The New York herald., 1867-11-09
WEST INDIES.


VeclA coaktspoMoEncs Or TINE HERALD.
Sse Island 81 Triaid.d-wa.s - Anerisas
s1erpriss asd Energy-Ths EnslIsh Acsui-
sys.-Prsdscss sf the Sell.
= POET or SPArs, Trinidad. Sept 20, 1867.
A % little 10 known at homo Of this island, and
eeng so impressed after . short sojourn, with
fsD necessity Of importing little Of our own
sstEs energy to develop it, rich and hitherto
almost latent resources the writer cannot forbear
iarsdiDg description, which may be Of. interest
soyour readers.
Trinidad 10 an island to the eastward Of the re-
p'biie o. venesusla. separated from that province
b' the Gulf Of Paria. forming ono Of the finest
nd safest harbors in the world. There is theory
s.taat. and generally conceded to be correct, that
20 iAand once formed part Of the mainland, but
vas separated by q convusion Of nature, and this
Proposition Is borne out BY the similarity Of its
esisgical formation. Its length ID about ffty.four
aass. its breadth sbout forty miles. 1t was first
ascovered BY Columbus in l49s, in his third voy.
se. but was not colon zsd BY the Spanisrds until
kS60. -~-,4~-~.-
u was taken by Great Britain in 1877, and il
Pow their finest possession in this part OF the
'Fsrid. The climat- Is very healthy. There has
een nothing akin to IN epidemic for some ten
saes, when the cholera visited the island. The
zsmperature ranges, in the shade from 20 to IS
keSrecs. occasiona " reaching AZ high as 80 de-
rees. The island totally free from hurricanes,
fhioh prevail in seasons Of the year to the
hDrthward.
Port Of Spain, citv Of twenty thousand inhabi.
ne. the principal port Of entry IL prettily stu
kted sixteen miles to the eastward of the Grand
%scas. the principal entrance to the Gulf. The
hswn Is tho most systemat ticay laid out Cor is 20
std TO be by enthusiastic Trinidadians) Of any in
I'd the town Is ornamented with several beautiful
luGes. The principal Of these, Brunswick
iaaros B planted with rare trees from st. Vincent
aracca: and India. The largest one, Queens
ARK, lying to the northwa of the town, has an
rea OF 2l9 square es in which is the race course
source OF great amusement in the autumn months
utsido tho park IL y circular road Of two miles,
aic1 makes pretty drive or walk, and is appre-
ate0, one were to judge OF the number of eques.
Sad evening.
There are also the towns Of San Fernando. 81. |
ksseph. st. John and Arima but all of minor i'm
srtsncs. There is a local line Of steamers plyinr
|Rgularly down the coast to San Fernando and in.
rmediate points. And there is no deartlf Of pub
buildings. Tue Colonial Hospital, at Port of
saln. s ono Of the finest specimens Of architecture
the West Indies. The grounds are miniature
sradise, being KEPT in perfect order by the
alous house surgeon. The government buildings,
ahe hardly able TO cope with the hospital for |
'auty. present y neat, solid appearance. The |
urches are quite Numerous and are we'll con. |
loted, the principal being the English and Roman
itholic Cathedrus.
There is fine botanical garden under the
pefintendence OF gentleman from Kew. in
noa are numberess plants and trees. But your
respondent would aw particular attention to |
rare advantages oil the soil. Nature has been /
odigay lavish Of her benefits, so that Trinidad |
called the finest OF the West India islands. The |
gssetion 10 dense and luxurious, the finest de.
rtptons OF wood re TO be found, but the lack of
eans OF transpostat on to the seats of manufac- /
r fhntSHs l.sxl. nh
II. moras, carapa, balasa. yoke, sable, tapana,
Iioa, purple heart, locust. pour, fddlewood, ca
~, ieopardwood, and many softer species, used |
shingles, slaves. and boards. There are two l
ke of nearly one hun red acres, which is capable
supplying the world. There are evidences Of |
th mineral wealth, IRON cropping out Of the /
kound, specimens oi which the writer has seen,
had in abunda.ce. The chief PRODUCTIONS
| Ie sugar, rum, nolasses and cocoa the latter
fe finest in the worid. Coffee equal to Mocha is
|town, but not III sufficient quantities TO supply /
Island. Since emancipation it has been almost
irdy neglected, although the side Of the noun.
10 admirably adapted TO its culture.
Erohacco. equal TO Havana, has been grown, and |
'.6sparia" cigars were 1t ono time greatly
med, and IL people of sufficient enterprise could
found abundance Of it might be produced, for
|fs soil Ii peculiarly adapted for IL. Rice. equal
the best Caroiina, grows In great luxuriance;
III, large quantities have 10 be imported for the
l.
I'D In many places, and was ut one time one OF the
kples Of the island. Our Northern vegetables
In be grown in any quantity; yet nearly all We
Is are raised by o fey Chinese, WHO are well paid
their industry. Tue lowest profits calculated
this undertaking are $50 per acre, while far
5,re can be maze.
And yet, with all this fertility Of soil, which can
lrdy be over-estiniated with all the rare gifts
ueAcent God has degned 10 bestow, some OF the
sntations have been abandoned. Many are tor |
Q at q tithe OF the or gin4l value. Ground in |
60 quantities may be Lad at merely nominal
ce, and your corr sponaent would unhesitatngly |
commend the IL and " Americans who wish an
tstment.
And why is all this lethargy, you ask, Simply
,ausc there Is great dearIh of capital Most |
the plantations o owned in England, where the
ners, naturally enough, care less for improve |
nts than revenue. There is no sugar raised Of |
fine qualities, so largely imported to America
Sfm Barbados, Demerara and Porto Rico
rely the darkest, arsest kind, which will not |
tthe New York market. Consequently little or |
No 6nds it's way there.
| )ns need not neces arily renounce the comforts
civilization aud society BY coming out here.
ere are refined English. French and Spanish |
Miles, both in town and country Fine churches |
d schools, the means of looomoton are plenty.
short, there ID everything but the essential ee-
,nts Of . successiul community--capitsl and
ergy. Let some OF our travelling community
me this WAY the coming Wiuter and try IL.