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You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http://books.google.com/ Aes a i | il || | -| in a ne Hi | 3 9015 | ll Mt if ill | HW | 453 0 i ‘(| fn id be! ae ne , at | Ot aves of America ak Hl ut the e K vi labri ws ki ak ce ig ee “| vw i 3 “7 | bend | R Fo i] | ren a —~}- Ny TOT aMUHUUU Ley In een POT ( ep poor LIBRARY ENTS OF THE [pNIERSIDY.OF Mictgy S= : elm ia} re tl le Vey 5 wee = a Ue, Sez ee = an Sos » Bi= an’ Sa Loe z La on Mie Mine v8 Mn Mm (i 2136 LIZ \ ra oye & Gs a rt re aes ee AR Gpescoll Hosted by Google costes by Google 6 & AD ee oe) x54 a act es x ae a e 1? i rl, the I aD it aff J | €4 "f a3} ta be ie { The Virgin Islands of the United States of America Historical and Descriptive Commercial and _ Industrial Facts, Figures, and Resources By Luther K: Zabriskie Formerly Vice-Consul of the United States of America at St. Thomas With 109 Illustrations and 2 Maps G. P. Putnam’s Sons New York and London The Knickerbocker Press 1918 CoryRiGHT, 1918 BY LUTHER K. ZABRISKIE te aa ec ‘oe The knickerbocker Press, Rew Work Reader, let this little taste that I have given thee of the Summer Islands satisfie thee for the present: ere it be long thou shalt have a larger relation thereof. Hastie occasione of business doth make mee write somewhat hastilie, and leave out many things which were fitte to be spoken of; wherefore against my will Iam forced to leave my work, which I have begunne, before I come into the middest of it; but I hope it will suffice you that are my friends to pass it over in the best manner you can, for there is much broken English of it and badly penned: regard I pray you the matter not the manner, the truth of the storie not the stile. JOURDAN, 1613. Hosted by Google 0 5-5-45- Ug Kaeke fos 3-8-4 5- FIFE S PREFACE THE little group of fifty or more islands in the Carib- bean that were generally designated as the Danish West Indies from March 30, 1666, to March 31, 1917, have experienced varying vicissitudes of fortune during the past two hundred and fifty years. Periods of opu- lence and plenty and seasons of want and misery have alternately visited them; years of great commercial activity, when the port of St. Thomas became known to the world as ‘‘ The Emporium of the Antilles,” were followed by decades when the visiting merchant ships became an inconsiderable and almost a negligible quan- tity. The islands, owing to their peculiar geographical position and the unusual advantages offered by their harbours, have been both a bane and a blessing to warring nations; and evil and good reports have spread regarding the character of the inhabitants and their conditions of life. Columbus included these islands in the Virgin Group which he named after St. Ursula and her virgins. He may have given saintly names to all the fifty, but with the exception of the three large land areas, the islands bear the marks of the buccaneers and other terrors of the Spanish Main, rather than those of the saints, in such titles as Rum Island, Dead Man’s Chest, Salt Water Money Rock, Fallen Jerusalem, Flanagan’s Pass, and the like. Few sections of the world provide more interesting material for the writing of books, but comparatively Vv vi Preface little use has been made of this material up to the present time. In view of the recent importance at- tached to these islands, an attempt has been made in this volume to convey, by photographic reproductions as well as by descriptive accounts, some idea of their more salient features in respect to natural beauty, merits as health resorts, and, especially, commercial and industrial conditions and potentialities. For much of the data employed in the compilation of the historical and descriptive parts of this work, in- debtedness is hereby acknowledged to the writings of the late Dr. C. E. Taylor, Rev. John Knox, and Dr. P.E. Kalmer. Recourse was also had to the valuable report upon the resources and commercial importance of the Danish West Indies prepared by Special Agents H. G. Brock, Philip S. Smith, and W. A. Tucker, of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, as well as to other publications issued by the American and Danish Governments. Particular thanks are due to the photographers who so willingly rendered assistance in the collection of the many excellent views which are shown herewith and which are certain to enhance greatly the value of this first comprehensive treatise on the Virgin Islands of the United States of America. In conclusion, this work is respectfully dedicated to the kind-hearted people of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, whose generous hospitality and delightful friendship will always be dearly cherished by their devoted friend and ardent well-wisher. LUTHER K. ZABRISKIE. St. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA April 14, 1917 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I.—Ear.ty History oF St. THOMAS . . I II—QUESTION OF PURCHASE BY THE UNITED STATES . . . . . . 13 IJI.—Later History oF St. THOMAS . . 25 IV.—HIsTorRIcaL SKETCH OF ST. CROIX - 34 V.—CHARLOTTE AMALIE. . . . 40 VI—‘ THE GARDEN OF THE WEsT INDIES” 45 VII—St. JonHn. . . . . - 53 VIII.—HarBoOuR AND SHIPPING AT ST. THOMAS 57 IX.—Tue WEst INDIAN COMPANY AND OTHERS 66 X.—STEAMER SERVICE . . . . 76 XI.—Harpour FAcILities . . : - 85 XII.—Imrorts AND Exports . . . 88 XIII.—Banxks AND BANKING . . . . 118 XIV.—CuRRENCY . . : . . - 124 XV.—TuHE Cost oF Livinc—Lasour Con- DITIONS . . . . . . 130 XVI.—SANITATION AND PuBLic Works . - 143 XVII.—TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION 148 vii Vili Contents CHAPTER PAGE XVITI.—CaTTLE-RAISING 154 XIX.—AGRICULTURE 159 XX.—SuGAR-CANE AND Bay LEAF 163 XXI.—AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS 172 XXII.—MANUFACTURES 178 XXIII.—PoruLaTION 184 XXIV.—EDUCATION AND RELIGION 190 XXV.—GOvVERNMENT 197 XXVI.—FINANCES 215 221 XXVII.—HourRRICANE OF 1916 XXVIII.—SALE NEGOTIATIONS 238 XXIX.—DIscussION OF THE SALE 245 XXX.—CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND DENMARK 256 XXXI.—FAREWELL SERVICE 274 XXXII.—ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE SALE 284 XXXIII.—TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT PROVIDED 289 XXXIV.—ForRMAL TRANSFER OF THE ISLANDS 294 XXXV.—TueE First AMERICAN GOVERNOR . 