The evening times., 1900-03-14
A NEW STEAMSHIP LINE.
one Proposed to Run From Jamaica
to England.

The State Department has received a
letter from Nicholas R. Snyder. CONNER
cial Agent of the United States At Port
Antonio in which he refers TO proposed
steamship lire from Jamaica TO England,
as follows:
THE negotiation which has. for many
months. been going on with Messrs. Elder,
Dempster & Co. of England. to establish
a direct line Of steamers for the purpose
Of carrying fruit fortnightly from Jamaica
To England was completed by the cover
nor in priyy council on January y. lsVo'
agreeing 10 the Secretary OF States pro-
posaI that Jamaica should contribute s'h-
ago per annum for ten years toward the
subsidy of s1s4 $50 per annum for the
same period which the above company has
requested.
There has been considerable discussion
from time 10 time. both a meetings ana
| in the newspapers, concerning the develop
mant of markets outside OF the United
| States for the fruit produced IN this Isl
and This consideration has been broush'
/ about by the idea that the United states
| may grant preferential rates or Tree tIdIs SIi'
/ 10 Cuba and Porto Rico thus pracucaIly
]
| Jamaica and the United States
.sThis subject has been more or less
| talked of for the past fourteen months,
/ but If has been the all-absorbing topic lor
| the last three or four weeks. Inc deci5
! ion of the governor and his priyy council
I is receiving both favorable and untaNor-
/ able comments in the pTess-some hdseu
ON the opinion Of the agTiculturlsts adJd-
cent to Kingston. who would De the ones
hv- ha
| others on those of residents OF the north
ern marshes. who have very much larger
| interests at stake: for example. the
limited Fruit Company which Is admitted
| bv all to be practically the sole support OF
that part OF the Island
..It is proposed 10 raise the $3.50 m ore
or other of these ways. First, S-f.""-.''
which has already been inserted IN the ts-
Inmates from the general revenue Idu-
S12l5561 by reducing or aboiishlEs 'h'
| uressnt mail subsidy 10 the Royal steam
ship Company. and the remaining SfS'''.
or $50 S91 s. bv an additional tax on banau.
,ands second So. coo from the genera
rsysDue S12 500 or So oo5 from the mai
subsidy and the other S5oo00 or $500 b,
an export duty on bananas.
Tn. Questions which are eliciting graz,
| thought on the part OF American grower
/ ,nd planters are Must the fruit Whlcf
goes to the United States be taxed II ordei
20 create another outlet for Jamaicas pro
ducts. Must the United Fruit Company
! (which owns. it is safe TO say. one-thlr'
of all the fruit lands which trades eNclu
sivsIy with the United States. and Is com
nosed solely OF American capitalj be com
nellad TO pay. as unit, the largest quot.
toward the profit of a company which,
som. respeots-will be operating againS
it,
should either Of these proposals be &C
eepted il will undoubtedly operate agains
Ali American capitalists in or out of tn
; island who possess interest in the frui
business.
Zone man a member of the Legislative
council. has expressed the opinion tina
: only the fruit sent TO England should b
, taxed; but. since there will be only fort
nightly voyages and the proposed capaclt
, of the vessels is limited to 25,OGO bunche
, of bananas. it is obvious that the tax mus
. be excessively high TO be effective.
Neither of the schemes has yet bee
, | submitted to the legislative council. Def
. | mite results are eagerly looked for.