New-York tribune., 1907-01-16
THE CITY AND ISLAND.
SHAKEN IN FORMER YEARS
Losses by Gale and Fire-GoUern-
ment and History.

mafca and the principal seaport ana cohliiiei-
cial city of that island. It lies on the south
coast and the north side Of a fine harbor
The latter is Iandlocked basin available for
the largest ships and Is inclosed on the south
by long tongue OF land, at the extremity OF
which is Port Royal The population Of King
ston Is about 10000 souls.
The only volcanic formation IN the Island Is
that at the Lowlayton and Retreat estates, In
tho parish OF Portland mile from the sea, in
the county of Surrey in which Kingston is sit
uated. There is. however. no defined crater. and
the volcanic materials the only evidences
remaining. The coast formation of Surrey
County is Of white and yellow limestone. The
greater part OF the country is mountainous.
In August, 1908, Kingston and the rest OF
Jamaica were swept by a hurricane which al
most totally destroyed Port Antonio and in
ficted damage in various parts OF the island
of about S1ooo0ooo Thousands of houses in
Kingston were damaged, the wharves were bat
tered and several coasting vessels were sunk.
On November f3 last sharp earth shock was
felt in both the south and north of ths island
at II O'Clock at night. II was followed irme-
diately by a second shock, which was the
heaviest felt in jamaica in many years. In 1892
a great earthquake destroyed Port Royal. of
whose three thousand houses only two hundred
remained standing. II was this catastrophe
of the survivors removing TO the plain OF Ia
guanea and settling or land belonging to Colo
mel Beeston. where Kingston now stands
In 1882 Kingston visited by fire, destroy
Ing property to the value Of S2.5Oo O0O and In
1s43 another FIRE caused damage Of about s15-
OOO.0OO
In August, 1880, q cyclone passed over the
eastern half Of Jamaica, destroyed nearly all
the whsrves in the harbor of Kingston. and
caused much damage TO the shipping In the
harbor The storm lasted about nva hours but
little rain fell in Kingston. and the moon shone
throughout the disturbance.
There were two shocks OF earthquake at
Kingston. each consisting OF a large number Of
tremors. lasting seven eight seconds, on Da-
cember z. 1850 The shocks were felt all over
the island.
tremendous hurricane visited Jamaica IN
1915. Tho whole island was deiuged. hundreds
of houses were washed away vessels were
wrecked. and about thousand persons were
drowned.
The city Of Kingston is laid out with regular
and wide streets. and the houses belonging TO
the better classes are neatly built, with wide
verandas and surrounded by gardens. Street
cars run to the suburbs. and two lines Of railway
connect tho city with the northern and eastern
parts of the island.
Kingston has a botanical garden. library, mu-
scum. hospital, and various other public build
ings, and is the seat of an Anglican bishoprlc
The harbor OF Kingston is considered 10 be
one OF the finest in the world, and is protected
by forts. There is a naval arsenal at Port
Royal The channel leading 10 the bay ia
row. 1t IS about twenty-five feet deep and the
bay itself affords excellent anchorage for the
largest vessels.
centres at Kingston. and the commercial houses
OF that city have extensive relations with
Southern Cuba. Central America, end so on as
we'll as with the United States and Europe. The
exports mainly bananas, sugar rum coffee
and dye woods.
The streets of Kingston at right angles to
the sea, and were originally laid out by
pass north and south, while those parallel TO
the general shore line run east and west, but In
consequence Of the variation Of the compass the
north and south streets now have a bearing OF
north two degrees east, and the east and west
streets bear northwest and southeast So de-
grees. These streets, therefore are at right
angles with each other.
The land on which Kingston stands has
general slope 20 the OF about ninety feet a
mile and must originally have had uniformly
smooth surface, but in consequence of neglect,
north and south streets. the latter are now
worn as 10 be much below the general level. In
consequence Of this depression OF the north ana
south streets the east and west streets
furnish an irregular section at their intersec-
t.ons.
King street running north and south OF
Kingston, was originally the centre Of the town,
and was sixty-sx feet wide when laid out.
Queen street. also sixty-sx feet wide. the
cantro running east and west but in conse-
ouence of the town having been extended north
erly and easterly, these streets do not now form
the centre At the intersections OF King and
Queen streets a plaza or parade ground was re-
served, forming square or ten acres. This
was formerly used as a market place and parade
ground for the troops and militia, but this Sec
tion is now inclosed and converted by the gov
ernment into a garden, which adds much to the
appearance of the city and to the comfort and
enjoyment OF the inhabitants.
On account of the gravey nature Of the soil
on which Kingston stands, surplus water readily
sinks and finds its way to the sea, the result
being that Kingston is Of the healthiest
seaport towns in the West Indies.
The Island OF Jamaica was discovered by
Columbus on May g. 1891. He called it St Jago.
after the patron saint OF Spain. but the new
name was soon dropped in favor OF the native
one of Jamaica CXaymaca-"W well Watered') The
first settlement on The island was effected on
the shores of ST. AIMS Bay, by Esquive in
1909 under the direction of Diego. the son of
Columbus, while Governor OF Hispanola. AL
though invaded by the British under Sir An
thony Shirley, IN 1896, and by Colonel Jackson
In 1888 Jamaica remained in possession of the
spaniards for 161 years. when it was again at
bod ht nv nall