Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-08
TRADE IN WEST INDIES
HIT APPREC|ABLY BY WAR
Jamaica, on Account OF Pcrishable
Nature of Chief Commodity,
Has Serious Setback.
TRINIDAD IS BETTER PLACE
Since August, 1914, Imports and Ex-
ports Have Decreased IL Per Cent.
While Excise Revenue Has Fallen
to Even Greater Extent.

KINGSTON. JAMAICA. Aurus,
A'housh trade in the West Indies
generally has suffered TO an extent
"hich Is quite apprcciablc. owing to
r't "ar conditions. yet Jamaica. on
"SC'"ht or The Derishablc nature Of it's
principal commodity - bananas has
ma" Il more serious setback than any
othcr OF the British IVES, Indian colo
mes. Inc sister colony OF Trinidad IS
more favoraniy placed on account Of
better chipping facilities offered in
neutral and British vessels
The effect Of war conditions in
Jamaica is exhibited in the customs
corrections Since August. 1914, i'm :
ports and exports have decreased -
per cent. while excise revenue has
lhl!en 10 an even greater extent. The
falling off in exports is due almost
entirely TO the lack OF adequate ship
ping.
Comparing the latest returns for
1915 with the corresponding period
In 1914. the following percentages
illustrate the decreases in various typi =
cal exports: Coffee. II per cent: cocoa.
u per cent: dyewoods 80 per cent:
bananas. Al per cent; ginger. 30 per
cent: pimento. 80 per cent; rum. "a PEI,
cent, sugar. 10 per cent; cotton. per
cent. and honey, 81 per cent
Bananas winch form the pr!ncipal
export OF the colony. representing go
per cent OF the total exports have
fallen by almost one-half. and this in a
year when the crop is the largest in
the islands history. The colony. in
fact. has had record production in
almost all lines but total exports are
almost one-third less than IN normal
years As consequence perishablc
commodities are wasted and IN some
piaces surplus fruit for banana plan
tanons. not protested by firm con-
tracts with the fruit trading COM
panies. can not find buyers at cents
per bunch
II IS the very Irony o, fate that after
the hurricane o: 1912 and n period OF
almost continuous drought in some sec
tons sine" 1909. just when the sea sonal
rams nave been the best since the GEAR
1906 with 4 record crop both a ( regards
Qua!it? and quantity--the island should
pc placed in position where /, can not
market It's produce for lack OF vessels
10 carry IL The situation has been
somewhat relieved by the action of the
Imperial government in arranging FOR
ocean transport FOR some OF the sur
plus sugar stocks. but this benefit to
y the island az whole Is small. as sugar
occupies but "A comparatively iusignin-
cant position in the bulk OF the colonys
exports. The basis on which Jamaican
prosperity rests under present condi-
lions. both on account Of the revenue
derived from II, and the fact that IL
puts more money into circulation than
all the other departments OF arr!cul-
tural activities put together. Quick,
regular and sufficient ocean transport
therefore, is an essential condition to
IN" islands prosperity. This Jamaica
has not got. and there seems no inlmc-
date prospect OF improvement IN the
situation.
IN POSITION TO ACT
England IS not In a position 10 act
except 10 find frc!ghts for sucn prod
nets as she may Immediately require
The eyes OF jana lea. therefore. turn TO
the United States not only for the rca-
son that she Is the islands best Gus
toner for bananas, buying 80 per cent
OF the gross production, but for the fur-
,her reason that American capital and
energy and enterprise has developed
the banana trade 10 its present position
OF prc-emincncc.
Il is interesting here TO note tho
relative positions OF the mother state
and America. both as buyers and sci
lers. In 1874 Jamaica purchased from
Great Britain - per cent of her en-
tire impo-tations, and in 1914, sos per
cent. while She purchased from Amer
!ca in 1874. sos per cent and Al 1914,
~ per cent. respectively. In other
words. in forty years trade with Great
Britain has diminished By 1914 per
cent while relations with the Unitcd
States have improved by l6.7 per cent.
OF exports. the motherland purchased
in 1874. 49, per cent, and in the same
year the United States purchased 1.5
per cent. In 1914 the relative posi-
tons were: United Kingdom, 1872 per
cent: United States. 500 per cent, and
at the same time the bulk OF trade dur
ing the period mentioned has more
than doubled in value. Jamaica's next
hes; customer is Canada where pUr-
chascs in 1914 amounted TO ~ per
cent, with sales total!nS slightly oyer
per cent
one reassurinE feature OF the sit
uation is the present high prices OF
special products, which in a measure,
help to compensate for other losses.
For instance, rum and sugar have
scared to a point which has not been
attained in the present generation.
Rum stands at quite double ante-war
price. varying. according 10 quality,
from 81 cents TO 81 per imperial gal
Ion. while sugar is practically 50 per
hundred weight. y; these prices
very handsome margin is left over
cost of production. certainly not less
than so per cent on capital invested.
But in spite of these favorable
factors. lack Of steamship freights hits
the island trade in It's most vital spot.
the banana trade.