, 1874-05-06

language, and are closely connected by fire.
quent intercourse and intermarriage. For
these reasons it may be matter of surprise, that
a systen which has proved so profitable in the
one Island, should not, before now, have spread
to the other. There is, however, in ST. Lucia
but very little capital available for any new
enterprise, and even if the required amount
could have been obtained from elsewhere, there
would before this year have been difficulty in
obtaining contracts for a suficiency of canes
to supply a factory. For the proprietors, being
with one exception resident, have of late years
done fairly we'll under the old system and the
present sugar-cr0p, averaging, as it does, about
10000 hOgsheads, greatly exceeds that of the
best years of slavery.
This year, however, various circumstances
in combination have rendered all classes una
nimous in desiring the new system, and have
induced the planters to offer most favourable
terms for IFS introduction. Without specifying
all the causes, [ may mention, most easily in
t~elligible in England, the depressed state of
the market for inferior sugar, and the late re-
duction of the British tariff, a measure which,
as l~esspning the differences in the rates OF duty,
is especially favourable to the higher qualities.
l had long been satisfied las evinced by my
Report on the Island for 1900 that the in
PRODUCTION of the Central Factory system would
be an important boon to the community, and
especially to the important class of negro pea
nt-proprietors, who, though manufacturing
under great disadvantages, contribute yearly a
larger proportion (nOw more than one.third)
of the whole sugar crop. Accordingly l took
advantage of the favourable state Of public
opinion, and introduced to the Legislative a
measure "FOr promoting the establishment of
Central Factories" This ordinance guaran-
teed 6 per cent. for five years upon the capital
00,000I., of which %, O00L. was to be offered
for subscription in the island) of the Company
erecting the first factory, and was passed una
nimously. The Legislative Council, which
contains leading planters and merchants, is
usually by no means unanimous in questions
involving large and novel expenditure, and the
sum for which the colony was thus rendered
liable was 100000. 1t happened, moreover,
that the site chosen was one where the factory
would confer no direct benefit upon the land
of any of the members. So that there could
hardly be stronger evidence of the local Opin-
ion as to the favourable prospects of Central
Factory enterprise.
The Secretary Of State approved of the prin-
ciple of the above measure but it has been
deemed advisable to substitute for it another,
by which the Colony will subscribe 25,00OL.
of the capital required, and it is with the OBJ
ject of making this measure effective that I am
placed in communication with you.
[ will now refer to some of the measures
that have been taken to promote the success
of the proposed factory, which | confidently ex-
pect t. be the forerunner of many others
in St. Lucia and its sister Colonies.
Two French engineers, each practically &C.
quainted with the erection and management
of Central Factories, and one of them, Mons.
Harouard, specially recommended to me by the
Governor of Martinique as being one of the
best authorities on the subject, have separate
ly surveyed the site chosen (the CuI de Sac
ValleyG aud are each of opinion that it pre-
sents all the conditions necessary for success.
and indeed that it has advantages which are
possessed in combination by no similar site in
Martinique.
Among these are =
IT, The command of amply sufficient raw
material.
IT, An abundant supply of fresh water
close at hand, and obtainable without
expense.
(3.) A iand-locked deep-water harbour.
al Central position on leeward coast,
where the sea is of course COMPARE
lively calm-an important advantage
in the case Of water-borne canes.
90 Land at q healthy elevation in the
immediate vicinity for the erection of
residences.
U;fb rorard IN a cupO1U &c nanoc r hcun