The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-15
MR.. PLANT N JAMAICA.
a Newspapers Opinion Of the Great
RaiIrOader's Efforts 10 Help That
T.IauH

maica OF entering into some wei de-
I vised arrangement with Col Plant, the
| worldwide known originator and
/ architect Of the extensive Plant
system Of steamships, railways
and hotels. through the agency
I Of which Florida has long since been re-
I claimed from primitive forest. and con-
verted into one Of the most progressive
and busy states Of the ever-advancing
American republic; with its attenoant
famed advantages as health resort for
I the numerous tourists who unable or
unwilling 70 encounter the rigours Of a
northern winter seek a temporary resi-
dence in its balmy and genial climate.
Nor does Florida stand alone in the &C.
QUESTION Of the vast benefits which have
resulted 70 her through the remarkable
clear inventive intellect and energy OF
him who may justly be credited with be.
ing the author, promoter and guardian
even 70 the present day OF her fortunes
Inc Ike undated interest and effect-
lNeness turned toward the neighborine
lslahi OF cuba has caused it to partici-
PATE IN the advantages which have been
the outcome for all those places brought
within the inspiring influences of the Plant
system. Nevertheless the attractions OF
neither Florida nor cuba can stand com.
parlson with those of Jamaica with lis
DIVERSITY OF temperature, fertility of soil
f Is 5s. climate ma and grand scenery:
eHort on the part Of our colonists
mat Jamaica has not ere now been in the
Plant system. From time TO time suc
SessNe enueavors have been made to in
duce our government to sanction under
certain conditions, a scheme whereby our
island would become participator in the
great system, which experience has shown
mas heralded so much activity, Improve
ment and prosperity wherever il has been
introduced. Such endeavors have unfor-
q
the hands OF his eXcelency the governor
Who notwithstanding his admitted zeal
Gus desire to benefit Jamaica in many re-
specls, mas, thus far, been ayerse to on
tering into the desirable negotiations with
Sol PANT. through which il was hoDed
ms interest would have been largely Sc
Cureu IN the hotels at Myrtle Bank and
Constant Spring, and arrangements made
Tor the coming regularly during the win
teI months OF the Plant Line steamers.
with large numbers of passengers on nav
ment of a moderate subsidy for short
term OF years. Impressed as we have
bSen, with the many attendant advantages
f,,,a,.. Would De realized for the general
interests OF Jamaica by such an arrange
ment, 10 which, we believe, Col Plant
was ready 10 assent, we cannot refrain
l. a. m expressing our surprise and regret
AZ the opposition which the proposals met
with from Sir Henry Blake. We do not
doubt that his excellency was prompted bv
good motives, but the action is none the
iesS TO be regretted. That the coming
miner OF a large influx OF strangers
periodically, is an end most earn
estly TO be desired will not for a
moment be questioned by any
reasonable person, especially since the
erection Of the two large hotels in King
ston and 81 Andrew. and the other we'll
equipped hostleries in various parts of the
island. Most of these structures as is
well known, particularly Myrtle Bank
was W. me outcome of the Jamaica exhibition
OF 1881 what since then has been their
precarious existence is patent to our read
srs; Ihat they have not been successful
Is beyond doubt attributable to well as
certalned causes, such as lack of effective
MANAGEMENT, Notwithstanding extrane-
Gus efforts to insure same and conse.
quenuys OF inadequate patronage. What
- cnleny wanted to remedy these evils
is mat the party running these hotels
should himself be largely Interested there
IN anu nad Col Plants offers been en-
leI Ianeu we would ere now have real
lzed the benefits such as have followed
elsewhere under his control The bene-
f1ts that would have accrued bv Jans.
lea being placed within the Plant svetar,
we feel confident would have early ana
amply compensated for any concessions
tc II was proposed Col. Plant should
What has made Florida the large or-
ange producing center which she has be-
come? Primarily the enterprise of CoI
Plant, aided by American intellipenca snd
American capital. Events would seem RI
point TO Jamaica, as undoubtedly the more
IaVored; the more adapted land for ora noe
culture Wnen compared with Florida LET
us only offer sufficient inducement where
by some Of this American intelligence
energy and capital may be brought in o11r
midst and the beneficial effects vouId
quickly be felt throughout the length and
breadth of the island. The misfortune
winch betell FLORIDA by the severe frost
of 1894 should prove an Incentive 10 ne ~
take advantage of every opportunity for
advancing the interests of our fruit in
dustry which nowadays stands foremost
in the list of our exports and which M
der prudent and effective management is
capable OF limitless expansion viii our
soV slll our legislators, our colonists
IN general any longer delay in assuring
the accomplishment of so desirable an
END! we earnestly hope that as soon as
possible, after the Assem- bling of O,lr new
legislature no effort will be spared nv
which arrangements will be entered into
with Col. Plant to effect the objects de-
sireu. Seperai years must necessarily
elapse ere the orange production Of
Florida can revert to its former prosper
GUS condition and it is of course impossible
10 10 prealct what may, in the interim,
transpire TO further postpone even these
anticipations. Events in Cuba have also
served TO turn the accustomed inflow of
tourists from that island, and while We
may deplore the unhappy state of affairs
existing there, the opportunity should NOT
be lost TO us to benefit thereby Failing
to do this we may probably find when too
late, to our loss, that the chance comes
not again.
1t is futile. however to hope to secure
. .In nentlX ana successfully for Jamaica
that recognition as health resort to
which we can justly lay claim at the hands
OF our american friends until our hotel
system has been placed under proDer ex-
perienced management The hotels of
Florida-the Tampa, Bay hotel the Win
ter park, the Ocala house and the Inn
show what can be done under the auspices
of the Plant system, and if we had similar
control and management here this island
would become strong competitor to Flor
ida, Cuba and other popular health re-
sorts. Florida is also becoming a large to-
bacco producing center and promises 10 in
crease rapidly in this direction We repro
duce the subjoined extract from a bro
chure which has been forwarded us bv the
agent of the Plant system in this island
entitled, Tobacco Lands in the TERRITORY
of the Plant system in Florida" 1t NAV
serve to awaken our fellow-colonists sne
cially those who are at present engaged in
tobacco cultivation here. as to the I'm
ture possibilities of the production of the
fragrant leaf. The extract is as follows:
LAS the reader will know Florida is ran
idly becoming a great cigar manufact1r-
ing state and hence a home-market is ar
forded for all the leaf that can be grown
At Tampa, which is one of the great
terminal points of the Plant system. there
are many of the largest cigar factories
and new ones are growing up all the time.
MANY IF the factorinS al Havana ~ ,,,-'.-