318 INDEX 325 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Town AND HARBOUR OF ST. 1HOMAS . Frontispiece Photo by A. Ovesen GOVERNMENT House, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor GOVERNMENT HILL FROM KING’S STREET, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor St. THOMAS HARBOUR AS SEEN FROM ORKANSHULLET IsLAND . . . Photo by Clare E. Taylor CHARLOTTE AMALIE AND ORKANSHULLET ISLAND AS VIEWED FROM ‘‘NIsSKy”’ . Photo by Clare E. Taylor THE BARRACKS, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor THE 101 STEPS LEADING TO BLACKBEARD’S CASTLE Photo by Clare E. Taylor BLACKBEARD CASTLE, DWELLING HOUSE, St. THOMAS Photo by J. Mena BLUEBEARD CASTLE, DWELLING House, St. THOMAS Photo by J. Mena His EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR L. C. HELWEG-LARSEN, Photo by Clare E. Taylor ix 4 10 10 16 16 22 x Illustrations INSIDE THE Fort, St. THOMAS. . . Photo by A. Ovesen LANDING PLACE AT FREDERIKSTED, St. CROIX . Photo by A. Ovesen Mt. EAGLE, AS SEEN FROM CANE Bay ESTATE Photo by A, Ovesen THE Lacoons, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT HOoUusE Photo by H. Petersen BLUEBEARD CASTLE, ST. THOMAS Photo by J. Mena VIEW OVER THE OPEN NEAR “SLOB”’ ESTATE, ST. CROIX . Photo by A. Ovesen VIEW OVER ‘‘ BETHLEHEM”? New Works, St. CRoIx Photo by A. Ovesen Emmans, Moravian Mission, St. JOHN Photo by Clare E. Taylor East END SETTLEMENT, ST. JOHN Photo by Clare E. Taylor A CHAPEL IN ST. JOHN . . . . . Photo by W. J. Ryan A SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP . . . . Photo by W. J. Ryan Buck IsLAND LIGHTHOUSE . . . . . Photo by Clare E. Taylor ENTRANCE TO ST. THOMAS HARBOUR . . . Photo by A. Ovesen 36 36 40 42 44 50 50 54 54 56 56 60 62 Illustrations WHARVES OF THE HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE, ST. THOMAS . . Photo by Clare E. Taylor SIGNAL STATION, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor FLoatinc Dock, St. THoMAS Photo by A. Ovesen Dock AND WHARVES OF THE WEST INDIAN COMPANY HuGE Coa CRANE Larp Low By HURRICANE Photo by Clare E. Taylor Hon. C. H. PAYNE, AMERICAN CONSUL AT ST. THOMAS FOR FOURTEEN YEARS Dr. VIGGO CHRISTENSEN, WHOSE SUGGESTION GAVE RISE TO THE NAME ‘“‘ THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”’ . Photo by Funker Jensen VIEW OVER WEST INDIAN COMPANY’S PLANT AFTER THE HURRICANE Photo by Clare E. Taylor HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE OFFICE BUILDING Photo by H. Petersen CoaL WoMEN IN ST. THOMAS CANE GATHERERS Photo by A. Ovesen GOovVERNMENL’ House, CHRISTIANSTED Photo by A. Ovesen Tue ‘‘HERALD’’ PRINTING OFFICE, CHRISTIANSTED Photo by A. Ovesen xi 64 64 68 68 72 72 72 78 82 82 86 go xii Illustrations MARINES FROM THE ‘‘VALKYRIEN’’ MARCHING THROUGH FREDERIKSTED, ST. CROIX Photo by A. Ovesen KING’sS STREET, FREDERIKSTED, ST. CROIX Photo by A. Ovesen THE AMERICAN CONSULATE, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor Cruz Bay, St. JOHN, WITH JUDGE’s HOUSE IN THE FOREGROUND Photo by Clare E. Taylor IsLANDS ADJACENT TO ST. THOMAS HARBOUR THE OLD COLONIAL BANK, ST. THOMAS THE NATIONAL BANK OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES Photo by Clare E. Taylor ‘“RooMs TO RENT” Photo by R. H. Beck FRONT VIEW OF GRAND HOTEL AND ‘‘1829”’ Photo by R. H. Beck Mr. D. HAMILTON JACKSON Photo by J. Mena PusLic HOSPITAL, FREDERIKSTED . Photo by A. Ovesen Tue Boys OF THE ‘‘HENRY HOLMES”’ Photo by Kerr CABLE OFFICE, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor RoMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, CHRISTIANSTED TURPENTINE AVENUE, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor PAGE go 94 94 100 120 120 126 126 138 144 148 150 150 152 Illustrations NORTHERN SLOPES OF THE ST. THoMAS HILLS Photo by Clare E. Taylor PLOUGHING IN ST. Crorx LAgBourers’ HomEs at ‘‘ Mr. PLEASANT,” St. CROIX Photo by A. Ovesen THE Most PoPpuLAR BEAST OF BURDEN IN St. THOMAS Photo by J. Mena PASTURE LAND IN ST. THOMAS Photo by J. Mena NATIVE WOMEN WASHING CLOTHES, ST. CROIx Photo by P. S. Smith WORKERS ON THE BAy TREE EsTATEs, ST. JOHN . Photo by Clare E. Taylor IN THE Crop SEASON . . . . . Photo by A. Ovesen VIEW OVER ‘‘LA VALEE,” St. Crorx . . . Photo by A, Ovesen AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Photo by D. Hamilton Jackson WHIPPING COTTON AT ‘‘ PROSPERITY”? FACTORY, ST. Croix . . Photo by A. Ovesen La GRANGE SUGAR Factory, ST. CRorx . . Photo by A. Ovesen VIEW OVER ‘“‘BETHLEHEM,” ST. CROIX . Photo by A. Ovesen ‘“BETHLEHEM,”’ SUGAR Factory, ST. CRorx Photo by A. Ovesen xiii 156 156 160 160 162 162 164 164 168 172 174 174 176 xiv Illustrations Bay O1 STILL, St. JOHN Photo by H. G. Brock View OF CorAL Bay, St. JOHN, FROM “BORDEAUX” Photo by H. Petersen Native Hut in St. JoHN . Photo by H. Petersen MARKET PLACE, FREDERIKSTED, ST. CROIX Photo by A. Ovesen MARKET Piace, St. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor VIEW DOWN THE MAIN STREET, ST. THOMAS. Photo by Clare E. Taylor ‘“WATER GuT,”’ CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX Photo by A. Ovesen CoMMUNAL SCHOOL BUILDING, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor A Country SCHOOL-HousE, ST. THOMAS Photo by R. H. Beck RICHMOND HicH SCHOOL MorAvVIAN CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE AMALIE Photo by Clare E. Taylor Pusiic SCHOOL BUILDING, CHRISTIANSTED DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, CHRISTIANSTED . MoRAVIAN PARSONAGE, ST. THOMAS, AFTER THE HURRICANE . Photo by Clare E, Taylor ‘Tye Fort,’ St. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor 180 180 186 186 188 188 190 190 192 192 194 194 Illustrations ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor THE ‘‘ANHOLT,”” HIGH AND Dry Photo by Clare E. Taylor Native Brass BAND, CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX . Photo by A. Ovesen ConsuL GEORGE LEVI CELEBRATING THE PERUVIAN NATIONAL HOLIDAY WITH HIS COLLEAGUES Photo by Clare E. Taylor A JumBLED Mass oF RUINS Photo by Watson Bros. COLONIAL COUNCIL DELEGATES FROM St. THOMAS (From LEFT TO RiGHT: Dr. VIGGO CHRISTENSEN, LawyER, J. P. JORGENSEN, AND MR. JAMES RoBERTs) . . . . Photo by H. Petersen A Propuct or St. THOMAS. : Photo by Clare E. Taylor Caris INSCRIPTIONS ON Rocks AT RiFF Bay, ST. JOHN . : . Photo by Clare E. Taylor View oF MAGEN’s BAy FROM THE WEST A Last VIEW OF OLD DANNEBROG, FROM THE Fort Photo by A. B. Hassell A First View oF OLp GLORY, FROM THE FORT Photo by A. B. Hassell WATER AQUEDUCTS FOR IRRIGATION, ST. CROIX Photo by A. Ovesen XV 206 218 218 230 240 242 242 250 260 260 266 xvi Illustrations MoraviAN Mission aT “Nisky,”’ ST. THOMAS Photo by Clare E. Taylor DANISH CRUISER ‘‘ VALKYRIEN”’ Photo by A. Ovesen COMMANDER KONOW AND OFFICERS OF H. M. S. ‘“VALKYRIEN”’. . . Photo by H. Petersen CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX . : . . Photo by A. Ovesen Ex-PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AT ‘‘ LIBERTY HALL,” THE Home OF Ropert L. MERWIN (Gov. HELWEG- LARSEN Is STANDING AT MR. ROOSEVELT’S RIGHT AND Mr. MERWIN Is AT HIS LEFT) Photo by A. Ovesen NATIVE FRUIT- AND BREAD- SELLERS Photo by A. Ovesen INTERIOR OF SMALL COMMUNAL SCHOOL, ST. CROIX Photo by A. Ovesen THE TWENTY - FIVE - MILLION - DOLLAR PAYMENT (From LEFT TO RicHT: SEc’y DANIELS, ADMIRAL OLIVER, MINISTER BruN, SEC’y LANSING, AND SEc’y McApboo . . . . . . Copyright by Clinedinst Studio MINISTER Brun’s RECEIPT FOR $25,000,000 Parp THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE DANISH GOVERNMENT. . . . . Copyright by Clinedinst Studio ASCENT OF OLD GLorRY . . . . . : Photo by H. Hassell DESCENT OF OLD DANNEBROG Photo by H. Petersen 284 284 286 290 292 296 298 300 300 Illustrations XVii PAGE A GUARDIAN OF THE PEACE FROM H. M. S. ‘‘ VALKy- RIEN” . . . . . . - 304 ONE OF UNCLE SAm’s FIGHTING Docs . 