The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-12-05 00:00:00

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ARCTIC EXPLORATION. I shire lade who, after following "King Monmouth" to
Sedemoor, were 'deported to serve in the plantations
An Arctic expedition mi,gl4 be conducted very safely
inJamaica. There have been risings of the slaves
and disturbances of maroons suppressed with didi•
indeed (remake The 14e1,1): Each enterprise contri-
malty and much bloodshed; there have been invasions
butes to the sum of experience, and renders the general by the French gallantly repelled; there has been at
inanaimueut of an undertaking of the kind more least one terrific earthiluake, that by which at broad
systematic. but new results cannot be had by follow-
noontide the town of Port Royal, with all its people,
lug old tracks only to known points. However, it is
not at all our intention to discuss was swallowed up; but latterly, save for the Ms-
, here the question of turbances nutter Governor Eyre, the history of this
Arctic exploration. We only trwit that, as the matter
fair colony has been a quiet chronicle of seed time and
has been again taken in hand bythe nation, there will harvest, tempere d only, as we have said, by a horn-
be nothing left undone through false economy or care-
!
lessuess that may contribute to the safety and success, cane of wind and rain, or an epidemic of yellow fever.
whatever may be considered success under the circum- ! It is to be hoped that the damage done to the
stances of the voyage. We must have nothing to cc- Jalllaielt plantations may not turn out no grievous as
proach ourselves for, in any event. There seems to be at first reported. In any ease it cannot fail to be a
a strange misunderstanding as to the scale on which severe, though only temporary, check to the increasing
the "exliedition is to be carried out. People have the prosperity of the colony, the latest reperts of which
most vague notions about its effects on the navy— tell of a period exceptionally tranquil and promising.
numbers, for example, being . evidently under the The negro has been largely supplemented by the coolie,
illtieion that about as many men and officers as would who now numbers over six thousand, live thousand
be requisite for working a fleet will be employed in the I having chosen to take up a permanent residence in
business. However, though the expedition will assume the place Perhaps the example of his more indus-
apparently modest dimensions, it, importance will not trious brother may stimulate the descendant of the
be nelged by its proportions. Arctic explorations will African slave to exertion a little more systematic
continue to have about it a tinge of romance, of strange and continuous. The exports of the island show a
expectancy and interest. We need not say how pre- steady increase under almost every head for the last
Timis attempts of the kind to arrive, as the poets say, Six years. Sugar, the staple of the colony, is snore
at the hack of the north wind, hove forniehed In, with largely and more scientifically cultivated. Cuban
a complete and special literature or heroism, of endur- capitalists are coming over from their troubled coon.
ance and trust, of the most noble and exalted descrip- try and purchasing estates where peace and safety
tion. What English navigators and English travellers are more assured. The cultivation of tobacco on the
have done, their brethren and successors are ready to Cuban system has been introduced, and promises
do. The solitary traveller has perhaps the hardest to become a thriving industry. The Government
task. He seldom enjoys the solace of companionship, are compelling squatters to give up lands on
alit should he suddenly be called upon to lay aside h which they have Settled down without colour of
staff, should death arrest him on his way, his end is right or title. Efforts are made to introduce the
melancholy, for all the glory that awaits his name at growth of sarsaparilla, vanilla, the cinchona plant,
home. This, or any other sombre or gloomy specula, and other tropical productions; and the revenue of
tion, has uo effect on the hardy and enduring race of the colony, which may, doubtless, be greatly urn-
our countrymen, who seem to defy danger and fear Proved ax these and other measures take effect, is
when their faces are set towards strange and unfamiliar nearly half a million. Nature has been very prodigal
lands, and when their minds are made up for the of her gas to this, the most favoured of all our West
alternative of carrying their mission to a triumphant Indian possessions. A hurricane only checks' but
close, or of dying martyrs to their conviction of its in. does not destroy, the Froverity of the place. After
portance and its truth, a long sleep Jamaica will once more, perhaps, heap ,
riches upon her colonists and tempt capital from !
English shores. i
CHEAP RAILWAY TRAVELLING.

If the companies had met and agreed that they
would do all that in them lies to develope railway
travelling among the poorer ranks of the people, they
would not only have laid the basis of an immense
prosperity for their shareholders; but they would
have deserved well of their country (says Lloyds
Weekly NtErspoper). The development of railways to
the exclusion and final suppression of other means of
inland travelling, has left the public no choice as to
the kind of locomotion they will adopt. There-
fore on lines where fares are high, directors force
people to remain stagnant who would be on the
move if they were low. The easy movement of the
population has much to do with national prosperity.
The working man should be able to move from one
centre of work to another at the cheapest possible rate.
By affording him facilities—that is, loaning very low
third-class through rates—the railway companies have
it in their power to ameliorate the conditions of labour
in a very important degree. But as we have often had
occasion to observe, the convenience of the public is
0, not the object which the railway companies have be.
fore them. They appear to be unable to understand
t that there is wealth to be derived from a steady at-
tention to the humblest class of travellers. The
Spectator has recommended them strongly to reduce
the third-class for all journeys over 30 miles, acutely
remelting that poor people de not look at the mile-
age, but at the total amount to be paid. TI
recepmendation will be attended to, we apprehend,
only when Government has obtained from Parliament
the power to prevent sudden revolutions in railway
management, like that of which we have been just
compelled to be the pasgive witnesses. It is the
proper function of the state to be the jealous guardian
of the interest of the public against the mere greed
and selfishness of railway shareholders, who hold the
moskextensive monopoly the world has ever seen,
without the very faintest idea that they are bound to
consult any interests save their own.