, 1875-01-06
JAMAICA AND
FACTORIES.

MIR. BURTON whose movement for tn,
erection Of Central Factories in Jamaica
has been we'll received both there anC
in England, has addressed the following
interesting letter to the Colonial STANDARD
of the 10th last Month.
SIR-1n the Sema- Weekly Cleaner of thu
Gath inst. treating on Central Sugar Factories
illusions are made which might induce readers
to suppose that this project could not be {
success without the aid Of Government, anC
that my Report had, like other similar infor-
nation, been solicited merely to be shelved
among other waste paper, and that beyond
the information thus laid before the public
no steps have been taken in the matter"
The hreeafnterences would be erroneous
Government aid is not solicited for the fur
therance of the project. 1t can stand on its
own merits The more it is criticised and
discussed, the more robust it grows; the firm
er it roots itself in the minds of the Jamaioans,
who alone are expected, and no doubt will
give vitality to the project.
That countenance and moral support, will be
bestowed on this project, which will bring to
all classes a degree Of prosperity unknown for
many years in Jamaica, cannot be doubted,
IL is It's natural consequence.
Meanwhile, the official support which could
have been expected, and sufficient to impress
the Jamaicans that the Report treated a sub
ject worthy of their consideration, is the fact
that His Excellency the Governor consented
to receive the Report, oOndesoended to read a
lengthy manuscript, aud judged it worthy of
what was requested-its publication in the
Official Gazette.
MSrbN ocl IS AZ Top[oSoouo Yf fhov
have been equally considerate-Whilst l have
received from England and all parts of the
West Indies requests to forward copies of the
Report-May enquire how many Of the seven
hundred and fifty copies distributed by order
of Government, have been "shelyed" as waste
paper2 How many of the Reports, kindly re-
produced by you. have not been perused by
those gentlemen for whose information His
Excellency the Governor was more patient
and considerate2
Prudence dictates that a public prospectus
should not yet be circulated, those who shelly
ed' the Report, as useless printed paper, must
have their curiosity aroused. a curiosity which
will then induce them to study the question,
and most likely cooperate in it.
Facts and Statistics gathered In other coun-
tries must be brought to notice; the question
ventilated on all its points, and facilities sup
piled to convince the Public not only that the
project is practicable, that its utility will be
general, but that the community at large will
participate in its profits.
Shareholders Of the Company, adherents who
are likely to cultivate and sell their canes;
Artisans who will surely find lucrative employ
ment in the Factories, LabOurers Of q class
equal more to the ~exertion of intelligence than
ofmain force, small capitalists of ds4O0 or $500
stg. accustomed to cane cultivation, Store
keepers, Shopkeepers, commercial men gener-
ally, and owners of fertile but at present uncul-
tivated acres, must be impressed with the con.
viction that the sequel of this enterprise will
tend towards the benefit of all, and must be
a success.
AS a London Correspondent justly observes:
"You are quite right too, in the idea that
the Jamaicans should find the money for the
first venture. as l feel sure if you brought out
the Company in London without a considerable
portion of the Capital being subscribed. in ia
maica, the money Editor of the Times would
say-'If this is likely to prove such a profta-
Bile undertaking, why do not the people who
are likely to know its value SO much better
than we can, come forward and take up the
shareS7
Those who nave read my correspondence on
Central Sugar Factories will have noted my