304 GOVERNOR JAMES H. OLIVER 308 Copyright by Harris & Ewing St. THOMIANS ASSEMBLED TO WITNESS TRANSFER CEREMONIES . . . 312 Photo by Clare E. Taylor COMMANDER POLLOCK READING PRESIDENT WILSON’S First PROCLAMATION 312 Photo by Clare E. Taylor SKETCH Map SHOWING THE RELATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO THE ATLANTIC COASTS OF THE EASTERN AND WESTERN HEMISPHERES . . . At the end Map OF THE AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLANDS . Af the end Hosted by Google The Virgin Islands of the United States of America CHAPTER I EARLY HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS Historical records—Erik Smidt takes possession of St. Thomas for Den- mark, March 30, 1666—Relics of the Caribees and Galibi—Early colonists—Rule of Governor Jorgen Iwersen—Traffic in slaves— Earthquake of 1690—Operations under the Company of Branden- burghers and George Thormohlen—Visit of Pére Labat—Activities of Dutch {traders—Purchase of the Company’s privileges by King Frederick V.—Alternating distress and prosperity of the Colony. TuaT the island of St. Thomas must have existed far back in the dim distance of the ages is plainly evi- denced by itsformation. Of the cataclysm that caused it to spring into existence we have no definite informa- tion. Amidst volcanic fires, geology tells us, it ap- pears to have been evolved, and it is quite possible that some day under similar conditions it may dis- appear beneath the ocean. All that is written about this island antedating the year 1666 must of necessity be regarded as covering I I 2 The Virgin Islands its prehistoric period, for no records prior to the report that Erik Smidt, the Dane, arrived at St. Thomas on the morning of the 30th of March, 1666, in a ship called De Endracht, took possession of it for Denmark, landed a small colony, which suffered great privations, and died shortly after his arrival, can be relied upon as being absolutely authentic. That the island had a history, and possibly a most interesting one, before the arrival of Erik Smidt and his hardy followers, no one can deny. Columbus is presumed to have discovered St. Thomas in 1493, on the occasion of his second voyage to the West Indies, and the names of Galibi and Caribees were given by the Spaniards to those inhabitants who believed themselves descendants of a race of people from the mainland. A few carvings on a rock, some stone chisels, collars, bowls, necklets, and hideous semblances of heads, said to be the work of the Caribees, are all the traces that remain of these people or of their predecessors. When or how these primitive inhabitants disappeared from the Danish West Indies cannot be definitely ascertained. There are but few records left to tell of the doings of the early Colonists, or of the Copenhagen Company which they claimed to represent. That the little settle- ment must have been in sore straits shortly after their arrival is evident from a report sent to the Home Government by Pastor Kjeld Jensen Slagelse, who had assumed command. This was dated ‘‘Smidtsberg,”’ 3d of July, 1666. It stated that they had provisions for only nine months, and that they would have to leave the island at the end of that time if no reinforce- ments and supplies were received. This appeal was apparently disregarded, as some time afterward a Early History of St. Thomas 3 Dutch Governor named Huntum is reported to have made a descent on St. Thomas and temporarily put an end to the Danish occupation. The actual history and progress of the Colony of St. Thomas cannot be said to have commenced before Jorgen Iwersen became Governor. This was on the 23d of May, 1672, when he landed on the island as chief of an expedition sent out from Copenhagen by the Danish West India and Guinea Company. Little is known of the personal character of Jorgen Iwersen. From the various orders that were issued under his ad- ministration it would appear that he was not a man to be trifled with. A strict disciplinarian, it was not long before he made his presence felt in the little Colony. Under his rule there was no shirking church, for every person whether he spoke Danish or not, was bound under penalty of twenty-five pounds of tobacco, to attend service in Christians-fort every Sunday when the drum beat. They were a pious people in those days, and the law made it incumbent on every house- holder to encourage his servants in the ways of right- eousness, and if he allowed them to do work on a Sunday which could have been done on a Saturday, he had to pay a fine of fifty pounds of tobacco. Hand in hand with godliness went a martial spirit, which compelled every man to be in readiness, at the first alarm given by a neighbour or sounded at the Fort, to defend his Lares and Penates, as well as the Colony. In those days no man could leave the island without the Governor’s permission under penalty of five hun- dred pounds of tobacco; and the person who aided another to depart surreptitiously was obliged to pay a fine of a thousand pounds of tobacco and be responsible for the other’s debts and liabilities. The restrictions 4 The Virgin Islands on white servants were severe, and innumerable fines were levied upon those who purchased from them or who harboured them if they ran away from their employer. Negroes fared far worse, and were often cruelly punished for the slightest offence. However, from all accounts, the Colonists lived fairly contented under the iron-handed rule of their Governor, steadily increasing in numbers and greatly prospering. In 1680, there were on the island some fifty estates engaged principally in the cultivation of tobacco. Its population was 331 souls, of whom 156 were whites and 175 slaves, for whose protection in those palmy days of piracy and buccaneering, the watchful care of such a sturdy Governor as Jérgen Iwersen was often required. It is regretful to note that this gallant Dane, after having, at his own request, been replaced by one Nic Esmit, came to an untimely end on his re- appointment as Governor of the Danish West Indies in 1683. On the voyage from Copenhagen to St. Thomas he was thrown overboard by a mutinous crew after they had shot the captain and decapitated seven or eight prisoners. The others of the Company’s functionaries and the transported prisoners were set ashore at Flores. Retribution soon followed the muti- neers, who, bent upon piracy and having but little knowledge of navigation, went ashore with their vessel at Marstrand, Sweden, where they were handed over to the authorities, and finally condemned to be hanged outside the eastern gate of Copenhagen. When the