Mohave County miner. [volume] (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918, 1917-03-03
REPAIRS
ARE BEING MADE ON
DOMINICAN RAILROAD

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Re
public, Feb. 10.-Extensive repairs on
the Dominican Central railroad, con-
Meeting this port with Santiago, in the
heart of the rich Cibao country, have
been commenced in accordance with
the desire of the military government
to have transportation between these
point brought up to satisfactory
basis.
Tons Of tobacco and coffee and ca
Gao, the accumulation of a year, re-
main unmoved at Santiago while there
has been practically no freight moved
inland by rail from here since August.
The railroad, owned by the republic,
has for years operated at infrequent
and uncertain intervals.
The engineers are now working on
two deviations from the present route
which will reduce the grade from II
per cent to a maximum of per cent.
These grade reductions will eliminate
the necessity for racks, which hereto
fore have been in use, and will make
traffic both quicker and more certain
The locomotives and rolling stock ais,
are to be put in disable condition anc
when these changes and repairs art
made it is expected that the road viii
be in more serviceabIe condition than
at any time since its construction.
Only on one or two occasions has
the road ever been operated proftably
and then not for long periods. Cen
orally it has been a heavy expense to
the government when it was in opera
ton and long periods of idleness due
to revolutionary operations have made
repair and upkeep charges heavy.
Other extensive Improvements are
in course of construction here and
with a stable government are expect
ed TO push to completion without un-
necessary delay. The new 400-foot
wharf which the government is build
ing at cost of s150,OOO is well under
way and when completed will be the
finest harbor improvement in the re-
public. In addition to the wharf a
new customs house to cost $4,000 is
to be built at the entrance to the dock
The dock is to be Ala feet long and
ships drawing not more than 20 feet
of water can come up along either
side.
Engineers are at work on the de-
velopment of a hydro-electric project
on the Vague river, near Santiago,
which when completed, will furnish
electricity for Santiago, Moca, La
Vega and Puerto Plata, the four prin-
cipal cities of the Sibao and north
coast. With the exception of San
Pedro de Macoris and Santo Domingo
city, Santiago and Puerto Plata are
the only cities in the republic now
having electric lighting service.
Other public improvements that are
to be Immediately undertaken include
the rebuilding of bridges on the road
from Santiago to Monte Cristi. Seven
bridges on this highway were burned
by revolutionists last spring to check
the advance Of United States marines.
In the southern part of the island
work has been commenced or is about
to be on several projects. Bids have
been asked for the building of the first
Is kilometers of macadam road from
Macoris to Santo Domingo city, a dis
lance of approximately 55 ldlometers.
This road will also connect with one
now under construction from Macoris
to Hato Hayor, distance of II kilo-
meters.
The foundation of a new $4,000
customs house at Santo Domingo city
has already been laid and work on the
new municipal building in the capital
which has been almost ten years in
building and which has been inteS. |
rupted frequently by the revolutions |
has been resumed and the building /
probably will be occupied within six
months.
Other projects, including the cree
ton of several government buildings
to take the place of rented quarters,
are being planned now that a stop has