New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
AMERICANS IN JAMAICA.
THEY ARE SUCCEEDING. WHILE THE BRIT
ISL SUGAR-PLANTERs ARE "DOWN
on THEIR LICK"


Correspondence OF The Philadelphia Record
Although this fertile island has belonged TO Great
Britain about Two hundred ard nifty years and
time. its English citizens are becoming more and
They talk sliby enough Of the splendid natural
resources Of their island. but in the same breath
ments to emigration or openings for younger sons.
and declare Ahat ruin starcs them in the face un-
equal footing with the neighbo1ns Islands which
share in the american pGcy Of 6 eHpsHs9P the
son for this lamentable state Of affairs Hes In the
Most OF the Queens subjects in Jamaica still per-
sist ir raising sugar TO the exclusion OF everythS
The sugar plantations are baronia in extent. and
time was when their cultivation was so cas- and
abroad leaving overseers in charge. But year
after year during the last decade the overseers
hoping for better returns mex time and each sue
s ssdpf be s has hsc esua ana baG Hor
vision. bounties, hostile tariffs and above all the
about this natural result: and now that Cuba and
Porto Rico, with their unryalled possibilities have
mismanaged estates may move along. to the bow
vows more rapidly than ever. Alrea " the plant
talking Of grants-in-aid and countervailing duties.
but the truth Is that hS feels the
ssning Of The sugar product OF course dimnishng
maica rum, the considera bic taxes on which used
TO be the chief revenue OF the island
AMERICAN INVESTMENTS
While the Englishmen n.oody forecasting
ruin and blaming the homo government. America
and Colonial Secretary Chamberlain for what j..
clearly their own fault and the happy go-lucky
contented with what nature PROVIDE few Amc~-
leans are quietly laying the foundations for soil
deal OF capital in island enterpr.o They have
plantations for 1.-THE of their original value be-.
sides inauguriting new Industries and starting
,dms5 ym W Dd D an Wn % ayn
cate purchased the Government railway. sixty-six
miles long wnG runs nd bs naw % owno D
atey invested 10000 In extensions. which. when
completed Will open np he Iches 6s gs or %a
tropical scenery IN the whole wide world:
self to the raising of about Ave years ago.
and las, 11gged 9 s Of s s from s"4
on the lot, Though oranges grow wlId on mis-
finer ones and none where the climate Is better
adapted to their raising. Another OF my country
sweet potatoes and another in bamboo The last
fully in Jamaica and there is almost limit to the
uses to which 1t may be put from building oi honrrs
experiments and almost as many failures our
Yankee friend discovered that bamboo fibre had
make il without rival for some purposes. So he
built big factory away up on ne Black River, IN
converting of bamboo fibre into what is known
packing for the wheels OF TaTay o onrs ss rd
that purpose. holding oil Ike sponge. never hard
ennH and never wearing out ana the demand TOT
II Is great both In Europe and America
THE SECRET OF ENGLISH FAILURE.
The Yankees show more originality than the
OF Britain In their ways OF money getting and are
always the lookout for new avenues Of enter
prise The few who went into sugar-raisng and lts
side issues rum and mol asses. do not retire from
the field in disgust. or sit down and Growl as the
Engishmen when the market Il glutted and
sugar depressed. but make shift with other crops
Till times improve They get along good deal bet
ter too with the negroes, VINO are the only labor
be had here While the Engllshmen are for
ever In trouble with tho blacks. believing them to
be incorrigibly lazy. the American railroad builders
manufacturers and planters. who employ hundreds
Of negro aborers declare that they work well
enough II fair wages promptly paid. Under
English management a man receives "A shilling
day and female house servant three shillings
week and both And Themselves" But this scanty
hire is purposey kept In arrears that II the la
borcrs come late or irrcgularly IL can be down
10 whatever the employers choose TO give. Under
such conditions men and women OF any color could
hardly be expected to be very keen for working
particularly when living" from the black mans
standpoint, costs next to nothing.