want of labour began to be felt in the Colony, the traffic in slaves was encouraged by Christian V., who purchased in Africa from the King of Aquam- bon the two forts of Frederiksburgh and Christiansburg Cr 1 a Fi nnn oo , — ~ \ h a TR. k rn y if an Fel Ra — i A | aa Ve | \* | 1 i! ole “as. ce ae Government House, St. Thomas Photo by Clare E. Taylor Me at et ff jhe ot ica Lis i) se | tt ry f+. | ¢ na — a | o% ere nt — wrt a | wags 35 oy nse pine Government Hill from King’s Street, St. Thomas Photo by Clare E. Taylor Early History of St. Thomas 5 on the Gold Coast, and ordered ships to proceed thither to buy slaves for St. Thomas. With this addition to the working population, agriculture received a fresh impulse, the cultivation of sugar was introduced, and efforts were made to utilize the advantages of its excellent harbour and to add the benefits of commerce to those of agriculture. In the year 1690, a violent earthquake took place on Sunday, the 9th of April, at 4 o’clock in the after- noon. It is the only one on record which could in any way be compared to the memorable one of November 18, 1867. It is spoken of as a terrific earthquake, lasting a long time and cracking the walls of the Com- pany’s storehouse, the sea receding shortly after so that fish could be picked up from the bottom, nine or ten fathoms out. In the same year an attack upon the Colony by the English was apprehended. For this reason precaution- ary measures were adopted. A sentry was placed on each of the four bastions of the fort, its landgate closed and Frederiks-fort, a tower which the Government had built on Smith’s Hill in 1689, and which is now known as “Bluebeard’s Castle,” was provided with a breastwork of thick Gri-Gri planks at the top for the protection of the sentry. The alarm, however, proved false and the fear unfounded. About the same time the Colonists were startled by the intelligence that the King of Denmark and the Company had farmed out the whole island to one George Thormohlen. Previously a Company of Brand- enburghers had been permitted to establish themselves in St. Thomas for the purpose of commerce; they had prospered exceedingly, and had secured by treaty certain rights. On the cession of the island to Thor- 6 The Virgin Islands mohlen, who was to have entire control over its affairs and enjoy all its revenues, the King, in order to secure to himself all the export and import duties paid by the Brandenburghers, bargained with that Company for the same for three thousand pieces of eight per annum, to be paid in two instalments. There is no doubt that these changes were most distasteful to the Colonists, who were now to be sub- jected to taxation. Their opposition to it was strenuous, and when on the 30th of March, 1692, the first regular troops were garrisoned in the island, and further taxation for their support was urged by Thormohlen, it was steadily refused and ultimately abandoned. In 1694, the Company threw up their contract with Thormohlen, who had ruled the island since the 9th of May, 1691, and had appointed De la Vigne as his Governor. The Company then sent out their own Governor, Lorentz, to replace him. During his administration, in the year 1697, the first severe hurricane is recorded. It was in the year 1701, while Johann Lorentz was still Governor, that Pére Labat visited the island. The account of this visit, detailed in his work on the West Indies,‘ gives a fair picture of the state of the Colony at that time. Concerning its commerce he makes this remark: ‘‘Denmark being almost neutral in the wars of Europe, the port of St. Thomas is open to all nations. During peace it serves as an entrepét for the commerce which the French, English, Span- iards, and Dutch do not dare to pursue openly on their own islands; and in time of war, it is the refuge of merchant ships when pursued by privateers. On the other hand, the privateers send their prizes here to be * Voyage aux Isles de l’Amerique, vol. ii., p. 285. Early History of St. Thomas 7 sold when they are not disposed to send them toa greater distance. Many small vessels also proceed from St. Thomas to the coast of South America, whence they bring back much riches in specie, or in bars and valuable merchandise. In a word, St. Thomas is a market of consequence.” His description of the town enables us to see that at that period it was of very limited extent. ‘At fifty or sixty paces from the Fort there is a town which takes the form of the bay, and constitutes the port. This town consists of only one long street, which ter- minates at the factory or offices of the Company. This is a large and handsome edifice, containing many apartments and commodious magazines for merchan- dise, and for the security of the negroes, in which this Company carries on a trade with the Spaniards. To the right of the factory are two small streets filled with French refugees. The houses of the town, which for- merly were nothing but huts, are now built of bricks, almost all of one storey but very well arranged. The pavements are of tiles, and the interiors whitewashed, as in Holland.” Of the estates he thus remarks: “They are small, but well kept. Work is only per- formed during the day, and in consequence, but little sugar is made. The soil, though light, is very good, and produces abundance of manioc, millet, sweet pota- toes, and all kinds of fruits and herbs. The sugar cane grows very well. They have few cows and horses, for want of the necessary pasturage; but the inhabit- ants do not want for meat, the Spaniards in Porto Rico furnishing them with itin abundance. They raise young kids, which are excellent, and fowls of all kinds in quanti- ties. Provisions, however, are always dear, money being plentiful and strangers generally arriving in affluence.” 8 The Virgin Islands From the year 1702 to the year 1732, there is not much of special importance to chronicle of St. Thomas. Agriculture was still an important feature, the cultiva- tion of indigo was commenced, and a considerable quantity of sugar and tobacco was now being raised. In 1713 a dreadful hurricane devastated the island. In 1716 the import and export duties were changed from six to eight per cent. Congregations were per- mitted to elect their own pastors, and the Secret Council was now separated from the Courts in which its mem- bers had formerly sat as judges. The first Govern- ment House was purchased, and the privileges of the Brandenburgh Company ceased. In 1718 a land tax was imposed, and a tax of two and a half rix dollars for each man, woman, and slave. The Royal Council consisted of five persons, besides the Governor as President,—two merchants, the bookkeeper, the treas- urer, and the secretary. Slaves were to be well treated, and planters were shorn of the power of life and death over them. Clerks having served six years were per- mitted to return home, but young unmarried women were not to enjoy