Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-01
TRINIDAD's PROSPERITY.
Of the Cocoa Plant Has
Increased Islands Wealth.

Trinidad Correspondence of the London Times
At time when the majority Of the West
India Islands are groaning under the con-
sequences Of depression in the sugar trade
and are looking with lingering hope to the
operation of the abolition of foreign boun-
ties. Trinidad may be described as in a
state of booming prosperity. Sweet are the
uses of adversely. A quarter of a century
ago. when the pinching OF the shoe of the
cane planter was first felt, Trinidad, like
her sister islands. was chiefly dependent on
the sugar market. This failing them, the
inhabitants did not fold their hands and
lament their evil lot Endowed with the
inheritance of a fertile country, they re-
solved to cultivate some product other than
that which had enriched their fathers. They
found 1t at hand in the cocoa plant. the
Yield from which. in addition to other
sources of revenue. has multiplied exports
till today the revenue exceeds the most
sangu1ne expectations of thirty years ago.
Most southern of the islands Trinidad
lies close to the Spanish Main, of which.
according to geological testimony, it once
formed an integral part. In times of peace
1t derives considerable trade from Vene-
Zuela, which. with a more enlightened fiscal
policy on the part Of Venezuelan govern
ments, might easily be Quadrupled. Presi-
dent Castro made constant effort to
strange the trade On all goods imported
from Trinidad he clapped an impost of ~
per cent. Just before the blockade was de-
clared he prohibited all communicat ton be-
tween the island and the mainland. The
consequence was that the warehouses in
Port OF Spain were choked with goods
meant for Venezuela. Some relief has been
AFFORDED by the action Of the British ships
now IN these waters. Approaching Caracas.
!ney nave given convoy to merchant ships
loaded with cargo. Through the same
kindly offices a number of Venezuelans
waiting at Bolivar for passage to Trinidad
were safely escorted. I am told that when
the em1grants reached the wharyes of Port
OF Spain they fell on their knees and kissed
the soil over which waved the flag of free
England. w
Trinidad. approximating to the size OF
Lancashire, has an area Of l. 40 600 acres
or which 100000 are cultivable. Accoryiinr
TO the census taken two years ago, the pop
una u,atton is Sos.ooo. the odd 5000 represent
ing the increase during the last decade. It
Is mainly Christian. the Roman Catholic
church claiming the largest proportion.
i rnere are 5000 East Indians who remain
ern parts OF the island the vulgar language
Is a strange French patois In other parts
early parentage is testified to by the use Of
the spanish tongue. The ubiquitous Chinese
Is not unknown, being generally met with
behind the counter of the miscellaneous
store.
When the slave trade was abolished,
planters were at their wits end to Obtain
field hands. The manumitted slave came To
the conclusion that he and his forbears
had worked hard enough for one family.
WIN abundance yielded as the fruits of the
earth and the capacity of living on very
little, he found that he could In three days
earn enough to sustain himself for a week.
Why then labor through the remaining four
days? He did not. and the planters were
faced by the prospect of their cane remain
Ing uncut. Thereupon was established a
system of immigration. The East Indies
were called upon to redress the balance
created by the new state of affairs in the
west. The coolies come here under inden-
ture to serve at fair wage for five years.
At the end of ten years they may, If they
please. demand a free return passage home
am told there is not more than one in five
who avails himself Of this privilege.