Puslapio vaizdai
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The exports from St. Marc in 1890 and 1891 were:

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Duties collected in 1891 on exports (gold), $99,135.40; imports (currency), $178,295.78; total, $277,431.18. The noticeable falling off in the exports between the two years was due to natural

causes.

(5) Port au Prince, the capital as well as the largest and most important city of the Republic, is only a few hours' sail from St. Marc. It is built on ground which slopes most gracefully to the water's edge, and the streets are laid out at right angles to one another, very much as they are in Philadelphia. Its topographical position, all beautiful as it is with its environs of mountains and plains, is nevertheless such as to make it the hottest place in the island, but in spite of all that has been said and written to the contrary, it is not now regarded as unhealthful for foreigners. An approximate census recently taken shows its population to be not far from 60,000. It is well supplied with pure water brought from the mountainside in its rear. Some of its immediate environs, such as Turgeau, which, covered with commodious residences of the wealthy is on the hillside back of the large and beautiful Champ de Mars on which are two well-kept hotels; Pétionville, a delightful summer resort about 5 or 6 miles up the mountain a little to the left and back of Turgeau; Martissant and Bisotou overlooking the bay to the right of the capital and about 4 or 5 miles from it; the great and important plain of the Cul de Sac in which are the considerable places, Drouillard and Croix des Bouquets, are quite charming. A favorite place for foreigners to visit is Furey which is part of a day's ride, passing Kenskoff up the mountain from Pétionville. The elevation is probably not far

from 6,000 feet at Furey, and to one accustomed to the heats of the capital, the temperature seems absolutely chilly, though the lowest recorded temperature is only 45° F.

Scattered all about here and there through the Cul de Sac and running up to the mountain sides on its borders, are large plantations under cultivation. In some instances, these plantations form communities by themselves, the laborers generally working on shares and having schools for their children and a chapel for religious worship Sundays, on each of them.

Port au Prince was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in 1770, and it has so frequently been visited by appalling fires that it has been estimated that the equivalent of the whole city at any one time has been destroyed by conflagration every twenty-five years. It is not, however, probable that this will be the case hereafter because of the present plentiful supply of water, the introduction of suitable means for combatting fires, and the tendency to erect fireproof buildings rather than those of wood. The National Palace is of wood, but it, the "quartre ministères" (the offices of the several departments of the Government) and some of the building devoted to commerce, to religious worship and to schools, the National Foundry and other edifices, would be regarded as creditable to any country. It is said that there are more than a thousand "busses" (cabs), licensed to carry passengers in the city at 20 cents a "course" (ride from one place to another without stopping) within the city limits. It is well, however, for strangers to make a strict bargain with a "Jehu" before engaging him to go one rod beyond those limits.

Amid all vicissitudes, Port au Prince has maintained its relative commercial importance.

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