Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1912 — THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI

THE Republic of Haiti, occupying the western portion of the island of the same name, has an area of 10,200 square miles, and a population of 2,000,000. It is one of the most populous of the American republics, taking into account its area, with 186 inhabitants to the square mile. Haiti is a land of mountains and valleys, and Inclosing the Gulf of Gonave, around whose shores are several fine natural harbors. The principal products of the island are coffee, cacao, cotton, tobacco, sugar and logwood. In the forests and deep valleys there is a wealth of flora unsurpassed in the western world. Haiti also possesses considerable undeveloped mineral resources, among them being gold, silver, gypsum, limestone, and porphyry, A number of small islands belong to the territory of the republic; Gonave, about 40 miles long; La Tortue, 33 miles long; Les Cayemites, and a number of small islands. The constitution of the republic of Haiti was proclaimed on the 9th day of October, 1889, and a unitary republican form of government was adopted, vesting the administration in a legislative, executive and judicial branch. The legislative is composed of two chambers —a chamber of representatives and a senate, the two together forming the national assembly. The cabinet of representatives consists of 99 members, elected by the people for a term of three years, and the senate of 39 members chosen by the representatives from lists furnished by a board of electors and by the president of the republic, for a term of six years. The senate is renewed by. thirds every two years. The national assembly meets annually on the first Monday in April for a period of three months, which may be extended for another 30 days. The president of the republic is elected by the national assembly for a ternwof seven years and cannot be reelected except after an Interval of at least one term. He receives a salary of approximately $24,000 per annum. 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 salary of about $6,000 each. The departments delegated to the various secretaries 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 indicate that commercial conditions for the year were satisfactory, but full returns upon which alone estimates can be based are not yet available. A serious effort was made by the government to balance the budget. In many directions improvements were begun or authorized, to show,that the country was ambitious to be brought up to modern standards. A compulsory education law, applicable to'the primary grades, was passed, and a new water system for the capital, Port au Prince, was aprowed and the contract for the Haitian National railroad was signed. Haito has given noticeable encouragement to foreign ' investors during this and former years, and the advances which will follow liberal concessions of this kind are sure to benefit the country materially within a short time. Product* and Industries. r The industries of the country are mainly agriculture, the most important product being coffee of an excellent quality. Cacao is also grown extensively, the annual output being estimated at «,- 000,000 pounds. Cotton is exported in Increasing quantitl**; of ths grads

grown in Haiti the fiber is not so long as that of the United States, although this is a condition that coulfl b# improved by proper seed selection and cultivation. Cheap lands and cheap labor make this branch of industry an attractive and remunerative one, and the several experimental plantations speak most optimistically of the future of this industry. Apiculture is another industry which has its inception on the island, but a few years ago and has flourished to a notable degree. The culture of pite (American agave) has been taken up. The cultivation of tobacco is extending, and the manufacture of cigars and cigarettes has been successfully engaged in. The soil of the country is well suited for tobacco growing. Only a small quantity of this article is raised, however. One plantation, conducted on scientific principles, Is producing tobacco of a fine grade. The manufacture of shoes within the Republic has reached a point where the output is nearly sufficient to meet the needs of the home market, with the result that importations of foreign shoes have almost entirely ceased within the past eight years. The mineral resources of the republic, consisting of gold, silver, copper, iron, antimony, tin, sulphur, coal, kaolin, nickel, gypsum and limestone, are as yet undeveloped. Remains of an ancient gold mine have recently been discovered near Ouanaminthe on the Dominican frontier, and iron deposits are known to exist in the same locality, deposits of copper and iron oxide have been discovered. Near Les Cahobas considerable outcroppings of soft coal are reported, and at Camp Perrin, some seven leagues inland, there is a coal mine showing numerous rich veins. In the vicinity of Jacmel there are copper and silver deposits which have never been worked, and at Terreneuve, distant about four hours’ travel from Gonaives, a capper mine is being worked by a syndicate of Haitians. There are numerous sugar plantar toins in the country, but no refineries. Rum and other spirits are distilled. Logwood is the most important of the many valuable woods shipped from the republic.