The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern and larger section of the island known as Santo Domingo or Haiti.

This island was discovered by Columbus on his first voyage December 6, 1492. The peaceable aborigines whom he found on landing were so abused under the Spanish rule, that by the year 1500 fully 90 per cent. had died and the colonists turned to Africa for slaves to work their estates, 4000 being brought here in 1517.

French, Dutch and English buccaneers made this island their rendezvous owing to its favorable location. France recognized them as constituting a state in 1630 and gave them the protection of the home government. In 1697 France secured control over the western half of the island, and in 1795 obtained by treaty the remaining portion.

In 1809 Spain and France were at war, and Spanish rule was again established on the island. The Spanish-speaking section of this territory declared its independence of Spain in 1821 and in 1822 the Haitians acquired control of the entire island, governing it until 1844, when as the result of a rebellion in 1846 Santo Domingo became independent, remaining so until 1861 when again fearing conquest she petitioned Spain to direct her destinies. Following a revolution in 1863, Spanish rule terminated in 1865, the country since being known as the Dominican Republic. Uprisings and revolutions followed each other and foreign debts accumulated to such an extent that European invasion was threatened. In 1907 the United States undertook to administer the affairs of the government through American officials, cancelling each year from the revenues of the country a portion of its foreign debt, using another portion for internal national improvements.

The present constitution provides for a President as an executive and a Senate and Chamber of Deputies for legislative purposes.

The island of Santo Domingo, or Haiti, is about 400 miles long and 160 wide, its shores possessing numerous deep-water bays and inlets. Four almost parallel mountain-ranges exist within its boundaries, one peak, Mt. Tina, being 10,300 feet in altitude. These mountains form an excellent watershed, resulting in many creeks and streams, but few navigable and those only for very light draft boats.

Along the coast and in the lowlands, the heat is extreme, Haiti being much warmer than Santo Domingo. The high lands of the interior and the plateaus between the mountains are pleasant and healthful. Continuous sea breezes add materially to the comfort of the inhabitants.

The Dominican Republic has an area of 19,325 square miles and a population of 673,611, mostly blacks or mulattoes. There is a small white foreign population, numbering perhaps 10,000.

There are 160 miles of railway, partially under government ownership, and 250 miles of railway privately owned and used in connection with the larger sugar estates.

There exist exceptional opportunities for cattle and goat raising. Lumbering of hard, dye and cabinet woods could be profitably developed. Gold is washed from the rivers in small quantities and some copper, iron and silver are found.

Cane is extensively grown throughout the island, the amount exported in 1912 being $5,841,357. Cocoa is largely raised, the crop last year yielding $4,248,724. Tobacco, coffee, beeswax, honey, bananas, lignum-vitae, dye woods, mahogany, gums, resins, hides and copra form the other leading items of its exports which in 1913 amounted to $12,385,248.

In the same period her imports were $8,217,898, consisting of cotton goods valued at $2,000,000, iron and steel, $1,400,000, meat and butter $660,000, flour $450,000, drugs $225,000, paper $125,000, and soap $100,000. Last year this country used 16,221,141 pounds of rice, 94.5 per cent. of which came from Germany, a land that does not grow a pound of this cereal.

The United States takes considerably more than 50 per cent. of this country’s exports, and ships it about 70 per cent. of its requirements, Germany ranking next, followed by England and France.

Santo Domingo has no currency of its own, but uses American money. An American bank in Santo Domingo City exists, being the only financial institution in the country, and affords every facility in monetary matters. Credits are fairly good and detailed information will be supplied by the bank.

Travelers pay no tax and samples are admitted duty free.

The chief cities are:

The Clyde S. S. Company (American) maintains a semi-monthly service from New York touching all the ports of the Republic. There are many European lines calling at the various ports also.