, 1875-01-06

Capitalists not to look favOrably on or abstain
from assisting with their capital a general
movement that must increase the prosperity
Of the island.
The Jamaioans, like many other communi-
ties have supposed it would be absolutely ne.
cessary that present estate owners should fur
ther the project, that without their support and
concurrence it must fall to the ground.
This is an error in which persons who have
not studied the question naturally fall, the fact
is, support from estate owners is neither solicit
ed nor expected, inasmuch as regards the canes
they cultivate, their interest will prompt them
to follow the movement, as persons similarly
placed have done in other countries, the only
guise under which their help would at present
be solicited would be, as shareholders, in an
enterprise which offers a safe and profitable in-
yestment for Capital.
| propose a mercantile speculation for the
benefit of tie shareholders, which will also put
in circulation capital induce small tenants,
and land owners to cultivate canes, sure Of
finding a ready market; a cultivation in which
comparatively few can now embark, owing to
the expense and difficulty of converting their
canes to a marketable product.
A mercantile speculation, which, besides this
desideratum will directly increase the exports
and revenue of the island indirectly multiply
its imports, and circulate precious metal among
those who deal in, or in any way profit by such
increase of mercantile activity.
The "Semi.W Weekly" remarks: We fear
that not much can be expected, Immediately at
least, from small settlers in support of Central
Faotories.' This merits consideration; that
difficulties will have TO be overcome, prejudioes
vanquished, may be expected, a factory on the
basis We propose will cut at the root of many
old standing prejudices, revolutionise the old
system of planting of canes, and manufacturing
Sugar. Planters probably will find that facto-
ries will neither interfere with their sugar es-
tates, nor prejudice their labour market. Ad-
herents who will cultivate and sell canes to the
factories would be of a superior class to those
who generally hire themselves as field %laborers,
chey will probably be composed of men who
never have, and never will do hired field labOur
on estates. Men; anxious and willing to make
for themselves a prosperous future, but not as
hired labourers.
Also, the men likely to be employed for hire
in Central Sugar Factories would necessarily
be composed Of dhat class called artisans, q
very numerous kind of what is to-day consider
ed a floating or perambulating portion of the
community.
The machinery used in a central factory is
so diff 9rent to that even on the largest and
best mounted Sugar estate of the present day
that its proper working will depend more, on
intelligent direction, and supervision than ac-
tual hard labOur. BRAINS, and not brute force
will be required. Except the stokers for the
engines furnaces, who Of course must be robust
able bodied men, the other difficulties of the
operation will be overcome by the exercise Of
Intelligence:
Persons, who, to-day, labour under the Em-
preston that Jamaica Sugar estates are in
themselves Central Sugar Factories, that is
using these three words to define an object as
understood. or Interpreted by practical Direo.
tunities of convincing themselves of their error.
that many extensive landed properties or
estates might proftabiy; and no doubt eventu-
ally will, be converted into private Central
Sugar Factories. is the natural sequel to the.
present movement which is drawing attention
both In England and Jamaica.
The statement that "the FIVE thousand fres-
holds upon which the FIVE thousand Sugar
mills are probably situated are scattered over.
the whole length and breadth of the %colony''
is very true, it would be surprising were it not
so, but the further statement and we know
of no district where they are sufficiently amer
GUS and extensive. to warrant the establishing
of a Central Factory, dependent for custom on
them only proves simply that the subject IS not
thoroughly understood, and that in delaying
the publication of the Prospectus until the
curiosity of the public is excited sufficiently to
induce them to thoroughly study the matter
has not as some have thought prejudiced the