 1875,
when the Intervention cf the United States
took piace. 10 Sl4,6l3.sO1 in 1905. a perou
Of three years: and L slIal! not De- sur
prised If the total for 1919 is very much
| larger. The exports for 1905 were valued
at 50. 1854. being s1.s47 sos greater than
in 1871. The imports in 1905 were valued
at s.. l21, 46S. The balance in favCr OF ex-
ports was $i.35S.sSl.
LAS the exports are in the main acri-
cultural products. the increase in the
value indicates an increased production
during 1908. The price of cocoa was
lower in 1901 as was the price cf ;otac-
CO. Sugar commanded a higher price
The Increase in the quantity OF Domini.
can products raised was considerable
More land was planted. more labor en-
ployed. The purchasing capacity OF the
country is increasing.
Value Of the Imports.
"Of the imports S2.s9l.T22, or l84 per
cent during 1905. came from the United
States-a slight increase over 1907 The
principal items were: Cotton goods, SS04,-
GAG; iron and steel and manufactures Of
$SS6.094; breadstuffs. $30S. OS6; oils, most
~ mineral. $214.147: wood and manufac-
lures CT. $l37,0s2; provisions, $I13,373
fish, $l13.OS6.
'Of the imports 1859 per cent came from
Germany. the principal items being: Rice
Of foreign production. SAL .165 provis-
sions, $35. Il3: cotton goods, $S1 &c.; malt
liquors, S56.2S; fiber manufactures, $685.
9S3; iron and steel manufactures, S4Ooe5;
earthen, stone and china ware. SD III;
agricultural implements. S1S.329 The
United Kingdom came third, with las
per cent of the imports, the principal
items being: Cotton manufactures $46G-
OSl: iron and steel manufactures, S167 40;
fiber manufactures, $SO,992; wooden
goods. ST.. s2j.
',Of the exports during 1908 S4212 449
went to the United States. or $3.50, i3l
more than in 1897. This was due mainly
to the increase in the production and ad-
vance in the price of sugar, OF which the
United States purchased $3.O7a. Is2. but
$13. 287 less than the total export The
United States also purchased COCOA to
the value of $637, 946: bananas. S234, 900:
hides and skins. $50, DID; coffee, $2763l:
woods, S25, sos: tobacco. $40, 40
Germany purchased $3.50 more than the
United States. or 44.49 per cent of the ex-