The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-23
JAMA|CANS FEEL HURT
Must Depend on Uncle Sam for
Weather Reports.
ECONOMY is A NECESSITY
Reported Collision Between French and
Brazilians Was Grossly Exagger-
ated-The Dispute Is OF
Easy Adjustment.

Correspondence of the Associated Press
Kingston, Jamaica, March 1.-THE
government of this island has just de-
cided upon the extinction of the col
ony's meteorological service, which it
has maintained at great cost, in line
with the retrenchment schemes reduc-
ing the appropriation to a small grant.
All the observatorics will be closed
and the instruments "dsposed of to
the best advantage" The United
States has recently established branch
meteorological bureau near Kingston.
The officers in charge have been in
structed to furnish to the government
in their line. Under such circumstances
| the government has concluded that it's
| own service might well be done away
| with and that of the United States
used instead. This is what has been
decided upon and Jamaica, and through
it, the British West Indies generally,
will have to depend hencefOrth for
warnings as to the approach of hurri-
canes, etc, on the generosity of for
eign government. The people of ia
maica feel more hurt over this aspect
of retrenchment than over any other
as it is looked upon as the taking of
an unwarranted advantage of Ameri-
can enterprise.
The latest advices to hand from Cay
enne. capital of French Guiana, indicate
that the previous intelligence about a
collision having occurred between the
French and Brazilian delmitation com
miSsionerS was somewhat grossly, but
under the circumstances, excusably, ex-
aggerated by the would be fugtives.
In so far as the facts were exaggerated,
the Indians of Counani appear to have
been responsible for the eXaggeration
and it is probable that they were them
selves deceived by one or two de-
signing chiefs who sought to frlghten
away the foreign settlers. The cirCum-
stances appear that a dispute arose be-
tween the Brazilian and French COM
missOners. 1t was therefore decided
to suspend the delimitatiOn proceedings
until the matter could be laid before
the respective governments. Mean
while some quite personal unpleasant
ness arose between the French Sene-
galese troops and the Brazilians, which
eventually led to an encounter, in
which a few on each side were hurt.
The commissioners on each side then
decided to move from the vicinity Of
each other until operations were re-
sumed so as to avoid further trouble.
This the Indians seemed to have in
terpreted as a quarrel between their
masters, and accordingly they set about
preparing for war The news was
spread among the settlers and miners,
and many of them, recOllecting the
troubles of 1896. retired, some to Ana
pa and some to Cayenne. 1t is believed
at Cayenne that the original dispute
between the commissioners is capable
of easy adjustment, and much public
anxiety would have been avoided had
the local authorities made public the
facts in their possession. The rein
forcements' of French and Brazilian
troops, the sending up of which gave
color to the sensational stories, turns
out to have been nothing more sig
nifcant than the changing of the
guards accompanying the commission
ers, and which was probably FASTENED
by the official reports of the quarTels
between the original guards. That the
commissioners will continue the delim-
itation work without interruption is
proved by the fact that the new gov
ernor Of French Guiana, Montet, has
sent up a large number of light iron
frame houses which he brought out
with him for the purpose.
The Cayenne correspondent of the De-
merara Argosy is responsible for the
statement that a strong anti-English
in insults of the British residents, who
are unable to obtain redress. Accord
ing to the courts they have no right
in the country and the sooner they
clear out the better for Them The
British consul is said to be French
man who cannot speak dozen words
of English.