The evening times., 1900-03-14
A NEW STEAMSHIP LINE.
One Proposed To Run From Jamaica
90 England.

10 Eng lanu-
The state Department has received a
letter from Nicholas r SNYDER. CONNER
cial Agent OF the United states At Port
Antonio. in which ne refers 20 a proposed
steamship lire from Jamaica 10 England
as follows.
The negotiation which has. for many
months. been going on with Messrs. Elder.
Dempster & Co. % England. TO establish
a direct line Of steamers for the purpose
OF carrying fruit forJuighuy from Jamaica
TO England was completed by the cover
nor in privy council on January % 1900.
agreeing 10 the Secretary Of States pro-
posal that Jamaica should contribute ss7.-
$50 per annum for ten years toward the
subsidy Of Sls4660 per annum for the
same period. which the above company has
| requested.
There has been considerable discussion
I from time 10 time both at meetings and
/ in the newspapers, concerning the develop
meut Of markets outside OF the United
/ States for the fruit produced in this ISL
and This consideration has Oeen brought
about by the idea that the United States
I may grant preferential rates or free trade
10 Cuba and Porto Rico, thus practically
closing the existing fruit trade between
Jamaica and the United states
This subject has been more or less
I talked OF for the past fourteen months
| but IL has been the aH-absorbiug topic for
/ the last three or four weeks The deci5-
/ ion OF the governor and his priyy council
| is receiving both favorable and unfavor-
/ able comments in the press-some based
I on the opinion Of the ag-iCulturists adla-
/ cent TO Kingston who would be the ones
most likely TO benefit by the scheme. and
| others on those Of residents OF the north
| ern parishes. who have very much larger
/ interests al stake, for example. the
/ United Fruit Company. which is admitted
/ by all to be practically the sole support OF
] that part OF the Island
! 1T is proposed 10 raise the $3.50 iu one
4 OF other OF these ways First. S24 332. 80
( which has already been inserted in the es-
/ Inmates from The general revenue fund
/ Si2. 1867. by reducing or abolishiug the
I present mail subsidy 10 the Royal Steam
| ship Company and the remaining S4S,665
/ or $50. S2I.6I by an additional tax on banau.
! lands. second. So. coo from the genera
/ revenue S12 500. or So ooG from the mai
subsidy. and the other so, 600 or S62500 by
/ an export duty on bananas
| The questions which are eliciting gray.
/ thought on the part of American grower=
/ and planters are. Must the fruit which
. ] TO Ile IIlt4 0ltLtN DC AeAAt-tA AL tltAG
to create another outlet for Jamaica's pro
ducrs9 Must the United Fruit Company
/ (which owns il is safe 20 say. Oue-thir5
of an ghe fruit lands which trades eXclu-
siveIy with the United States. and is coui-
posed solely of American capitaJ be com
/ pelIed 20 pay. as a unit the largest quota
/ toward the profit Of a company which,
some respeyts-will be operating against
it,
| should either OF these proposals be aC-
! cepted it viii undoubtedly operate agains
all American capitalists in or out of the
/ island who possess interest in the fruI'
| business.
zone man. a member Of the legislative
! council. has expressed the opinion thai
! only the fruit sent TO England should bt
I taxed. but since there viii be only fort
nightly voyages and the proposed capacity
OF the vessels is limited to 250G0 bunchel
of bananas, it is obvious that the tax mus
be excessively high to be effective.
Neither of the schemes has yet beeI
submitted to the legislative council. Def
mite results are eagerly looked for.