the privilege without special permis- sion. A Reconciling Court with the Governor as judge was established, and the duties on imports and exports were lowered to five or six per cent. St. Thomas was in a flourishing condition. It had long been declared a port of entrance for vessels of all nations. This gave a new impulse to its trade, which, extended to the neighbouring islands by the enter- prise of its merchants, brought untold wealth to its shores, not to speak of greater refinements and luxury. Passing over the few years between 1732 and 1756 a period is arrived at which later was to have a disas- trous effect upon the commerce of St. Thomas. The Early History of St. Thomas 9 island of St. John was under cultivation; St. Croix had been purchased by King Christian VI.; the seat of government had been removed thither, and several St. Thomas planters had settled there. Never had these islands been so prosperous. For the first time in history could they speak of a Danish West Indies. Special note should be made of the great trade which the Dutch carried on in St. Thomas. Shrewd and thrifty, they maintained their ground against all comers as merchants, and with the privileges they had managed to obtain from the Company, it is no wonder that they controlled the best part of its commerce. This was certainly no fault of theirs, but it aroused a bitter feeling among the merchants of Copenhagen, who were naturally jealous that foreigners should be treated more favourably than themselves. For this reason, they secretly formed an association, fitted out vessels in Amsterdam, placed them under the Dutch flag, and despatched them to the island of St. Thomas. So great was their success that the Company took alarm, but perceiving the advantages likely to accrue to itself, if these merchants could be induced to unite their now conflicting interests, they made overtures to them for the purpose, which were accepted. This power- ful accession enabled the Company to exclude the Dutch from all commerce with the Colonies, but not for the benefit of the Company or the islands, as will readily be seen. From a few men represented by a small band of adventurers, the Company had become possessed of wealth, power, and influence, and with these and this last stroke of policy it was now a gigantic monopoly. The consequences were soon manifested. High prices prevailed under the oppressive restrictions put upon 10 The Virgin Islands commerce, and discontent showed itself where before had been peace and prosperity. It was not long before the complaints of the Colon- ists reached the ears of King Frederick V., who, directed by the wise counsel of Count John Bernstorff, then Prime Minister, resolved to take over the Colonies and put an end to the privileges of the Company by purchase. This was effected in 1755 for 2,200,000 pieces of eight ($1,418,000). The purchase included the forts, estates, buildings, stores, slaves, goods, and money belonging to the Company in the Colonies, and its refinery, ships, houses, and store-houses in Copen- hagen. Thus ended the Danish West India and Guinea Company, a victim of its own insatiable greed and ambition. A new era was now to begin. Unfortunately at first for the Colonies, and especially for the island of St. Thomas, such a sweeping change as this transaction involved proved a heavy blow to its commercial prosperity. Its port was no longer reached by the vessels of the Company, and the exclu- sive right of trafficking with Africa for slaves also having been abolished, stagnation and ruin were the consequence. Up to that time its harbour had always been crowded with ships, and many of these were Danish; but for the year 1756 not one of them had gladdened the sight of its sorrowing merchants. Emi- gration was of daily occurrence. Money became scarce, a paper currency was issued, and so deplorable became the condition of affairs that of the few inhabit- ants who were now left to sustain its fallen fortunes it is recorded that the majority were slaves. During these years great distress prevailed in the Colony, and it was not until the 9th of April, 1764, when St. Thomas was declared by His Majesty a free JojABL, “gy asejDQ Aq o04g cc AMSIN ,, WOJZ PAMAIA SB PUBS] Jo][NYsuByIO pus BijBUTY 93320]78q) sojAe] “| are[Q Aq ojO4g puUBsy Jo[NYsUBHIQ WoI Useg SB INoqIeYH sBUIOY] 3S Early History of St. Thomas II port for vessels of all nations, that its star was again in the ascendant. The effect of this act on the part of King Frederik V. was soon manifest in the altered condition of the harbour and commerce. Ships began to come in, and with them the money that was so much needed. St. Thomas was now to enjoy a period of unexampled prosperity. At that time Europe was involved in a series of long and cruel wars, duting which Denmark | always managed to remain neutral. This neutrality, extending to her Colonial possessions, gave them an advantage over the rest of their neighbours, whose governments were at war with each other, an advantage that only ceased years after the proclamation of peace. It was during this period of strife that the importance of St. Thomas as a rendezvous for all sorts of vessels became so strikingly manifest. It was not very long before the flags of all nations were flying from the shipping which crowded its harbour. It was one of the few spots, if not the only one, where enemies could meet without fighting, and discuss their next possible skirmish over a glass of grog and a pipe of tobacco. Things were lively in those days, and money flowed like water into the coffers of the merchants. Popula- tion increased, the town limits were extended, stores and dwellings were rapidly built, and thousands of refugees and adventurers, as well as capitalists, sought its shores for the purpose of traffic. Up to 1800 the prosperity of St. Thomas continued unabated. But an enemy was now at its gates. For the first time, St. Thomas was blockaded, its inhabit- ants face to face with an invader. Denmark had become involved, at last, in a war with Great Britain. This simply meant ruin to her Colonies. After sus- 12 The Virgin Islands taining the blockade for some time, St. Thomas was surrendered on the ist of April, 1801, to a military and naval force under Colonel Cowell. For ten months it was held by the English, when it was restored to Denmark on the 22d of February, 1802. Though the English occupation was a short one, it materially affected the island’s commerce which was not revived until the return of neutrality. CHAPTER II QUESTION OF PURCHASE BY THE UNITED STATES Destructive fires—Trade between St. Thomas and the Spanish Main —A Paradise for fortune-hunters—Prosperous days—Emanci- pation of slaves—Decline in agriculture—Improvements in har- bour—Blockade runners from the Southern States—Cholera and its frightful consequences—Hurricane, earthquake, and tidal wave of 1867—Visit of Secretary