ARTICLE IV. 



ON THE TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF SANTO DOMINGO. 



13 Y WILLIAM M . (i A B 1! . 

 Read Ucfore the American I'hilosopliioal Society, Oftobor IStli, 1873. 



I N T II O U i; C T H) N . 



The present memoir is tlie result of a three years' recoiiiioisaiice of the greater part of the Republic of Santo 

 Domingo, and comijrises a descriirtion of the geology of about 15,000 square miles, or about half of the island, of 

 which the sister Republic of Hayti occupies the western one-third. 



The examinations and surveys wei-e made during tlie years 1869, '70 and '71, by the author, aided by a corjjs of 

 assistants varying in number from three to six, besides two draughtsmen, who were employed most of the time in 

 preparing a series of maps of the topograiAical portion of the work. The geological work was mostly done by the 

 author, assisted at times by two of the party. 



The origin of the work is perhaps anomalous in the history of geological surveys. The Government, with an 

 enlightened policy in advance of the majority of Spanish-American nations, felt the necessity of a careful geological 

 examination of its territory, to ascertain the exact facts in regard to its mineral resources. At {he same time, in 

 ■ consequence of the numberless revolutions through which the country has unhappily jpassed during the last three" 

 quarters of a century, it was so crippled financially, that it was clearly impossible to find the funds necessary for the 

 expenses of such an enterprise. It is not necessary to record the details here. Suffice it to say that, finally, a con- 

 tract was made with some gentlemen in New York, who pledged themselves to pay the costs of the work, receiving 

 a grant of a portion of land belonging to the government, to reimburse themselves. 



In the meantime, the writer was selected by the diplomatic agent of the Government in the United States, and 

 on the completion of the negotiations, he began his examinations early in 1869. The manner in which he has been 

 sustained and assisted by both the contracting parties is alike creditable to each, and leaves him nothing to com]ilain 

 of on either side. 



The assistants were at fii-st but three, Mr. S. Speare, Mr. William Courtis and Mr. C Runnebaum. Mr. Speare 

 had been previously engaged in the copper mines of the Nigua, and his acquaintance with the country and the people 

 made him very useful, especially at the beginning. He continued with the party until the close of the work. Mr. 

 Courtis, being soon found incomijetent, was dismissed in .July, 1869, and Mr. Arthur Pennell engaged in his jjlace. 

 Both this gentleman and Mr. Runnebaum continued to the end of their work, employed in making topographical 

 surveys. During 1869 Mr. William Barnes and Mr. A. Bonaczy were also engaged. The latter was employed part 

 of the time with the topographical parties, and -for a year a.ssisting in detailed geological labors. Of the former but 

 little need be said. "Z)e mortuis nil nisi bonmn.'" At the end of a year he was discharged aird went to the United 

 States, where he died shortly after. It was found necessary for Mr. A. Pennell to do all of his work over again. In 

 the early part of 1870 Mr. L. Pennell joined the party as a topographical assistant, and remained in that capacity 

 until the middle of 1871, when a better position in the United States induced him to leave. During almost the 

 whole of the work Mr. Juan A. Read has been engaged as topographical draughtsman, and during the last half Mr. 



A. 1\ S.— -VOL. XV. M. 



