The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-01

aid with the rude appliances they have on theiy estates. But the point wnicn has always been most strongly empha. sized Is the lethargy and listlessness or the colonial planter, and his inability to grapple with the situation.
 Trinidad was the rfist of the islands to break away from the trammeis oi sugar and devote her attention to some industry that was yet in it's infancy. fortunately she had in her asphalt lakes a veritable gold mine and when she turned her attention to the cultiva- tion of cocoa, her industrial problem was solved. Jamaica had previously tried the cultivation and export or logwood; but when the Elder-Dempster Steamship Company of Bristol ana London. guaranteed that they could transport all the fruit that the island could produce in specially fitted steam CTS, and could sell 1t in England at a fair profit, the planter loened his hold on sugar an deceased to believe in the proverb. All sugar or nothing.
 The other islands were more tardy In coming into line, principally because on account of their very limited size. they did not feel justified in launching out too boldly. but in 1897 a board or commissioners was appointed for the islands, with headquarters at Barba- does. and to the mwas given the duty of Investigating the conditions and posr abilities of the islands, and of foster ing every industry that could be of benefit to them. And what has been the result7 Any one can easily guess. Through the indefatigable efforts of Sir Daniel Morris. the Chief Commissioner, the islands have begun slowly, yet sure ly, to break away from the thraldom of sugar cane, while that which they are cultivating Is being done on scien- tihc principles.
 Fruit is being grown to an extent never before known, cocoa Is already an established industry in more islands than Trinidad, and the cultivation of cotton, started purely as an experiment. has already reached the stage of suc- cess. Only six weeks ago. shipment of cotton from Barbadoes and St. Vim cent fetched from to ! cents pound more in Manchester than the best American article. and bananas from the former island were pronounced superior in quality and flavor to any that had hitherto been imported. Already some prominent English businessmen have come forward with the offer of assist ing in every possible way the growth of the cotton industry. Agricultural societies have been formed in each of the islands, and local as well as gem eraI meetings are held at which sub- JeCIS or COfnfuOh lHLcEtSt tO tHo iSAdhd0 are discussed and ways and mears pro- posed for bettering their industrial de- velopment along both agricultural and manufacturing lines. The planters and merchants have taken hold of the situ- ation with a will.
 Down in those islands today tho wheels of prosperity have again begun to revolve, slowly. 1t is true. but surely of the people will but follow the exam ple that has been set. These neglected portions of a great empire have had largely to solve their own industrial problems, for the mother country has done little or nothing for them, save to use their lucrative offices as fertile fields for their discredited officials and degenerate nobles. That day Is almost mast; the colonies have learned the les- son of retrenchment and self-depend- ence. and while to the Royal Commis- sion must be given its due need of praise for the work it has done, to the colonies themselves must be attributed the credit of at last removing the beam from their eyes, and viewing the indus trial situation in the light of present day developments.