The Dominion depinde bis TWI ters. the wisd pepuis cen sonthem coast. ni sang ke is Cabal 8 3.99), in the man vain of the Sand. Streage de los Caballers is agial y a god attinetee highway of 19 me riid asses through Berde, la Vogt, and Moea. Samo 18 metal with the terthern pert of Puerto Plata yi ged hidingy ef 40 mies

Routes for salesmen generilly begin in Ciudad Trichille Meat this point, depending men the thoroughness with whnicht de ev pects to cover the territory, a commercial traveler might go to San Pedro de Macoris and farther east to La Romana by autos mobile. A similar trip may be made to Barahona, but in both cases return to the capital is necesasry in order to cover any other important portion of the Republic by automobile, the capital, also, the traveler can make a trip to the northern portion of the island by the Duarte Highway, which bisects the Republic and leads to Santiago de los Caballeros, and from there to Puerto Plata and Monte Cristi.

From

The sugar plantations, located principally at San Pedro do Macoris, La Romana, and Barahona, operate commissaries in connection with their plants. These are an important factor in business, as they are heavy purchasers of many lines of goods, including foodstuffs and wearing apparel. Although these mills have head offices in New York which act as purchasing agents for a considerable quantity of their requirements, agents travel ing in the Republic would do well to visit them. All of them are within 1 day's travel time from the capital.

HINTS TO TRAVELERS

Best Visiting Time. This depends largely upon the particular products offered on the market, although, generally speaking, the summer months are the least active commercially. Purchases are usually made in accordance with the requirements and conditions of the trade. As in most Latin American countries, it is usually desirable to have good stocks on hand for the Christmas and Easter holidays. The coolest time of the year is November to March, which happens to come between two important crops of the island-cacao and tobacco. The sugargrinding season generally extends from early in January to the latter part of June.

Clothing. Lightweight clothing is desirable at all times of the year. Tropical suits are the most practical particularly dur ing the warm season. During the winter, lightweight woolens may be worn with comfort at night. Unfortunately, however, the facilities for cleaning woolen clothing are inadequate.

Hotels. The capital has no modern hotels, a need which has received Government consideration. Present charges are from $3 to $6 a day, American plan. Prices and accommodations in inland towns are correspondingly under these, with the exception of Santiago de los Cabelleros, which has fair hotel facilities even in comparison with those in the United States.

Holidays. The predominant religion being Roman Catholic, many of the feast days of the church are observed. Other holidays are: January 1, New Year's Day; February 27, Dominican Independence Day; April 14, Pan American Day; July 17, Day of the Fathers of the Country; August 16, Dominican Restoration Day; October 12, Columbus Day, “Día de la Raza"; October 24, Trujillo's Birthday; November 2, Dominican Memorial Day; December 5, Anniversary of the Discovery of the Island by Columbus.

Legal Time and Business Hours.-The official time of the entire country is 20 minutes earlier than Eastern Standard Time. The sugar estates, however, operate each on its own time.

From May 1 to September 30, the hours of work in the Government offices are from 8 a. m. to 1 p. m. only. Some business houses and institutions observe the same hours.

CHIEF COMMERCIAL CENTERS

In the following paragraphs are listed, in alphabetical order, towns in the Dominican Republic which are thought to be of most interest to American commercial travelers. In this group have been included a few places which are not always canvassed, but which are important from the strategic or geographic standpoint.

AZUA.-Capital of Province of Azua, 3 miles from the southern coast; 75 miles from Ciudad Trujillo. Principal products; Sugar, coffee, potatoes, honey, rice, beans, corn, resin, timber, and medicinal plants.

How Reached.-From Ciudad Trujillo, over a good highway which continues on to the Haitian border.

Note. One of the important centers in the southwestern part of the Republic. Quite a number of merchants here do direct importing.

BARAHONA.-Province of Barahona, on Neyba Bay, at base of mountain range running to Haiti; 115 miles by automobile road from Ciudad Trujillo. Temperature averages between 65° and 90° F.; days are hot, but nights are cool. Products: Sugar, coffee, lignum-vitae, and fruits; abundance of fish. Salt is mined and tobacco raised on small scale.

How Reached. By automobile, from Ciudad Trujillo, on the Southern International Highway through Azua, and thence south to Barahona.

Bank.-National City Bank of New York.

Hotels.-Venecia; Central.

Note.-Barahona's chief commerce centers around the sugar industry. In the neighborhood is a large sugar central, which maintains a commissary. The town is located in a fertile valley of the Yaque del Sur River, whose waters are now used

to irrigate thousands of acres of sugar land. Coffee is the second most important product. A number of merchants here make direct importations.

