New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-17
FORTTFYING JAMAICA.
PREPARING TO MAKE A SECOND GIBRAL-
TAR OF THE ISLAND
SEEKING KEY TO AN IsTHMIAN CANAI--Ac-
TIv1TY AT KISGsToN-ANGLo-s SAXON

sEEklNd KEY TO AN ISTHM1AE CANAI<-AC-
rrv1TY AT KINGsroN-ANGLo-s SAXON
ENTENTE NOT DISTURBED
Kingston. jamaica Dec. s.--If Jamaica ever en-
tertained any real hope OF rehabi,itating her IN
dustral condition b. political annexation to the
United States. the aspiration has been finally
quenched by the action OF the imperial authorities
There a time when IL seemed as though tn.
British Government was disposed to abandon ia
maica naval station. concentrating the MILL
tary and naval forces in the West Indies at st
Lucia. 1t was even mooted that the War Office
prepared to dispose of the imperial real estate
interests at Port Royal to the municipality of
Kingston.
The decisive and obviously practicable plans
OF the United States 10 secure a waterway across
the Isthmus into the Pacific have completely
changed the policy OF the British Government
to the strategic positions In the Caribbean-sup-
posing that the notifications indicated were really
contemplated. One thing is certain Great Britain
never for moment credited the bona ndes OF Count
de Lesseps' Panama tde-,evel canal scheme AMI
after the collapse OF the undertaking she appar-
emily did make the preclpltate mistake of con-
templating the execution OF certain strategic
changes among her West Indian srongholds. which
elImnated-or did not account for-the element OF
the Isthman waterway. These plans were, how
ever, suspended in view Of the movement In France
to begin work again at Panama on a lock system.
If executed that would alter the aspect OF affairs
Meanwhile the American war with Spain occurred.
of the issues OF which Is the recognition of
the necessity for n canal controlled by America and
the probability. amounting to certainty of its
prompt construction. In either event. Jamaica be-
comes the key to the canal in far as actual
strategy is concerned.
BUSY TINES AT PORT ROYAL.
Port Royal itself for some time past has been the
scene OF busy operations In tho direction Of
strengthening the old Notifications and extending
new ones. which gives color to the present assur-
ances that 1t was never really the intention Of tn.
imperial authorities to abandon the station. Forti-
atoms OF the powerful modern type equipped
with all the recent developments in military
defensive art including electrical submarine mines
disappearing guns etc. have been erected during
the last year or two at all the salient vantage
points commanding this the safest and one of the
largest harbors In the world. AS 1t stands Port
Royal itself is of the strongest strategic points
In the Empire But this Is not all. Additional
naval improvements announced by the Adj
miraty on IN, lines -uggested by Admiral Coomb
The chief point In this scheme is TO establish
naval depot and dockyard inside OF Kingston
Harbor. and distinct from and independent OF
Port Royal. which is destined to be one of the
most extensive and fully equipped In the British
Empire. and worthy to command the Is,hman
waterway when II shall have been completed To
this end Government engineers have been busily
surveying the foreshores of the inner harbor for
months past. boring to considerable depths at all
likely places TO ascertain the geological conditions
most favorable for laying the necessary founda-
tons Ii has been announced that a salts
factory site for the proposed dockyard has been
located at a place known Greek Pond to the
westward OF the city. a short distance beyond tn
railway terminus The selection OF the site was
OF course necessarily dictated by geological con-
ditions. But az It happens. none better. from
strategical poin: Of view could have been selected
The position is unique for defensive purposes In
every respect-even In the remote contingency OF
an enemy landing on the outcoasts marching on
the capital defeating the military forces and at
lacking the dock on the land side. More than
this the selection will prove boon TO the city OF
Kingston In two respects In the first place IL
will do away with a mischevous mala rial swamp
and In the next conduce to the extension OF the
city westward.
SOLVING AN INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM
The negotiations for the purchase of the requisite
land having been ompete1 II is expected that the
work OF construction will he begun early in the
coming year. thu, solving In a measure for some
time to come the labor problem. for It Is said that
the works Will entail the expenditure Of over
1850 OO0 on local labor alone. What good and
timely thing this will be for the island only those
can realize who are acquainted with Its present
condition Of general Industrial depression and
social unrest.
Although England 10 thus prepared to hold ia
maica within the imperial bonds forever Qusnching
n hooa Of To he limited 0tatoa thar0