Taxes — Monopolies — Poverty 



island is one of the most favoured spots of the 

 earth's surface. Its genial climate, its fertile 

 soil, its ample rainfall, its situation on the lines 

 of route from South and West Africa and 

 South America to Europe, and from North 

 America to the Mediterranean ; its possession 

 of plentiful labour — all these factors combine 

 to promise an exceptional prosperity of State 

 and individual alike. This promise is not ful- 

 filled. There is no money to provide even the 

 most ordinary requirements of a civilized coun- 

 try. Roads, bridges, water-supply, drainage, 

 hospitals, asylums, schools — in all these depart- 

 ments Madeira is a century behind the age. If 

 you ask why, there is no answer but " We are 

 too poor." Good heavens ! how do the Portu- 

 guese imagine that peoples inhabiting countries 

 which lack almost all the advantages of theirs 

 furnish themselves with these necessaries of life 

 and a hundred others ? Even the provision of 

 "up-to-date" hotel accommodation for visitors 

 appears to be rendered impossible. The com- 

 panies which have been during recent years 

 crowding the health resorts of Europe with first- 

 class hotels and restaurants have left Madeira 

 alone, and the wealthier class of travellers, which 



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