Seward—Cession Proclamation —Hopeful attitude of people—Hard times—Second Royal Pro- clamation. WitTH the exception of the destructive fires which took place in 1804 and 1806, which laid the town of St. Thomas in ashes and destroyed over sixteen million dollars’ worth of property, there is little more to add to its history till 1807. Then the island was again sur- rendered to the English, who occupied it until April 15, 1815, when it was restored to Denmark, its lawful possessor. In 1815 began that trade between St. Thomas, Porto Rico, Cuba, Santo Domingo, and the Spanish Main, which was destined afterwards to assume large propor- tions. In the quaint old pages of Nissen we learn that as soon as the Danes again became masters of the island, foreign vessels speedily arrived, laden with all kinds of merchandise. Numbers of smaller vessels, such as schooners, sloops, etc., were put under Danish colours, and adventures to the other West India Islands 13 14 The Virgin Islands and the Spanish Main were resumed with the same activity as in former times. The way some of the old authors speak of the for- tunes made, the sacks of doubloons, the boxes and kegs of Spanish dollars, is something bewildering. St. Thomas must have been a very Paradise for fortune- hunters in those days, and for physicians in particu- lar, for we read of there being, in 1837, no less than eight very clever doctors on the island, and that, for attending a family or going on board a vessel, their fees were seldom less than one hundred dollars. No wonder that one of the King’s physicians, named Otto, was enabled to return to Copenhagen after seven years with about three hundred thousand dollars, when his fees for attending a crew of ten or fourteen men on board a vessel, lying at anchor in the harbour for two months, were from fifteen hundred to seventeen hundred Spanish dollars. It is also recorded that during the war between England and America, as many as two hundred large ships had been counted in its harbour at one time, besides a great number of small vessels. For a long time the prosperity of St. Thomas continued undiminished. St. Thomas had been made the principal rendezvous of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, and because of its central location on the great route from Europe to the rich countries then opening up on the Pacific Ocean, there appeared to be no limits to its career of good fortune. Earthquakes had shaken it. Hurricanes had levelled it, and repeated fires had burned down hundreds of its houses; but, Pheenix-like, it had risen from its ashes, better built and more prosperous than ever. It did not seem pos- sible that St. Thomas could fall from its high estate. If such an eventuality were ever hinted at, it was met Question of Purchase 15 with a stare of incredulity. Its splendid harbour, its facilities as a coaling station, its geographical position, —these were considered as preventatives of misfor- tune. The idea of other islands acquiring such facili- ties, or offering even greater advantages, never entered the heads of its industrious and money-making mer- chants. As for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Com- pany, with its magnificent ships, factory, and staff of employees going elsewhere, the idea was as ridiculous as that of Porto Rican buyers purchasing their goods direct from the manufacturer in Europe. And yet, all this and much more has actually happened. On the 4th of July, 1848, the slaves in St. Thomas were emancipated. Their freedom was proclaimed at the drumhead. There were few demonstrations be- yond music and dancing in the streets, and the whole affair passed off very quietly. From that time St. Thomas ceased to be an agricultural community. The town and its temptations were too strong for the labouring population, and it was not long before some of the best estates were run down for want of sufficient hands to till them. A Labour Act had been passed containing stringent regulations, but so far as St. - Thomas was concerned, it proved a dead letter. At this time it might be safe to say that perhaps among all the group of the Virgin Islands none was fairer or more richly endowed by nature than St. Thomas. Its past had been eventful, its vicissitudes many, but now the sun of promise shone warmly on the island, and trade had brought plenty to its mer- chants. The harbour was being thoroughly dredged out and was rendered almost perfect in its facilities for vessels seeking its port. There was already a fine marine repairing slip in active operation, and numerous HEN, ata ee ES, 16 The Virgin Islands improvements were in contemplation. Over sixteen hundred shares in an iron floating dock were subscribed for; gas works were planned; and a new Government House, a Custom House, public wharf, new lighthouse, and a fish market were to be erected. A fratricidal war which had long been raging between the Northern and Southern States of America brought a large amount of business to St. Thomas. Blockade runners sought its port, and now and then a privateer or two, and in hot pursuit came the United States men- of-war which with their crews left a great deal of money in the port. Another war, one in which the hearts of the people were deeply concerned, was being fought at home between Denmark and Germany. During the latter part of the year 1866 cholera broke out in St. Thomas with frightful consequences. The town had already begun to acquire an evil reputation abroad for its unhealthfulness. ‘‘Pest-hole,’”’ ‘‘Gol- gotha,” and various other epithets were freely lavished upon it by its neighbours, who, jealous of its commer- cial prosperity, never let an occasion pass without flinging a stone at it. They never would acknowledge, what many medical men declared, that the diseases which were said to be indigenous to St. Thomas were invariably brought from their own shores in the ves- sels visiting its harbour. Up to this time, few pre- cautions had been taken to enforce quarantine, or to protect the place by a more perfect system of sanita- tion. Small-pox and yellow fever had been in the town for some months, and now cholera had come to cap the climax of misery. By the 23d of January, 1867, there were 860 deaths. On the 29th of October, 1867, a terrific hurricane passed over the island, which, in magnitude and de- a os ay a as toe &tr “tdi The Barracks, St. Thomas Photo by Clare E. Taylor BN av’ ne aS tat d * i $ =, fr i jt Y sll rt fi} i i ite Hi | a i: sea ay. ( 309 “eT 8 | The rox Steps Leading to Blackbeard’s Castle Photo by Clare E. Taylor ¢ a te Question of Purchase ~- 17 structiveness, surpassed anything ever known or re- corded in its history. Over 300 lives were lost and about 77 vessels were stranded or wrecked. Following this, on the 18th of November, came a severe shock of earthquake, and a tidal wave. The earthquake shock lasted about thirty seconds, and a few moments