CIUDAD TRUJILLO.-Capital of Republic. Located at mouth of Ozama River; depth of channel inside port works averages around 30 feet; modern dock and customhouses. Climate, tropical but pleasant; maximum temperature 90° F., minimum 55°; nights decidedly cool. Most pleasant months, December to first of April. Products: Sugar, cacao, wax, hides, woods, skins, and coffee. Industries: Sugar mills, shoe manufacture, clothing finishing, brewery, woodworking, and hat manufacture. How Reached. See paragraphs under heading "Transportation."

Hotels. Fausto; Casa Senior; Colon; Frances; Palace; Plaza; America; Presidente.

Banks. National City Bank of New York; Royal Bank of Canada; Bank of Nova Scotia.

Note. Ciudad Trujillo is the most important city of the Republic. A large volume of importing and exporting is carried on, and the most important wholesale and retail houses are in Trujillo. Its wholesale houses for textiles and provisions canvass practically the entire country, but particularly the region in the south and southeast. Seat of American legation.

LA ROMANA.-Province of Seybo, 65 miles by automobile from San Pedro de Macoris by fair dirt road. Climate, tropical but pleasant. Principal products: Sugar, coffee, wax, hides, tobacco.

How Reached. By automobile from Ciudad Trujillo to San Pedro de Macoris, and thence by automobile over a secondclass road to La Romana.

Hotels. Alta Gracia; Grand.

Bank.-Royal Bank of Canada.

Note. La Romana is the only port of importance in the Province of Seybo. Agriculture, particularly sugar, is the important industry. The Central Romana, the largest sugar central in the Republic, is located here, and has an independent commissary department. La Romana may be visited by those who canvass the country intensively. The Province of Seybo is the largest cattle-raising section of the country.

LA VEGA-Capital of Province of La Vega, 80 miles from Ciudad Trujillo. Products: Cattle, tobacco, coffee, cocoa.

How Reached.-By automobile, either from Ciudad Trujillo on the southern coast of the island or from Puerto Plata on the northern coast. Trips may be made to Sanchez on the Samana & Santiago Railroad.

Hotel-Italia.

Bank.-National City Bank of New York.

Note. La Vega, an important distributing point (terminus of the Samana & Santiago Railway), is surrounded by an extensive agricultural district which produces large amounts of

coffee and cacao. It can easily be reached from Santiago, and is the direct link between Sanchez and the rest of the country. Some of its merchants import direct.

MONTE CRISTI.-Capital of Province of Monte Cristi. Located on northern shore of Dominican Republic near Haitian border; vessels lie about a mile offshore; little maritime activity.

How Reached.-From Puerto Plata, via Santiago de los Caballeros (115 miles), or from Ciudad Trujillo to Monte Cristi (184 miles); both routes over good, all-weather highways.

Hotels.-American; Noroeste.

Note.-Monte Cristi has a fair volume of imports and exports of hides and skins. It is on the highway leading to Cap Haitien on the northern coast of Haiti, and travelers by automobile could arrange to make a stop here on a circle trip from Ciudad Trujillo north through Santiago de los Caballeros, Monte Cristi, Cap Haitien, and south to Port-au-Prince.

PUERTO PLATA.-Capital of Province of Puerto Plata. Principal seaport on northern coast; vessels drawing less than 20 feet lie alongside customhouse wharf; larger ships, 400 yards offshore. Principal products: Tobacco, sugar, hides, coffee, cacao, mahogany and other hardwoods.

How Reached.-From New York, by transshipment at Martinique to steamers of the Cie. Generale Transatlantique, and by highway from Ciudad Trujillo. Boat lines from European ports touch this port.

Banks. National City Bank of New York; Royal Bank of Canada.

Hotels.-Europa; Espana; Mercedes.

Note.-Puerto Plata is the principal seaport on the northern coast, although it appears to be losing importance in direct proportion to the growth of business in the harbor at Ciudad Trujillo. Exports and imports are handled through Puerto Plata for the agriculturally important Cibao region in the northcentral portion of the country. It is also the terminus and headquarters of the Dominican Central Railway, which serves the interior towns of Santiago de los Caballeros and Moca, A num

ber of firms carry on relatively large businesses; there is considerable importing.

SANCHEZ.-Province of Samana on Samana Bay (vessels lie about 500 yards from shore), 24 miles from Samana. Products: Cattle, rice, cacao, coffee, honey, tobacco, beeswax, and lumber. Industries: Railroad shops, sawmill, soda-water factory.

How Reached. From Ciudad Trujillo or Puerto Plata, by automobile to La Vega, by rail to Sanchez. Alternate route, from Ciudad Trujillo to Sabana de la Mar, through San Pedro de Macoris and Hato Mayor. From Sabana de la Mar, by daily mailboat across Samana Bay to Sanchez.

Hotels.-Aleman; Borinquen.

Note.-Sanchez is the distributing point for Salcedo, San Francisco de Macoris, Pimentel, and Moca, as well as other places