, 1876-02-23
To the Editor of the "St. CrOix Avis"
Dear Sir,

CneerIuI tone OF MT. 1agei1aul lcICeI
concerning the progress of Central Factories
in the mother country, and | earnestly
hope that the presence of His Exceliency
Governor Garde there will serve to Sc
cure that help Central Factories) with
out which our Island must eventually be
ruined.
/ believe it the duty Of every we'll
thinking individual, who has an interest
in the welfare of the island, to feel deeply
grateful to both the above gentlemen, for
the jealous manner in which they have
been labouring for our beneft,-and those
who do not, must either be very ungrateful,
or ignorant of their own interest.
Let people say what they will, but this
much must be acknowledged, that
Governor Garde has, in the capacity Of
Governor, certainly attempted much more
than any of his predecessors, and should
be supported and assisted by all who
are in a position to do SO.
OF course there are things of as great
Importance comparatively as Factories
to be looked after but we must remem-
Der the world was never made in one
day and as His Excellency is now Crap
pied fast to Que thing, let us hope that
Immediately as he has finished with the
one, he will turn his whole attention to
the other, viz "a general reduction in
the expenses of our local administration,
which, under any circumstances, is enor-
nous, and which have been so fire.
quently spoken Of without the slightest
notice having been taken of it.
AS I have often heard it said in and
out of official circles, that people always
jabber a great deal about retrenchments,
&c, but can never offer any reasonable
plan by which they can be effected,
and as I believe it is the only way by
which you can render any help, | ven
ture to mention a couple. First, let the
government, without the usual delay,
demolish that tag-rag body known as the
fire company in both towns, land which
costs something to no purpose and have
organised under a proper military COM
mander, a proper militia, subject to a
strict militia law, selected or drafted
from among the most respectable inhabi-
tants of both towns, who have more or
less interest in the island, in combination
with a similar mounted body organised
from among the planters, and we would
In a very short time be able to produce
a very formidable force for the defense
of the island, and dispense with the pres
ent military altogether, thereby efecting
an annual saving of $4,000 at least, which
would enable US to make improvements
needed. and get q balance in the Treasury
for hard times,
/ know there are many who would
scarcely be reconciled to the idea that
their life and property could be as we'll
protected by the militia as by the mill
tary. To say the least of this absurdity
it is q very costly protection, and
i. waste Especially under the present
gloomy state of a~ffairs) should not be one
of our characteristic vices.
We must further acknowledge, that
not long since His Excellency did attempt,
in q very energetic manner to remodel
this department, and therby efecta saving,
without altogether abollshing the militia
~; but, l am sorry to say it, he met with
20 much unwarrantable opposition, (espe-
cially from those to whose use all cash
savings are appropriately that the matter
has been left in statu quo. Let us hope,
nevertheless, that when next he %grapples
fast to that subject, he wont let go until he
has succeeded in q total abolition of the
military-an expense which I look upon as
absurd and ridiculous ; and to meet which,