New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26

the colony. Hitherto it has always imported
| considerable quantities. for the consumption by
the cody population is large. Guiana has excel
lent factories. and the cody labor on the estates
is considerable; STILL the industry is in a pre-
carious condition. II lacks credit and mort
gagged estates being crowded to the wall.
The Colonial Sugar Company, large concern
with estates in this colony and Trinidad failed
| recently and has only just been reorganized.
The colony has more serious problem to deal
with than the other islands in its cody pOpula-
ton. They have been brought over from India
as indentured laborers, to remain in the colony
ten years and to have their return passage paid
by the colony, II they wished at the end of ten
years. There 10000 in the colony. If sugar
fails and they in want Of employment claim
turn passage, the colony will be unable to raise
money to meet the expense.
Trinidad has the same problem Of cody labor
ers 10 face but its exports Of asphalt, cocoa arr
fruit almost equal the export of sugar so its
condition Is not so serious.
OF the other islands, St. Vincent sugar Is
being rapidly abandoned. and no industry has
taken its place Sugar raising has been given
up st. Lucia and cocoa and logwood have in
a measure taken its place. Old Dominica cocoa
and lines have taken the place OF sugar, and a
large number Of lines are raised in Montserrat
The visitor to the islands is surprised by the
small amount of fruit raised Upon them. The
average stranger thinks OF the West Indies
garden. where oranges, lemons, pneapples,
bananas and pomegranates grow in abundance
He expects to pick them wild on the roadside.
But fruit is rare. None is raised in general
cept for home consumption and that is Of in
ferior quality No attention has ever been given
70. INN and al
export oranges. Antigua tried the experiment OF
sending few Iineapples to England. No doubt
fruit could be- raised nearly all Of the islands,
but the people would starve before they could
be taught how to do it pr0htably. and, more
over the raising Of it could never fill the place
Of sugar as an Industry. The lack Of suitable
steamship service to carry such products to mar
ket is another serious obstacle.
The risk 81 their bread and butter generally
sharpons mems wits to Il clear perception OF
their own interests and II the West Indian is ID
be trusted. only rehabilitation of sugar can
save the islands from ruin Something must
be done for sugar is the word heard every
whore. Practically the only suggestion made is
that England should protect her colon.sts by i'm
posing counterydiling duties on bounty-fcd beet
sugar Put us on a basis Of equality with the
German and the French planter so that we can
compete for the English market" say the plant
ers This is what hitherto the English Govern
mcnt has refused - do. Its reasons were given
In the report OF the Norman Commission. which
investigated the condition Of Guiana and the
West Indies last spring Its chief reason seemed
10 be that the putting on European beet sugar
OF duties equal to the export bountcs on 1t
would increase the cost OF sugar TO the English
consumer about cent a pound. = doubt was
also expressed whether the increase in price
would be enough to rest re prosperity to the
sugar industry. and whether the eNpedent
would effect permanently the desired result. The
difficulty Of adjusting duties so as 10 meet the
various bounties Of different countries was also
pointed out. The commission could only report
in favor Of England's urging foreign countries
TO abandon the bount. system. AS the commits
sion's report recognized the seriousness of the
situation, yet offered no practical suggestions
for alleyiating the evils il only served To arouse
l feeling OF anger among the colOnists. The
mother country Is bitterly accused II selishness
in taking advantage Of the bOuntes of foreign
Powers at the expense Of her own colonies.
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