, 1884-12-31


a German newspaper and is devoted to an
urgent appeal to stop the further extension
OF the beet sugar industry, and starts the
serious question " whether the feUer3sh x
ertiOns to draw a profit from the produc.
ton of beet root sugar will not lead to q ia.
tai reaction at the cost of all factories not
grounded OH a perfectly firm basis.0 Here
we have a hint of what has actually hap.
pened. The writer of the article, of course,
only contemplates the effect OF the fever.
iSh eXertiOnS in question on the beet root
industry itself; We are more interested in
considering its action on th cane industry,
which has been so far serious enough.
1t is, however, a fortunate circumstance
for the West Indies that the crisis has
fallen upon them at an unusually propi.
tious time in regard to weather. Such a
succession Of good seasons as we AVE
lately had is a thing unknown, and the
present year has given a crop, which by
its abundance has to a great extent neu-
tralised the otherwise ruinOuS effect of the
low prices. The weather during the year
itself has also been so favourable that we
stand in a good position with regard to
the coming crop. These facts should af.
ford us some consolation and some hope
for the future. Neither have our planters
neglected to take steps to tighten their
difficulties. We need only refer to the
formation of the Agricultural Association
on the 18th Of July, the address sent home
by that body through His Excellency
Governor Arendrup, i'll October, and the
petition to the King and Diet from the
Colonial Council, which will be found in
our columns today. Personally we must
say that We have very little hope of any
relief being derived from tariff changes,
even if the various Governments concern.
ed should be finally persuaded to make
those changes, which is exceedingly doubt.
full still it is certainly correct that our
planters should leave no stone unturned,
and we can, therefore, all approve of their
efforts, whatever may be our opinions as
to the results.
Turning from the above topic, which
concerns all the West Indian islands in
common with ourselves, we may say that
the most conspicuous local circumstance
has been the residence of the Governor OF
these islands in ST. CrOiX from early in the
year till October. That the social plea
sureS thence arising have been apprecia-
ted, is a matter of course. Much more
important, however, is the legislation
which has been accomplished, chiefly the
passing of the New School Ordinance ana
the Road Ordinance, both including re.
forms which were much wanted, and
which had been looked for for several
years. 1t is, of course, too soon, to express
Il definite opinion on the working of these
new laws; a little Earring has occurred in
starting the first named, as appeared from
a recent discussion in the Colonial COun.
Gil, but on the whole both ordinances seem
calculated to accomplish the reforms at
which they aim. Another Ordinance
which may become of great Importance is
that lately passed for authorizing the es-
tabliShment of Sanitary Regulations. Be.
cause cholera has not appeared this year
III the West Indies, although brought
direct from India to our very doors i'll the
emigrant steamer which a few months
back arrived in st. Lucia, we must not
suppose that the danger is past. All ex-
perience of the previous visitatiODs of
cholera in Europe has shown that the
danger is not over the first season.
Although the poisonous miScrObes do
fortunately die out or disappear from
European cities, it is from unknown
causes, and not by the mere action of the
cold weather of winter, which apparently
suSpendS their activity, but does not des-
troy them, or perhaps, does not destroy
their spores. Certain 1t is that the learned
in such matters expect Il renewed out
break next year, and even i'll the United
States sanitary precautions are being
taken in view OF the likelihood of the
disease appearing in that country. Doubt
less, therefore, the local Government will
go forward with the undertaking which
was initiated only by the Sanitary Regu-