New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-01

in this country, but from the local Bo'el h'oii'e
and the people, of the several islands at "hlch
il is arranged that the steamers shall make
regular calls The benefits to accrue 10 'le
West Indians from such means OF cOmmunl-
cation with this country are 80 obvious tnaC
we can hardly suppose they would be lndl1er-
| ent to the success of the undertaking. lndeeu
the question has been already practically tested
| on assmal scale, and the voice OF one import
ant British TcOlOny declares emphatlcaily III
| favor of such communication. We allude TO
the island of Jamaica, between which and New
York there has been for several years past
until within the last four or five months,
roculor monthly mail direct by steam, the
Jamaica Government aiding the enterprise with
q liberal subsidy. The late unhappy events
in that island attended as they were by
heavy expenditure, and followed by partial
COLLAPSE of trade, have compelled the Govern
mont TO withdraw the subsidy; but the island
prcss is loud in condemnation of this step as
piece of false economy, and the people are
clamorous for renewal of the subsidy, so
anxious are they to have quick and regular
communication with the United States. 1t only
requires that the other West India islands
hitherto entirely dependent upon sailing vessels
for their intercourse with America, shall once
get tasto of the benefits which steam com
municaton with the States will insure,
to make them equally sOlictOus with the
Jamaicans for regular visits OF the American
steamers.
There are other considerations, too, connected
with this subject, which must not be lost sight
Of Those beautiful and fertile islands, capable
of producing in the greatest abundance large
nupber of the most precious commodities
though within comparatively short distance
from our shores, are but little known to our
people. They unquestionably present inviting
fields for enterprise and the prudent investment
of capital yet it is remarkable that IN the
West Indies that restless energy of the
American character which is continually mg-
ing us into new and untlied fields of indus
try has not made itself felt to any appre-
cable extent. This can only be accounted
for from the fact that their vast resources
are rs vet unknown to the Americans. Reg
ular steam communication, by making visits to
the islands, whether of business or of pleasure,
easy and cheap, will soon give us a better ac-
ouaintance with them and this will have the Ell
feet of inducing many of our citizens to Try tneu
fortunes in those hitherto neglected regions.
We say, Tor pressure, is NcI 40 iol ""'''
because we cannot conceive OF anything more
delightful in the way of travel than n months
trim in the beautiful, breezy Caribbean on board
n well-appointed steamer touching at the sew
eul places already enumerated. We are ut
present rejoicing over the opening OF steam
navigation between San Francisco and tar DIS
tant China and this is an event, certainly,
upon which we may well congratulate ourselves.
But in the West Indian Islands, just next door
to us, so to speak, there are untold riches await
ing the magic touch of our enterprise for theirde-
yclopment. steam communication Will prepare
the way for operations, and will help materially
TO give us that influence in the Antilles which
it lcgitimatcly belongs to us as nation to
exercise in that part of the world