Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-10-26
bahama REAPS
GREAT BENEFIT.
BECAUSE OF WAR.

| ly a part of the Bditish West Indies,
the Bahama Islands have faced prob
lens peculiar to themselves as result
Of the European war, notably the
problems of providing their own food
stuffs, whereas, prior to the war, they
had REALIZED almo entirely upon i'm
ports
Unlike the islands of the South, the
Pahamas have neither the soil nor
the climate for the free growth of
tropical fruits, though some of course,
are grown. The chief product here has
been sponge and next to that, of late
years, sisal for fibre. The growing of
other products has been small, mainly
because so many of the male popula-
ton are engaged in the sponge indus
try, but there is also this factor, that
the islands have an exceptional tend
ency to buy foreign or imported food
rather than accept the homegrown
products, even when the latter are SUI
perior. For instance, women and chill
dren and some of the men grow sisal
for fibre and clean it by hand, adm
spend the few cents they have earned
in this laborious undertaking in the
purchase of foreign foodstuffs that
pay duty of 25 per cent. This tend
ency has been encouraged and made
the most of by the merchants as it tn
creased their trade, and also by the
government as it gave so much more
revenue.
In view Of these facts, when the war
in Europe began, and the big sponge
export to England was entirely stop
ped and the fibre industry was also hit
hard, the Bahamas found themselves
in the position of producing practical
ly nothing that was saleable, while, on
the other hand, the price of imported
food products that the people had been
relying in to such an extent repidly
advanced.
The government view of the de-
creasing revenues decided to cut down
expenditures, but this took the form of
snspending public works entirely rath-
err than making the slightest retrench-
ments in official salaries. More hard
ship was made for all classes when
the banks put up interest two per cent
and raised the rate of exchange to two
per cent, and with the governments
increase of two per cent in the tariff,
tl ere was such an effect as only
region so dependent on imports as the
Bahamas, could understand.
There was hope that the winter tour
list business would offset some of the
other losses, but after a considerable
expense in putting hotels and board
ing houses in repair it was discovered
that instead of increasing the tourists
business also fell off.
Outside observers remarked that in
TIE face of so much depression, the
accomplishing spirit with which the
islanders have faced the hardships has
been remarkable. In addition to this,
the people came forward with gener-
Gus contributors to various war funds
aud with a grant from the treasury.
some $4,000 was raised. The women
of the islands, have, after year of
work., not slackened in their sowing
for war purposes. AS a further iadi-
cation of patriotism in the islands.
there is now ON i0ot movement to en-
list, equip and train $50 men for SER
vice at the front
In respect to the local food prob
lem, it may be recalled that soon after
war began the governor of the islands
called mass meeting at the capital
and advised the people to go to the
soil and grow foodstuffs. This advice
was so well taken that complaint is
heard from the merchants that trade
is dull, that the people have grown 50
much corn and other home products
tnat there is now Little sale for i'm
ports