THE REPUBLIC OF SAN DOMINGO 259 



with the Haitians. Hazard states that at a public meet- 

 ing accorded to tin- Hon. Andrew I). White, in which the 

 elite of the people of Sabao were present, he was struck 

 by the fine forms and intellectual heads of those present, 

 comprising representatives of the church, law, medicine, 

 and the leading native merchants. 



As the interior is not well supplied with highways, ac- 

 cess from one district to another is difficult. A railroad is 

 completed between Sanchez, on Samana Bay, and La Vega, 

 sixty-two miles beyond, and is being carried on to Santiago 

 and Puerta Plata. During the pasl year another has been 

 completed connecting Santiago with the porl of Puerta 

 Plata, on the north coast. The distance covered is forty- 

 five miles. Years have been spent in the construction of 

 this line, and it crosses two mountain ranges. Yet another 

 line is contemplated between Barahona and Cerro de Sal. 

 The total mileage of railways in operation is one hundred 

 and sixteen. There are fifty-one post-offices and four 

 hundred and thirty miles of telegraph. 



The coast-line of San Domingo is nine hundred and forty 

 miles in extent. The republic has seven open ports : San 

 Domingo city and Azua, on the south; Samana, on the 

 northeast; Puerta Plata, Monte Cristi, Macoris, and San- 

 chez, on the north. The great Bay of Samana is to San 

 Domingo what Mole St. Nicolas is to Haiti. From every 

 point of view it is one of the most advantageous posses- 

 sions in the Antilles. It is thirty miles long, ten miles 

 wide, and capable of accommodating the Largesl fleets, 

 and ships of the greatest draft. It is well sheltered, espe- 

 cially againsl the north winds, free from rocks and shoals, 

 and restricted by a narrow entrance, bul commercially is 

 little utilized. The republic has two small Bteamers. 



The country has bul few cities of importance, and mosl 

 of these are in a state of decadence. The principal are 

 San I lomingo and Azua, on the south coast ; the interior city 

 of Santiago, the metropolis of the Vega Real; and Puerta 

 Plata, the seaporl of San Domingo on the north coast. 



