The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-28
DOMINICAN R. B.
 TO BE PLACED IN
 STATE OF REP AIR
Infrequently Used Road Or dered Made More Service
 able by Government.

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Feb. Z8.-EXtensiVe repairs on the Dominican Central Railroad, connect ing 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 points brought up to a satisfactory basis
 Tons of tobacco and coffee and ca cao, the accumulation of a year, re- main unmoved at Santiago while there has been practically no freight moved inland by rail from here since Au- gust. 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 12 per cent. to a maximum of three per cent. These grade reductions will eliminate the necessity for racks, which heretofore, have been in use, and will make traffic both quicker and more certain. The locomotives and rolling stock also are to be put in us- able condition and when these changes
 
 that the road will be in more service able condition than at any time since its construction.
 Only on one or two occasions has the road ever been operated profitably and then not for long periods. Gen orally it has been a heavy expense to the Government when it was in opera tion 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 stable government are expected to push to completion without unneces- sary delay. The new 4O0-foot wharf which the government is building at a cost of $150,000 is we'll under way and when completed will be the finest har- Dor improvement in the Republic. In addition to the wharf a new customs house to cost s5O,OO0, is to be built at the entrance to the dock, The dock is to be 414 feet long and ships draw ing 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 Yaque river, near Santiago, which when completed will furnish electricity for Santiago, Moca, La Ve- ga and Puertp Plata, the four princi- pal cities of the Cibao and north coast. With the exception of San Pe- dro de Macoris and Santo Domingo City, Santiago and Puerto Plata arc the. only cities in the Republic now having electric lighting service. Other public Improvements that are to be immediately undsrtaken include the rebuilding of bridges on the road from Santiago to Monte Cristi. Seven bridges on this highway were >burn- ed 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 sixteen kilometers of macadam road from Macoris to Santo Domingo City, a distance of approximately 55 kilometers This road will also con- meet with one now under construction from Macoris to Hato Mayor, a dis tance of twelve kilometers.
 The foundation of a new. $50,0O0 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 inter rupted frequently by revolutions, has been resumed and the building prob ably will be occupied within six months Other projects, including the erec- tion of several Ngovernment buildings to take the place of rented quarters, are being planned now that a stop has been put to revolutions and with the continuance of order throughout the country funds are being made available for many large public and private projects.
 Since the American occupation there have been many inquiries regarding lands and large tracts have been bought up in the Cibao chiefly for the growing of tobacco while, in the Southern part of the Republic much land is being purchased to be planted to sugar cane. Several large invest ments of Porto Rican capital have been made chiefly in sugar lands while the same interests have made prelim- mary plans for the establishment of a. bank in the capital with a branch at MacOriS.
 L-5 PROPELLER FOULED.