The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-03
JAMAICAN TRADE
Observation-Disclosures
AMERICAN EXPORTERS.
Much Larger Proportion of the Needs or
the Island Should Be Supplied by
the United States.

Consul p. Van Dyne, Of Kingston, calls
the attention of American manufacturers
DESTROYS of building up their export trade
to the peculiar opportunities open to them
in Jamaiaa. He writes:
This island. which is about the size OF
the State Of Connecticut, lies only ninety
miles south Of Cuba and less than l1OO
miles from New York, from which port II
may be reached by steamships in four
daya. Its central situation with reference
to the other West Indian islands-in the
direct track between the United States,
the Isthraian Canal. and Europe-makes II
a convenient stopping place for vessels
and affords special advantages for COM
merce between those points. Kingston,
the capital and principal city OF the island
has a land-locked harbor, seven miles in
length and three miles wide. There are
also good haibors at Port Antonio and
Montego Bay.
The United Fruit Company and the Al
lantic Fruit Company lave each a fleet OF
steamers constantly plying between the
United States and Jamaica. The Adj
miral' lir of steamships, belonging 10
the United Fruit Company, has a boat
sailing from Boston every Wednesday n
one from Philadelphia every Thursday.
Returning, steamers leave Kingston and
Port Antonio every Tuesday and Wednes-
uuy IOf the OnlleQ oldttS. IN
steamers were intended primarily for car
rying fruit, they are also we'll UP
for passenger service. The Hamburg
American. Steamship Company has one
steamship sailing from New York every
Saturday and from Kingston every Thurs
day, and n alternate weeks two ships each
way. The Royal Mail Steam Packet COM
pany maintains n service of one ship to
and from New York every fourteen days.
Freight rates are very reasonable.
While the United States supplied 4S per
cent or 81 7Oo, 200, Of the ST. O0' 900 Imports oats
81; 000,0 900, or 81 per cent of the 6,500,0O
manufactures imported into the island
were furnished by the United states as
United Kingdom. The United States
bought IS, 500, 900 worth, or 81 per cent, Of
the So, 100000 that Jamaica had to sell
the shorter distance, lower freight rates,
and more frequent means of transporta-
tion, a. much larger proportion Of the
the United States. American exporters
have only to devote intelligent attention
to the matter to bring this about.
1t should be borne in mind that in SEEK
ing an entrance into the Jamaican market
the American manufactures does not en-
counter the obstacles and embarrassments
met in other countries, due to differences
In language and methods of conducting
business. This is an English colony. and
only the English language Is spoken. Men
ton is made of this fact for the reason
that this consulate frequently receives
catalogues and advertising matter printed
In Spanish.
The principal articles of manufacture for
which there is demand in Jamaica are
lumber. shingles, cement, boots and shoes,
leather, harness and saddles. oils, car
riages and vehicles, furniture, hats, earth
EN- and china ware, clocks, watches and
jewelry, medicines and drugs, soaps and
perfumery, cotton, WOODEN, linen and six
goods, bags and sacks, cordage and Irvine,
electrical apparatus, sewing machines.
tools and implements, hardware, cutlery,
galvanized iron for tin roofing, tin in plates
and sheets, nails, screws and rivets, tubes
and pipes. Flour, corn, meal, rice. oats,
ham. bacon. salt beef, pork, fish. butter;
cheese, lard. salt, condensed milk ana
other provisions and foods are also In
great demand
Besides the inducements pointed out the
present moment is particularly opportune
FOR American exporters to extend their
trade in Jamaica The rebuilding of the
city Of Kingston, the business part OF
which was almost completely destroyed
in the earthquake and fire of January,
1907, and the refurnishing Of the stores
and houses create an unprecedented de-
man for lumber, shingles, cement. iron
and steel framing, corrugated. iron roof
Ing and other building material, store and
office fixtures and furniture, desks, files,
typewriters, etc. 80
colonial government with a fund of APP
proximately. $4,000. 600, which is being loaned
to the people Of Kingston for the purpose
of rebuilding the city, and quite a NUMBER
of buildings are now being constructed, but
the large majority Of the business men Of
the city have been awaiting the outcome
of the litigation with the insurance compa-
MES before commencing rebuilding. AS the
insurance policies contained the EARTH
quake exemption clause" there appeared
to be little ground for the realization of the
hopes of the ~policyholders, but in a test
suit, which has just been decided in the
Circuit Court at Vaudeville 1t was deter
mined that the fire which destroyed the
property of the plaintiff in the particular
case wasa "pre-earthquake' fire, and It Is
understood that the policyholders will in
all other cases take the position that all
the fires were p-re-earthquake fires.
The recovery of the entire insurance car
ried on the property destroyed (about
81, 900, 0O0) would accelerate rebuilding. II
the ultimate judicial determination shall be
unfavorable to the policyhclders, the impe-
rial loan will still be available and the re-
building of the city is in any event an
assured fact.
The colonial government proposes to re-
build in one group the government build
ings, which previously were scattered over
the city. The local finances are in excel
lent condition, the customs receipts for the
year running nearly half a million dollars
more than last year, because of the in