The suburban citizen., 1902-06-07

this kind, for the trade Of st. Pierre Is
very large. All the dry goods stock
comes from Paris, and the keepers are
mostly French natives. The pretty
shops along the Rue Victor Hugo re-
fleet the taste and styles of Paris. Tue
provision supply of the island all comes
from the States.
"The upper end of the Rue Victor
Hugo is devoted to handsome resi-
dences. Here there are trees along the
sidewalks. The Rue Victor Hugo is a
broad street and the most important
thoroughfare of the city. The ancient
cathedral is on it, situated in the resi-
dence part Next to it is the Bishops
palace, a stately structure.
"The streets Of st. Pierre present an
interesting appearance. They are very
clean, most Of them are wide, and the
houses are built close together and
with much variety of design. Streams
of water run along the gutter Oh either
side of the street, keeping them clean
and cool. All the sewage of the city Is
open.
'The st. Pierre Theatre is located on
the Rue Victor Hugo. 1t is an attrac'
tive little playhouse, at which during
certain seasons of the year good per-
formances are given. Troupes come
from France to play, and are given
subsidy by the Government. The thea
tire is of attractive design outside, and
is prettily decorated within.
1.-The four-story building of Camin'
ade & Co. is one of the best buildings
iu the city. 1t is Of stone and iron, for
st. Pierre is most modern.
"The Chamber of Commerce Build
ing is also on the Rue Victor Hugo
Paul Borde, a wealthy merchant, is at
the head of the Chamber. 1t is the
business headquarters of the city. In
the tower weather charts and weather
reports are kept for the information of
the merchants.
"The centre of the social life of the
city is the Cercle de st. Pierre-the
finest club in the town. Only white
persons are admitted Here every day
the leading men of the city congre-
gate, smoke and talk over the news Of
the day. 1t is the centre of gayety and
the place where dinners and public
functions OF a social nature are given.
1t is located on the Rue de fHospltal,
just off the water front.
"The Mayor of st. Pierre is ri Fouche,
mulatto, who is, however, backed by
the whites of the town. There are
about 5000 whites in st. Pierre out Of
a population Of something over 25,00O
Some of the mulattoes are wealthy
but the color line is strictly drawn and
there is no intermingling of races So
cially.
Usually at this time Of the year a
regiment Of soldiers is stationed at the
village OF Morne Rouge for their health
1t is very likely a regiment was there
The soldiers are kept at Fort de
France, the capital, sixteen miles
away. There are two boats day each
way between ST. Pierre and Fort de
France. There Is a branch Of the
Treasury located at st. Pierre.
THE principal banks of St Pierre
are the Bank of Martinique, branch
of the Bank of France, and the Colo
NAL Bank of London's branch, located
on the Rue Quaylus.
THE principal industries of the town
are sugar factories. The biggest COM
mission houses are Plissonneau & Co.,
Caminade & Co. and Borde & Sons.
The two big rum-distilling houses in
ST. Pierre are L. Meyer & Co. and H.
Berte. Plissonneau 4 Co. are agents
of the Quebec steamship line, and own
many sugar plantations and factories.
THE two chief newspapers of st.
Pierre are Les Colonies, a daily, and
Les Antilles, a tri-weekly. The trade
of the town is chiefly devoted to sugar,
bananas, mangoes, plneapples and all
kinds of tropical fruits. There are no
railroads in the island. There was one
horse-car line in st. Pierre"