New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-06
THE WEST INDIES TRADE.
GREAT DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN BUoI
NESS IN JAMAICA
vpoN Az occ,stox,, COMMENCEMENT OF THE TRIBUNE,
1

the rand development Of the foreign trade
OF the United states in the western he"'''
sphere, and Of the wonderful results atcnuaI' ."
American enterprise and influence. IS afforded by the
island Of Jamaica West Indies. The island mas
popnatlon of some 100000, and is one OF the most
fertile In the West Indies. Until very few years
ago it comparatively unknown TO the MAJORITY vi
Americans and little interest was manifested III
II by the merchants and capitalists OF tne 'hI.cu
states omisidc Of those Immediately concerned with
rs then chief products. sugar and rum bu' 'h'N
condition Of thing, has changed in a most marked
degree of late and today there Is probably more
American brains and capital at work III Jamaica
developing the and encrgzing the mercantile
life Of the country, and building up large ana
profitable trade with the United states than III any
other country Of its size in the western halt Oh the
world The volume Of trade between Jamaica and
the United states has increased In remarkable degree
In the last few years. The American nag, on both
steamships and sailing vessels, Is now constantly,
almost continually seen In Jamaica ports vi the
steamers engaged in the fruit rade-as many as ten
Of which the island for the United states IN one
week during the height of the seasona large number
are owned by American firms. but. being foreign
built they are compelled to sail under the British
dag During the last few months. however several
such steamers have been reconstructed and re
paired to comply with the requirements of the
United states law, and they now proudly float the
stars and Stripes In place Of the Union Jack The
Vessels Line owned by the Vessel, Fruit Company of
Ncw-York is the latest American line in the field.
and Is doing large and rapidly Increasing business
The principal lines OF steamers running between
New York and Jamaica are the ATLAS. the Anchor the
Kerr. the Vessels and the Honduras and Central
American lines Besides these there large mum
Der Of tramp steamers in the trade. The Atlas Line
the pioneer Of the regular lines to New York. and
started In 1872 under large subsidy from the
British Government There several lines of direct
European steamers. one of them, at least. running
under a substantial subsidy. The bulk of trade *
with Great Britain the British possessions and the
United states that with other countries is compare
lively Insignificant.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.
The export trade from Jamaica 10 the United states
more than doubled In four years, going from l0o'
per cent In l7- 10 1919 In I--7. and since then the
percentage has largely increased particularly In the
last twelve months but exact figures are not obtain
able ~ fruit, which Is the principal product Of
the island. so per cent go, to the United states the
value increasing from ~ .Oj2,Ol0 in l-o7 Ia 81
7OI ,J73 in la--. The total exports Ia Great Britain
have decreased in the period from ji46 To $50
In l7ro Jamaica imported from the United states
goods to the value Of -. 100000, and from Great
britain s3.7OO,OOO This i an excellent showing.
until recently the bulk II the imports from Great
Britain. In l-s- the value. in sterling Of the prnci
pal products imported from IN" United states was ~
follows Food stun,. t32l,-77 (in total Of about
c50O.0OOl furniture. c6,427 haryiwarc ES,272 :;
| clothing eI300O; machinery and tools G27,770 :;
building materials, c3o.GoO.
IL might be mentioned here showing the extent
and importance Of tho Wc,t indian trade generally
that the total value Of imports from the United states
10 all the british West Indian islands In 1r30 was
S73S5,l0G. more than double the amount imported
| by any Of the Central or sOuth American countries
| excepting Brazil and the Argentine Republic and
within few thousand dollars even 81 the latter. The
export, from the British West Indies the United
1 : a Tho ut. IN fha lfu ~
$i50-5.5Ge. Tho Jamaicaus. in common win the
people 81 all the other ISLANDS. earnestly dc-irou,
of increasing their trade with the United states ia
T every particular and Ar, -pa:inc effort 10 bring
about closer relations. The American markets ar,,
necessary 10 Jamaica being nearly 1000 miles
ncsrcr than those Of Europe. The people have but
recently been awakened 0u Of a deep lcthargy. In
duccd hy 10" apathy II the British Governments and
They clearly -cc that the prosperity OF the Island do
pend, the United state and II I, 10 that country
they hook for the bulk Of their trade relations the
future. The exhibition that to bc held here next
January has for II IT, chief objects the fostering
Of those relations. The people expect exhibit Of I'M
proved machinery and all manner II device, 10 help
them ~ developing the Resources II the couutly. and
they al-o look for large exhibit, Of manufacturer
goods. The Hovcrnor 81 the ISLAND recently said that
De believed there existed good opening for "A large
trade with ~" United state, iu tweed cloths, ialo,
dr's goods. boots SHOES, and All article, II that class,
The American Consul say, the outlook Tor largely in
creased lmp0Itations from the United state, j, very
good
Az AMERICANIZI.D ISLAND.
But 1t /, on shore IA general bu,nr,, rather than
on the In the carrying trade that American in
nucncc and energy has been most at work. and here
the result, little short Of marvellous. The island
l. rapidly becoming Amcricanilrd in 10, commercial
ASPECT The railroad, until last spring a Government
Institution, Is owned by 4 New York ,yndi,a,.
and /, Differed by American railroad men. who are
running II OH American methods. Extension, have
been begun which when completed viii treble
IT. mileage and connect all the principal points I'M
the island with the acahoar. Thi> viii mean It leap
forward IN the development Of The ,land the ad
vantage of which cannot bc estimated for II has Il
great wealth Of valuahl woods ores and other
resource, which the railroad viii make accessible The
New Workers. Incidentally with the possession of the
railroad came into POSSESSION Of thlrt cnth the
.and oi the entire Island III ludnc some OF II, most
valuable tricts ~ forest and tillablr land all Of
| which they purpose dc> clipping to great advantage
The fruli industry j. the creation OF American
| Captain L. D. Baker Of Boston and II ma, grown in
ten year, To be the chief industry of the island There
are i've American c"mpanic- engaged IN th' business
alone. and. in fact. i !, aImot entirely controlled
engaged In the fruit carrying trade.
An AMERICAN eIc'rio Asht and power COMPANY
has established local cohpan IN Kingston, with an
American expert to work mp the business. The
en,ep @n tore S S anG M and P%" e r S
| churchc, have been fitted with installations OF the
| light VERY shortly the ciiy viii be- lighted BY
| electricity aud power be Supplied for running the
! street cars The company /, also doing good
| bI-ncs, IN supplying the estate, around the
Island with electric light aud power. y large AMI
pros porous telephone eXchang' now existing in Kings
| ton was inaueur'ttd few day, ago hv an American
| company and /, still Owned and worked 10y the same
| COMPANY, with an American manager IN charge.
I'm American hotels company i one "i me hte't
| and most successful nerpr 60 II aims 10 supply
| what has truly been long felt want IN the island
and Is meeting with great success IN IT.. ende 'N9r,
A large hotel, containing come seventy i've or eighty
rooms. ha, been erected IN the suburbs of Kingston
and has been completely filed all winter 10y American
business and visitors n IN" colony. Al present
the cement I, giving Jamalcane treat that i
decided novelty, In the way of first class American
| hotel accommodation for the summer It's manager
il "A New. Yorker with toncy Island reputation. and
All the principal help /. American. Other hotels are
10 be bull ia the moro important districts of IN"
island Their, + large wholesale ~ho" house IN
KINGSTON owned by an American and selling American
shoes and II doe, u considerable share of the business
| of the country The principal owner pays frequent
Vsits Ia the island and has the entire country cncrgc
| cally drunlncd. with most gratifying results. The
| -a.,niIi. A., the Mountains, where