The state herald., 1908-07-17

morning after the terrible rumblings OF the earth
announced to the residents of Kingston that they
were experiencing one OF the worst earthquakes
which ever befell the western hemisphere
The streets of Kingston are st strewn with
broken brick. stone and mortar Only where abso.
Lutte necessity demanded has the debris OF year
and half ago been cleared away and to-day one
may walk the streets OF this historic city and be
compelled to take the middle OF the road In order
TO avoid the great piles OF shattered buildings
which blockade the sidewalks and most OF the
thoroughfares.
This condition to the minds OF Americans Is per.
hnps enjoyable contrast that which took place
In San Francisco shortly after the Golden Gate city
was desolated by the quake of few years ago.
The Pacific coast metropolis awoke the morning
following che earthquake and literally went to work
then and there TO place city the site OF
the one destroyed. Workmen were paid wages
which drew laborers, mechanics. engineers from
every section OF the world TO take advantage OF the
high price put upon services. To-day the tourist
would scarcely know there had been a disturbance
of seismic conditions.
Hut In Kingston some OF the residents made
homeless by the earthquake are still inhabiting
tents others have departed while still others have
moved away from the stricken city. Little has been
done. And what Is the rensong tourists ask. Is Il
the traditional tired feeling" attributed TO south.
ern peoples is II lack OF activity the part OF the
government lack of facitos7 Those are the
questions which experts In building and organizing
nre trying To solve to-day. many months after this
condition was brought about.
One reason is that the English insurance
companies have oyadcd payment OF losses
in the hre which followed the earth.
quake. The are In the courts for
adjustment but the progress Is slow. In many
cases where the property was destroyed the owners
are unable to rebuild without assistance and that
II hard 10 obtain while the insurance cases are
pending Others are disheartencd and would rath.
er sell their land than 20 rebuild and improve II,
The scene IL almost aa deaolatc as Il was the week
following the earthquake, In some sections. not
ably on Harbor and Orange streets the rubbish
has been cleared away and small nea,ory frame
buildngs have been erected In which stores aud
business places were quickly opened. at another
point the government II clearing an entire city
square for the erection Of new federal buildings
AHid. from these minor matters the city has made
liuic progress toward rebuilding. and business IL
generally carried In temporary structures or In
old buildings which were unaffected by the earth
auak. and which likewise escaped N. flames
Aud yet, Kingston atl shows much evidence ot
It's former beauty. The stately palm trees are 10
be along many highways and In private
grounds. the coeoanut palm nourishes In almost
every door yard the rank growth Of tropical fo
nE, Ia quickly covering much Of the unsshtly ruins
and giving an air Of life In which the hand NJ man
does not cooperate,
Before the earthquake the city had many magnln
cent churches, representing most of the prominent
denominations Every one of thnm was either do
atroysd or put out Of commission. and services
have not been held IN single church of the city
since the earthquake All public worship Ia either
conducted In small buildings near the parent
churches In the streets The street meetings
predominant. and many of these are forvd amoz,
TO the point Of fanatciHm, The horrors of tho
earthquake. which resulted In several hundred
deaths. made such mn impression upon the minds
Of tho native jamaicAhs TO leave many ~ them
hystsfcaliy religious
4 Hieht that impressss one In the Kingston
streets IL the prevalence 81 women labofefH, Much
OF N. heavy work lie done by tho native black WON