afterwards the sea receded, leaving the harbour almost dry, exposing many sunken wrecks, and, upon its return, laying waste the wharves and warehouses built upon its shores. Many of the finest buildings were cracked, a great deal of property was destroyed, and such was the terror and dismay created that people deserted their homes and camped out upon the hills. A visit made to St. Thomas in the early part of 1866 by the Honourable W. Henry Seward, Secretary of State for the United States of America, was the occa- sion for rumours to be circulated to the effect that negotiations were being entered into for the purchase of the islands, and on the 27th of November of the following year the following proclamation was published in the St. Thome Tidende: ‘““WrE, CHRISTIAN THE NINTH, “By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, the Van- dals and the Goths, Duke of Sleswig, Holstein, Storn- marn, Ditmarsh, Lauenborg, and Oldenborg. Send to Our beloved and faithful Subjects in the islands of St. Thomas and St. John Our Royal Greeting. “WE have resolved to cede Our Islands of St. Thomas and St. John to the United States of America, and We have to that end, with the reservation of the con- stitutional consent of Our Rigsdag, concluded a con- vention with the President of the United States. We 2 ose! ah e+ 18 The Virgin Islands have, by embodying in that convention explicit and precise provisions, done Our utmost to secure to You protection in Your liberty, Your religion, Your pro- perty and private rights, and You shall be free to re- main where You now reside, or to remain, retaining the property which You possess in the said islands or disposing thereof and removing the proceeds, wherever You please, without Your being subjected on this account to any contribution, charge, or tax whatever. “Those who shall prefer to remain in the Islands, may either retain the title and the rights of their natural allegiance or acquire those of Citizens of the United States, but they shall make their choice within two years from the date of the exchange of ratifications of said convention, and those who shall remain on the Island after the expiration of that term without having declared their intention to retain their natural allegi- ance shall be considered to have chosen to become citizens of the United States. “As We, however, will not exercise any restraint over Our faithful subjects, We will give You the op- portunity of freely and extensively expressing your wishes in regard to this cession, and We have to that effect given the necessary instructions to Our Com- missioners Extraordinary. “‘With sincere sorrow do We look forward to the severing of those ties which for many years have united You to Us, and never forgetting those many demonstrations of loyalty and affection We have received from You, We trust that nothing has been neglected on Our side to secure the future welfare of Our beloved and faithful Subjects, and that a mighty impulse, both moral and material, will be given to ae 73 “ay bt By Be, + “id $3 $4 ko >} eae Ks he s4 EA A. wi Bs. ep Vr, were. on +e oa. 9 xf moe wt Fit Pe ey pry J at Coa yh Me) Le ig a sae ee $e “A cd ee ste aye y Ves ¢ fh, ws GN, es cor eee Sw ad bet OG ss 4 Ly nego # we ie age a ES ats ra aor Pat td ‘eyt CEH © Blackbeard Castle, Dwelling House, St. Thomas Photo by J. Mena k = oe $ fn sf <¥ Ri ay) e/ > on ay @ ead is. Ce ati #4 & 4 ‘b. 7 ) 1% i we {i f ff +} a} NZ |. 1) Bluebeard Castle, Dwelling House, St. Thomas Photo by J. Mena ea ad ey —: a pant -- ee =—— Question of Purchase 19 the happy development of the Islands, under the new Sovereignty. “Commending You to God! “Given at Our Palace of Amalienborg, the 25th October, 1867. “Under Our Royal Hand and Seal, “CHRISTIAN R. “LS. “C. E. JuEt-VInD-FRIJs. “Royal Proclamation to the Inhabitants of St. Thomas and St. John.” This was also read by His Excellency, Chamberlain Carstensen, Royal Commissioner Extraordinary, to a large assemblage of the civil and military function- aries and other inhabitants whom His Excellency, Governor Birch, invited for the occasion to Govern- ment House. It is almost needless to say that the announcement of such a change, though not entirely unexpected, led to a variety of comments and specula- tions. Hopes of the most extravagant kind were indulged in by many at the prospect of soon belonging to the mighty American Republic. Others were not quite so sanguine as to the probable benefits, and some did not believe the transfer would ever be accomplished. Nevertheless, all prepared to obey His Most Gracious Majesty’s expressed wish, though not without.a feel- ing in their hearts, that with all its faults, the rule of dear old Denmark had, in the main, been marked by humanity, wisdom, and justice. . Pt AG Pe ene sae 20 The Virgin Islands There did not seem to be a doubt in the minds of such men as the Honourable William H. Seward as to the desirability of securing St. Thomas as a naval station for the United States of America. The acquisi- tion was looked upon by the leading journals of Europe as a master stroke of policy. American naval and mili- tary men had long foreseen the necessity of the United States having, somewhere in the West Indies, a port in which to refit their war vessels and which would form a base for naval operations in case of future wars with Europe or the South. The United States had gone through a bitter experience already, so far as Nassau and St. Thomas were concerned. The ports of the West Indies had all more or less sympathized with the so-called Rebels of the South; their pirati- cal craft had been welcomed and sheltered; the men- of-war of the North found obstacles placed in their way; and it was more or less conceded that had the United States possessed St. Thomas during the war of the Great Rebellion it would have saved millions. Thus for these and many other reasons it was considered a desirable acquisition for the United States. In the meanwhile, with a rapidity not always usual in Denmark, the treaty which had been concluded with the United States for the sale of the Danish West India Islands was ratified by a unanimous vote in the Landsthing, or upper house of the Rigsdag. This completed the action of Denmark with regard to the treaty. It now only remained for the United States Government to fulfil its share of the compact. Two years and a half dragged wearily along, during which the St. Thomas people were alternately buoyed up or cast down by the news of annexation. They had, Question of Purchase 21 almost to a man, voted for it and impatiently they awaited the end. From causes which have never been satisfactorily explained, the Treaty was not ratified by the United States Senate. The opposition of the Radical party and the impeachment of President Johnson were assigned as presumable reasons for a postponement of one year. Then came others for further postpone- ment. There