Notes on the Society's Work in 1897-1918. xiii. 



The sooner we cease to be satisfied with such a residence and the 

 sooner we take steps to energetically and scientifically exploit the great 

 riches of the more readily accessible parts of the colony the better for 

 us, for the colony, and for our posterity. 



But not all of us have been satisfied with occupying this posi- 

 tion. There is one firm whose efforts towards the development 

 of these parts of the colony — the exploitation of which has belonged 

 to practical politics, — stand out conspicuously. In British Guiana the 

 firm of Sprostons has always been in the forefront of progress especially 

 with regard to travelling facilities, and the exploitation of the colony's 

 mineral and forestal potentialities. In my presidential year, 1897, the 

 firm completed their Denierara-Essequibo railway and worked out their 

 transport facilities for the Essequibo and Potaro districts, facilities 

 which have been a boon to numerous inhabitants of the colony and 

 which I trust in the near future will render the great mineral, forestal, 

 and water-power potentialities of this section of the colony of world- 

 wide fame. 



In my opinion it has not been in the best interest of the colony at 

 large that Sprostons have been handicapped by the installation of the 

 Colonial Steamer Service. It might have been better if every effort had 

 been directed towards the development of the colony and the exploitation 

 of its resources by bringing pressure on Sprostons and utilising to the 

 fullest extent their long and varied experience and all the capabilities of 

 their establishment. 



With a view to the future development of the vast interior of the 

 colony and its opening up by a central railway, it appears to me that we 

 should be wise if we followed the example of Sprostons and directed all our 

 energies towards the exploitation of the nearer hinterland and utilised the 

 lands thus developed as a base from which to drive the projected central 

 railway. 



Agricultural Exhibitions. 

 The Horticultural Shows formerly held under the auspices of the 

 Society were at their zenith in from 1897 to 1901, Unfortunately the 

 Directors of the Society, resenting the Board of Agriculture being placed 

 in control of all Government grants for agricultural matters, refused the 

 Board's offer of funds for an Agricultural Show in 1903 ami have since 

 more or less held aloof from them. 



It is, I believe, now the desire of the Society to take a very active 

 9hare in any future show which may be held in Georgetown — either 

 County Shows for Demerara or Colonial Sh 5ws for the whole colony. 



It has been suggested that a Colonial Show should be held in the neaj 

 future to which Surinam as well as the British and French colonies in 

 the southern West Indies will be invited to compete. If possible this 

 Show should take place at the same time as an Agricultural Conference 

 for the West Indies is held in Georgetown, The only obstacles in the way 



