The Elk Mountain pilot., 1912-01-18

the western portion of the is
land Of the same name. has an
area OF 10000 square miles,
and q population of 1000, 900.
1t is one OF the most populous OF the
American republics. taking into &C.
count its area, with 1856 inhabitants to
the square mile. Haiti is land of
mountains and valleys, and inclosing
the Gulf Of Gonave, around whose
shores are several fine natural har-
bors. The principal products OF the
island are coffee, cacao. cotton. to-
bacco, sugar and logwood. In the for
ests and deep valleys there Is
wealth Of fora unsurpassed in the
western world. Haiti also possesses
considerable undeveloped mineral re-
sources. among them being gold. sill
klyer. gypsum. limestone and porphyry.
4 number Of small islands belong to
the territory Of the republic; Gonave.
about 40 miles long: La Tortue. 33
miles long: Les Cayemites. and num-
Der of small islands.
The constitution Of the republic Of
Haiti was proclaimed on the 9Th day
of October. 1889, and a unitary repub-
lican form Of government was adopted.
vesting the administration in legisla-
tive. executive and judicial branch.
The legislative is composed of two
chambers-a chamber of representa-
tives and a senate. the two together
forming the national assembly. The
cabinet Of representatives consists OF
90 members. elected by the people for
a term Of three years. and the senate
OF 80 members chosen by the represent
auves from lists furnished by a board
Of electors and by the president Of the
republic. for term Of six years. Tho
senate 10 renewed by thirds every two
years. Tho national assembly meets
annually on the first Monday in April
for 4 period Of three months. which
may be extended for another 80 days
Tho president of the republic il. elect
ed by the national assembly for a
elected except after an interval Of
at least ono term. He receives 4 sal
ary of approximately $4,000 per an
mum. A cabinet, Of six secretaries.
each in charge of!some department Of
the government. assists the president.
They are appointed by and responsible
to him, and receive an annual sal
ary Of about $1,000 each. The depart
ments delegated to the various secre-
'taries Of state as as follows: Foreign
AFFAIRS and public Instruction.; war and
navy; interior and general police:
finance and commerce.; Justice and
worship; public works and agriculture.
The president, Cincinnatus Leconte,
was inaugurated on August 16. 1911.
Incomplete reports would seem to in
dicate that commercial conditions for
the year were satisfactory. but full re-
turns upon which alone estimates can
be based are not yet available. A Sc
ment to balance the budget. In many
directions Improvements were begun
or authorised. to show that the coun-
try was ambitious to be brought up to
modern standards. A compulsory ed
ucation law. applicable to the primary
grades. was passed, and a new water
system for the capital, Port au Prince,
was aprovved and the contract for
the Haitian Natopa railroad was
signed. Haito has given noticeable
encouragement to foreign investors
during this and former years. and the |
advances which will follow liberal con-
cessions Of this kind are sure to bene-
at the country materially within q
short time.
Products and Industries.
The Industries of the country are !
mainly agriculture, the most impor- |
tant product being coffee of an ex-
cellent quality.
Cacao Is also grown extensively. the
annual output being estimated at g.
OOO, 900 pounds. Cotton is exported in
quantities: of the grade !