1236
SANTO DOMINGO
of tobacco leaf in 1911 amounted to 30,441,476 lbs., value 1,322,800 dollars. Cotton exported in 1911 was 319,374 lbs., valued at 45,300 dollars. Coffee shows marked improvements in c|uality and a decrease in the quantity shipped in 1911 (4,575,440 lbs., valued at 310,888 dollars).
Cominerce- — The total imports into and exports from the Dominican Republic in 4 years were valued as follows in U.S. dollars : —
—
1908
1909
1910
Dollars
6,462,233 10,945,048
1911
Imports . Exports .
Dollars
5,295,272 9,713,135
Dollars
4,563,993 8,625,017
Dollars
7,126,877 11,032,866
The foreign trade in 1911 was as follows : — Countries Imports
United States . . 4,228,708 Germany . . . 1,268,377 France . . . 284,868 United Kingdom . . 802,222 Other countries . . 542,702
Exports
6,654,246
2,129,676
1,040,119
230,451
968,560
.1 the chief imports were: cotton goods, 1,601,803 dollars; iron manufactures, 501,233 dollars; provisions, 2,179,735 dollars,
7,126,877 11,023,058
In 191 : and steel , , , ^
manufactured vegetable fibres (bngs, sacks, kz.), 210,085 dollars; chemical products (including soap, perfumes, and drugs) 444,570 dollars ; machinery, 598,322 dollars; leather and manufactures, 236,240 dollars; agriculture implements, 334,600 dollars. The bnlk of the sugar and cacao are shipped for order to the U.S.A. and included in the trade with the United States. The greater part (more than 75% of the sugar) is re-shipped to Canada and Europe. In 1911 the United Kingdom actually received nearly 50% of the entire sugar export, and Canada nearly 25%.
Shipping and Communications.— In I9ii, 913 vessels of 989,226
tons entered the ports of the Republic, and 916 of 986,591 tons cleared in the foreign trade. The port is served by regular liners under the German, French, American, and Cuban flags, but by no British vessels. Of the value of total foreign trade U.S.A. vessels carried 40%, German vessels 22%, Norwegian (chartered for U.S.A.) 22%, French, 6%, British (exports only) 3%. In 1910 a jetty and sea wall was constructed at the entrance of Santo Domingo harbour. A concrete wharf 1,400 feet long with 20 feet depth will probably be completed at San Domingo by the beginning of 1913.
The interior is not well supplied with roads, though good roads are in course of construction between the principal northern cities and in the south from the ports to the neighbouring agricultural districts.
There are two railway lines in the Republic : (1) Samana-Santiago line, belonging to an English company, runs from Sanchez on the Bay of Samana to La Vega (73 miles) ; it has two branch lines (under the same management, but different ownership) from La Jina to San Francisco de Macoris (8-^ miles), and fro]n Las Carballas to Saloedo (8 miles). A Government line, the Central Dominican railway, runs from Puerto Plata to Santiago and Moca (60 miles). A railway route from Santo Domingo City to La Vega lias been surveyed by Government engineers, and negotiations for its construction and management by some foreign company have been in ]»rogress for some time, cii-^lh will l)e api.roximatcly 79 miles. A short line will also be con-
Its
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