A large reward was then offered to anyone who would succeed in curing the trouble. Finally a diver appeared who had enough faith in himself and appliances of his invention to risk a trial. He was entirely successful.

Many thrilling divers' adventures in the deep sea are never known, for divers are not usually given to boasting of their exploits. Once in a while, however, the outside world hears of clever work. The writer traveled abroad with Lloyds' Inspector, Captain Milbank, and from him learned of the following feat performed by Lambert, a famous English diver:

The Lopez Line steamship Alfonso XII, with passengers and mails, sank off Point Gando, in the Canary Islands, in 26 fathoms of water; that is 159 feet. She had aboard nearly $500,000 worth of specie. In May, 1885, the underwriters sent a vessel with divers to the scene of the wreck. The specie was in the treasure-room, which was located below three decks.

The divers worked for almost six months before they could reach the money. Two lost their lives through fatal pressure of water. Four hundred and fifty thousand dollars was recovered. It is supposed that the other $50,000 was stolen before it could be put aboard the ill-fated steamer.

The steamship Malabar sank off Point de Galle. Her mail room contained over $1,500,000 in specie. To recover this, divers had to cut through large iron plates half an inch thick. After that they had to go through nine feet of sand. They were successful, and in one day got out fully $80,000.

Hidden Treasure

869

People have been fascinated by the thought of hidden treasure for centuries. Although the whereabouts of Captain Kidd's buried plunder is not

PLATE VI.-ASSISTANTS ATTACHING DIVER'S TELEPHONE RECEIVER, OVER WHICH HELMET FITS.

known, there is certain knowledge about some other treasure. A portion has been recovered by divers, and in time they will recover more.

"Truth is stranger than fiction," and the few truthful accounts which follow hint of things more fascinating than tales from The Arabian Nights. They cover fatalities and wrecks which have long since been forgotten by the multitude. They also illustrate the mastery human beings have obtained over the material world.

(To be concluded in next two numbers.)

Where the Caribbean Breaks.

SIXTEENTH TRAVEL PAPER.

LOGWOOD FOR INVESTMENT-BETTER STREETS NEEDED CHANGE IN THE BANANA TRADE-HOW THE

FRUIT IS BOUGHT-RISK OF LOSS.

Ar present a good logwood property is the most imperishable form of wealth found along the north

shore. Fire cannot destroy the trees, and they are constantly growing thicker and more valuable. It costs very little to keep. them in fine condition, for it is necessary to "limb" only occasionally, or fell the trees where they grow too thickly.

Rains can neither injure the trees nor cause the roots to rot or turn sour. If a fierce hurricane blows, or should an earthquake open the soil, the older trees are the first to fall, and thus spare the owner the expense of felling them and removing the roots. In the absence of chemical substitutes for logwood ex

Better Streets Needed

871

tract, nothing can be said against a good logwood property as being a desirable form of investment. That such investment is popular is proved by the fact that few logwood properties are offered on the market. But the north shore is inferior to the south side as a logwood producer. The former is much more dry and is devoid of swamps and lowlands, such as are found Black River way, in south western Jamaica. Moist lands are the natural home of this dyewood.

The people of Port Maria are sadly lacking in enterprise, and do nothing for its development. Some of the old settlers are chiefly to blame for the backwardness of the place. The town is very well situated, but is much like Duluth, Minn., in that there is little room for expansion. North, the Caribbean stops progress; south, the apathy of a landowner prevents people from securing lands for the erection of shops and residences. The land east and west is filled with houses and shops. Frontier pen, which covers a large area, should no longer exist. The government would be justified in condemning the land and taking it from the owner, allowing him reasonable compensation therefor. When this is done, more people will flock into this town. Instead of but one main street, paralleling the harbor, there will probably be a dozen

or more streets.

The opening of new roads through this private land would shorten the distance to Annotto Bay, and admit of a direct road to the windward wharves, thus breaking up a monopoly which works injury in every way, with no corresponding benefit. To reach the wharves of all but one firm, people must walk or drive

around the three sides of a square, instead of reaching any wharf in town by a direct route.

White Road is the only approach to or from Port Maria from Annotto Bay on the east, and Spanish Town, or Bog Walk, on the south. Here many battles are fought by "runners" for opposition fruit companies. These battles are not always bloodless, and many times they end with beds in hospitals. Of course the company whose wharf is nearest the foot of White River Road has the first chance to secure the produce that comes from the interior.

The growth of the banana trade in America has been phenomenal. Originally of small dimensions, the trade has grown so enormously as to stagger the pioneers. They, with fear and trembling at the outset, shipped a few thousand bunches in sailing vessels. The unusual development has been forced by the substitution of steamers for sailers, and the lowering of selling prices abroad. Fifteen years ago it was not considered extraordinary if a large bunch of bananas sold for $7 or $8. To-day it must be a mammoth bunch that fetches $2.50, and full bunches are sold as low as 75 cents. The number of "hands" (or fingers), thickness or thinness, of the fruit, and its condition govern the selling price. Bunches contain from fifty to two hundred bananas. have declined in America, they have not greatly declined at the place of export. There is far less profit to shippers than there was in the olden times, and there is often a heavy loss.

Although prices

It seems odd that it is far easier to sell bananas than to buy them; nevertheless, such is the case.