New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-19

before it, American visitors ordinarily come TO
Nassau in search of health and cnervating recrea-
ton; but they make, if they choose, a very
profitable study of the political and economic
government of the Bahamas. The present "oF-
ernor, Sir Ambrose Shea, is an administrator OF
creative impulses. When he came to Nassau ne
found business stagnant, the sponge and salt in
dustrics declining, public expenditures IN excess
of the revenues. and the mass of the population
shiftess, without ambition and dscontented. In
the course of few years he has converted the
treasury deficit into a surplus. supplied banking
facilities created a new and promising industry
and devised system of land allOtmentS, which
is exerting most sautarv effect in eevatlng the
character Of the population. The prosperity OF
the Bahamas is still problem of the future, Tor
Sir Ambrose Shea's work has been tentative aud
the results of the cultivation of sisal on a large
scale cannot be ascertaned before 1898; but he
has done much to repair the shattered fortunes OF
a neglected quarter of the British Empire ny
bringing it into communication with the world
and exhibiting of its rank and despised weeds
as a possible source of wealth and lndustrlal
progress.
The Bahamas lie outside of the regular courses
of West India trade, and are approached by mar
row and circuitous channels The group would
have been cut off from mail communications with
the world if the Ward Line had not been en-
douraged by Government patronage TO have It's
steamers call at Nassau the way to and from
the southern coast of Cuba Tell it not In Gath
that this British colonial administration pays for
a fOrtnghty mail service an annual SUBSIDY oil
Sl7,5OO to this American company, which re-
ceives from its own Government the heggary sum
Of 81 200 or 81 800 for mail transportation 10
Mexico and Cuba Nassau is dependent upon the
American flag for mail communications and ship
ping facilities, its supplies coming from and It's
produce going to New-fork. Sir Ambrose Shea
has made a contract for steam service among the
Bahama Islands. and small vessel will soon he
distributing mails and collecting produce in CON
nection with the New-Yorl line. lie also expects
to establish a cable connection with Jupiter,
Florida before many months, which will bring
the island within the range of the telegraphic
system of the world Banking facilities il already
has and these will be largely increased If the
Bahama hemp industry fulils the Governors
sanguine expectations.
The salvation of the Bahamas is to he worked
out. if at all, through ssal, fibre plant supply
ing substitute for manila hemp. Sir Ambrose
Shea soon after his arrival at Nassau noticed a
neglected and despsed species Of cactus growing
everywhere in the island His experienced eye
at once recognized in the large, sharp-pointed
leaves valuable material for fibre. Samples OF
rODe cruQely manufactured from tIe leaves Oh tHe
oldest plants were sent to London and pronounced
equal if not superior to the best manila hemp.
The Governor, with keen Intelligence. discerned
the economic importance of his discovery. This
rank and ugly weed furnished the basis for a new
industry of great promise. Fastening to London
he succeeded in interesting capitalist in his en-
terprise and the sale OF Crown lands for the cul
tivation of sisal begun with the sanction of
the colonial legislators During the last TWO
years lnrge tracts in this and in adjacent islands
have been purchased. cleared and planted. Al
first bounty offered for the promotion OF
the industry, but this was speedily suspended
So numerous have been the applications from for
eign investors that the price Of Crown lands has
risen from 81 % to 81 an acre. Monroe x Co.,
of 81. Johns, Newfoundland, have obtained a
grant of Is. 900 acres in Abaco, and London
company another of 10000 acres in the same isl
and local stock company is developing an
other large tract and Scotch investor has 1900
acres under cultivation in Andres Island In
this way tens of thousands Of acres of what were
considered a few years ago worthless Crown lands
are now being cleared and planted. The only
considerable investment of American capital in
this new industry has been made at lnagua under
the management of d. ID. Sargent.
The sisal plant pronounced Spanish word
see-sahl with the accent on the final syllable, but
Angliczed by the genial but uncOmpromlslng Gov
ernor as Style with an accented penult in APP
pearance resembles the century plant, except that
the leaves when fully grown are larger and thick
err and have smooth in place OF serratei cages.
The first paintings were made OF the indigenous
species known in the Bahamas as the Plta, which
the Governor considers TO be superior to the Hen
nequin of Yucatan. SO great was the demand
for young plants that the price rapidly rose from
u rftl nslp Inc
fore additional supplies were obtained from Mex
leo and the peninsula of Florida Wien the in
dustry has once been fairly established there VIII
be no lack OF young plants. At maturity poe
about sixteen feet high rises from the centre, with
as many as a thousand small plants growing on
the branches These are set out in rows about
fifteen or twenty feet apart, and in the course oil
four or five years the leaves grow to the length Of
4 -2 feet with a breadth of IL or even
inches These are cut of for fibre. but the plant
continues 10 bear leaves until it attains 10 nmtu-
rtv at ten years. when it goes to seed and dies
The first and only labor Of cultivation consists IN
clearing the ground and setting out the plants.
Sisal grows in the most barren soil; II IS not bcne-
flied by fertilization; it Is not exposed 10 pests
and il only requires time in order TO furnish
fibre Of substantial value. Each leaf when picked
is cut in two longitudinally and then carried
under the cylinder of a dTcSsing-machlnc. which
scrapes off the refuse and leave, a switch OF white
fibre This. when washed in salt water and dried
in tho SIM is ready for the market as "A substitute
for manila hemp The mechanism used for dress
ing the fibre is not well adapted for the purpose
Sir Ambrose Shea needs 10 employ few inventive
Yankees in order to perfect the process
From this description it will he clear why ms
industry is now in an experimental stage Inc
fibre thus far produced is from oil plants grow
ins wild in the islands. The plantations s'ar'cd
during the last two years will not pear leaves
with fibre of the requisite quality for several
ycars. About 1895 the results of the PAINTING OF