2 
4. The total area is only slightly less that that of the British 
pulation i 
able markets for sugar and fruit, there has t t 
increase the commercial elation ted States and 
a. There has been a considerablé reduction in th £ 
all the Colonies of late years, except in Trinidad and Jamaica. 
This is entirely due to depreciation in the value of sugar, rum, 
and molasses. 
~ 
5. The mineral wealth of the West nage with ge ae ai of 
gold in British Guiana and asphalt in Trinidad, mall. In 
fact they may be described as peasy devo ae mineral 
resources. ‘Their true wealth lies in the products er resources 
of a rich and fertile soil. These, combined with an advantageous 
geographical position, asalubrious climate, abundant rains, varyin. 
altitudes, anda large ee population, suitably developed, 
should place the Colonies in a much more eS position 
than they occupy at e 
6. They have been analog almost purely “sugar” Colon 
may 
take its place. In Jamaica the sugar industry still exists, but is 
largely overtopped by fruit, dye-woods, coffee, and pimento. 
7. The West Indian Colonies, like other similar countries, have 
suffered from the fact that “the area of production of ts staple 
“ products of the tropics has of ap years increased so much, and 
“ competition has become so severe, that it is only in Foealitios 
“ presenting exceptional italiane of soil, climate, accessibility, 
“ labour supply, and the like, that the settler can hope for success 
“ proportionate to his labours.” 
r present condition is far from satisfactory. This is 
their staple industry, to ii lege in the ihe World and 
to the competition of beet-sugar the Old World. In most of 
the Colonies the situation is sentnateediy aggravated by their 
almost entire lependence on one industry. This is a source of 
grave ger in more, ways than one. It is dangerous com- 
mercially, for any great depreciation of prices immediately aifects 
the whole community. It is dangerous agriculturally, for adverse 
seasons or hostile tariffs may plunge at any moment the entire 
labouring populati on into great distress, Again, the growth of a 
the production of the Sie profit. To these may be added da 
