The National tribune., 1899-05-04
ISLAND OF JAMAICA.
Most Important Of British Pos
sessions in West Indies

The proposition that the United States
trade the Philippine archipelago for the
British possessions in the West Indies,
originating as it did with the subjects OF
the latter country, has caused much dis
cussion, and lately public men and legis-
lators of the British islands have ad-
vocated the exchange. While there is
much sentimental attachment fer Eng
land, the trade of these islands is largely
with the United States, and every interest,
commercial and industrial. would be bet
tered by coming under the control OF TINS
country.
Until year ago the general know ledge
OF the British holdings in the west lndieS
was very vague among the untfaEclcu
public. But when the war with Spaln
began and the American squadron went
in search of the Spanish fleet and our
Troops wtre embi rlling fer the Cuban
campaign every eye eagerly scanned tne
| map, and something was learned oil inc
location and extent OF the Brilish pos
session i'm the West Indies Roughiy
speaking, these islands extend in semi
circular form from off the coast OF florlda
to the mouth of the OrinOcO liver, ana
vary in size from the State OF Connccticut
to rock that pushes its barren crest
above the tide.
ISLAND OF JAMAICA.
By far the largest and most important OF
these islands is Jamaica, which mas al,
area of ne; rly 400 square miles, ana
stretches between II degrees 43 minutes
and 18 degrees 80 minutes, noTth iatlluue,
and between 76 degrees IL minutes and
7S degrees 20 minutes, west longitude.
1t lies less than 100 miles south OF the
eastern end of Cuba, and is reached from
the north through the Windward Passage
The greatest length OF the lsiand rs ABOUT
144 miles, and its greatest width 80 mics:
BY biologists the island is sald 10 DE OF
volcanic origin. 1t is traveTscd from east
to west by the Blue Mountains, winch
rise to a hight of 7 400 feet, and are be
lieved to be rich in minerals, though the
resources of the island SO far developed
are entirely agricultural.
PRODUCTS OF THE ISLAND.
Along the sides of the range flourish
every product of the north temperate
zone, while at it's base ere an abundance
of tropical fruits and vegetation. In
beauty and fertility Jamaica Is a second
Garden OF Eden. Palm, bananas, plant
aims, cocoanut trees, mangoeS, Grange
and lemon trees flourish everywhere on
the fertile soil. Besides these, there are
exported annually considerable quaint,
ties of spices, dye-woods, medicinai
plants and food plants, such as ginger
vanilla and pimento.
Sugar was formerly the chief Product OF
the island, and was expired IN large
quantities to the United States and
Europe, and although it still remains one
of the important Iroducts, 1t now ranks
second 10 coffee. The cause oil the de
cline Of the sugar industry was largely, II
not entirely, due TO the subsldiZine vi
beet sugar by European countries and
the duty imposed by the United
States on cane sugar imported. ltu'n
still remains an important article OF eA-
port. ,,.,.so
While the forests are fast falling before
the advance of enterprise, much valuable
timber still remains. Such ValuaDle
woods as mahogany, iogwood and ebony
are still shipped in large quantities.
THE BANANA INDUSTRY.
While all tropical fruits flourish in the
island, and are shipped IN large quahti-
ties, bananas form an important article OF
exDort. In the illustration is shown ma
lives carving bananas TO the wharf for |
shipment Few who see the ripe, luscious |
fruit as it appears in our markets have
any idea that its color is not about the |
same when il is cut for shipment. Such,
however, is not the case, as when the
bunches are brought TO the steamers they
are of a dark green color, and single
streak of yellow on one banana OF a
bunch will cause the whole bunch to be
by the inspector and the
owner to suffer consequent loss. In a
long voyage a single yellow banana might
cause the loss of several punches.
Jamaica may be said to be land OF
perpetual Summer. Although the climate
varies considerably, and the temperature
falls one degree for every 800 feet in ati-
.ude, the thermometer on the coast re-
mains about the same the year round.
At Kingston 20 degrees during the night
and 50 degrees during the day is about the
the mean being 80 or 81.
The heat is tempered by sea breeZes.
The island is said to be very healthy,
the interior and mountainous
portions.
COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.
England, for administrative purposes,
las divided the islands into a number OF
,roups. The most important is the
sland of Jamaica and its dependencies.
Then in indiScriminate order, are Turks
md Cacos Islands, the Bahamas, the
,eeward Islands, st. Christopher, Domn-
ca, Montserrat, the Virgin Islands, the
Vindward Islands, Barbados and Trini-
lad, making seven Governmental groups
n all.
A regular Colonial Government was es-
ablished in 1861, with a Legislative As
,embly elected in the island. The suf-
rage, limited at the beginning, has gradu-
lilly been extended until, in 1866, charter