I also send inclosed draft for the expenses of Mr. Noble for $1,489.02,
sent by the President, draft No. 10137 on Muller, Schall & Go.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 68.]
General Heureaux
to Mr. Powell.
Santo Domingo, June 24, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note No. 33, June 8 last, informing me of the award
made in the settlement of the case of the Ozama River Bridge. In it
you advise me that the decision of Mr. Alfred Noble, the engineer
appointed by your Government to examine the structure, awards to Mr.
Thurston the sum of $74,411,17 with interest at 6 per cent from
December 20, 1895. For professional services, your Government allows
Mr. Noble $1,489.02 in conformity with inclosed vouchers. For this
latter sum, you ask that I transmit a draft on any reputable firm of
New York, and you also request that I close the matter of the other
payment as soon as possible, suggesting that each day’s delay only
adds to the amount and postpones the transaction which will give me
ownership of the bridge.
In compliance with your request, I inclose a draft for $1,489.02 in
your favor, at three days, against the house of _______, of New
York. This I hasten to do as promptly as the means of communication
between Port au Prince and this capital will permit.
As to the desirability of completing the transaction as soon as
possible by the payment of the total of the award, I am entirely in
accord with you. On the other hand, it is not necessary for me to
point out to you, who have so intelligently and thoroughly studied
this country and its
[Page 290]
resources, the great difficulty which will be experienced here in
securing so large a sum of money. According to the estimate accepted
by Mr. Noble, the gross annual revenue of the bridge does not exceed
$5,000. So the earnings of the bridge can not be of any considerable
assistance. I need not remind you that the revenues of this
Goverment are mortgaged for the payment of our foreign debt and that
the Santo Domingo Improvement Company, of New York, which directs
the business, pays to this Government the sum of $60,00 monthly.
With this sum of $60,000 monthly we must pay all the expenses of the
Government. It must, therefore, require no argument on my part to
demonstrate to you our utter inability to pay the sum of $74,000,
with interest, in cash. You are so familiar with our condition that
I trust you will make clear to your Government that some arrangement
for partial payments will not only be an act of consideration toward
a friendly Government of so very limited resources, but also one
which is made necessary by our limitations.
I therefore beg you to submit to your Government this plan of partial
payments:
Cash |
$22,000 |
January 1, 1899 |
22,000 |
July 1, 1899 |
22,000 |
January 1, 1900, balance with interest from December
20, 1895. |
|
It will be with great sacrifice that I will be able to fulfill these
terms of payment. I submit the proposition to you with confidence
that, with your intimate knowledge of our limitations and your
cordial attitude toward my Government, you will recommend it to the
honorable Secretary for his acceptance.
Accept, sir, etc.,