is no doubt that the failure to conclude the bargain was a great disappointment to many. Together with the affection which the people of St. Thomas and St. John had always manifested for Den- mark and its King, there was a genuine admiration for the American people, whose energy and enterprise so well accorded with their own; and it was hoped that with a fresh infusion of active energy, the island would recover from its past calamities and resume its wonted place as the commercial centre of the West Indies. In the meanwhile, a dulness began to pervade the community of St. Thomas. Its harbour, gay with the colours of all nations, and its hotels, always crowded with foreigners, either en route to their homes or for business purposes, had experienced a great change. The warehouses which were filled with the products of English, French, and German manufactures, and which, in the months of October and November, were the resort of purchasers from the neighbouring islands, were now quiet and inactive. The distressing times at the end of 1867 had been bravely faced, and it was naturally supposed that when the storm had subsided the usual order of things would be resumed. No one antici- pated that 1868, 1869, and 1870 would bring greater woe. The busy seasons came and went, but each was a duller season than its predecessor. Merchants 22 The Virgin Islands began to compare the present with the past, and on referring to their books found that at no time of the year in former days had they made so few entries as they were now making. And there was but little hope of encouragement for the future save that which chance might give. Still another problem was to be solved. The loosened bonds between the Mother Country and these islands were to be again retied. The Crown was once more to reassert its sovereignty, and the King to take anew His loyal West Indian subjects to his heart. The hope that a happy development, not only in moral, but also in a material respect, would be powerfully advanced under American rule, had long since died in every breast, but how was a rapprochement to be effected between Denmark, St. Thomas, and St. John? Were they to vote themselves back again, or were they to consider that their voting themselves free from the Mother Country was but a formality? Statesmanship soon found a solution to the question. A proclamation had sold them, another one would take them back. A perusal of the following document will show how kindly this was done. ‘“WrE, CHRISTIAN THE NINTH, ‘““By the Grace of God, King of Denmark, the Van- dals and the Goths, Duke of Sleswig, Holstein, Storn- marn, Ditmarsh, Lauenborg, and Oldenborg, send to Our beloved and faithful Subjects in the islands of St. Thomas and St. John, Our Royal Greeting. ‘““You are aware of the motives that actuated Us at the time to give ear to the repeated and urgent requests of the North American Government for the cession of Rad we sue We: vee te ad te oe oo the Pas & $9, oe st Y mn nye ss cond! uy yh ge ia a» “$ pee a3 3 as a HS, “St Pa ie. See ei by (3; os ba uae 7 de sed “Ay v2 i aL 3¥ Ia Fig See canes ws eS oi) Seo cs ioe a pics B; Pe sa Ge x % dy oa es a pock3 Be ae ee es ea ook of ay Bs vs Ew P & ve! a be ix pat Sag3 a ie Nae Ser ei ss at He ig ie ai ay & & nee ee hae @ ote ey aes ie es 5, aah oe ot co His Excellency, Governor L. C. Helweg-Larsen, K. D. Photo by Clare E. Taylor aA i 3 wat i ne ner Question of Purchase 23 St. Thomas and St. John to the United States. We expected that We, in that manner, should have been able to lighten Our realm of the heavy burthens in- curred by the then recently-terminated war, and We hoped that the annexation to the United States would have afforded the islands advantages so important that they could have contributed to soothe the pain which a separation necessarily must cause in the Colo- nies, no less than in the Mother Country. You, for Your part, and the Danish Diet on the part of the King- dom, have concurred in these views, and We all met in the mutual readiness to accommodate ourselves to what appeared to Us All to be recommended by the circum- stances. ‘Unexpected obstacles have arisen to the realiza- tion of this idea, and released Us from Our pledged word. The American Senate has not shown itself willing to maintain the Treaty made, although the initiative for it proceeded from the United States themselves. Ready as We were to subdue the feelings of Our hearts, when We thought that duty bade Us so to do, yet We cannot otherwise than feel a satis- faction that circumstances have relieved Us from making a sacrifice, which, notwithstanding the advan- tages held out, would always have been painful to Us. We are convinced that You share these sentiments, and that it is with a lightened heart You are relieved from the consent, which only at Our request You gave to a separation of the islands from the Danish Crown. “In, therefore, making known to You that the Convention made on the 24th of October, 1867, for the cession of the islands of St. Thomas and St. John to the United States of America, has become void, We entertain the firm belief that Our Government, 24 The Virgin Islands supported by Your own active endeavours will succeed in promoting the interest of the islands and by degrees efface all remembrances of the misfortunes which, of late years, have so sadly befallen the islands. To this end We pray Almighty God to give Us strength and wisdom. ““Commending you to God, “‘Given at Our Palace at Amalienborg, the 7th “May, 1870, ‘“CHRISTIAN R., “TL, Ss.” CHAPTER III LATER HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS Demand for reforms—Havoc caused by hurricane—Visit of H. B. M. S. Challenger—Decline in trade—Laying of St. Croix-St. Thomas cable—Labour insurrection in St. Croix—Census of 1880—Change in government administration—Removal of British and French Steamship Companies—Sale talk—Danish efforts to better con- ditions—Effects of European War and labour troubles. THE demand for reform was now general, and before long, steps were taken to set forth the desires of the people. The circumlocutory manner in which the administration of the Colonies worked at that time, the expenses attending it by the necessity of keeping up a Governor and a President,—the latter being at the same time a Vice-Governor, and both of them important representatives of the Danish sovereignty,— their salaries, with table money, a swarm of higher and lower officials, and a military force, all directly or in- directly paid by the two islands, called loudly for change. A careful review of the financial burdens laid upon the islands in those years will show how great was the necessity for reform. Unfortunately, instead of sending home a deputation composed of its best citizens, or those most qualified to represent the actual condition and wants of St. Thomas, a petition addressed to His Majesty was drawn up, and was signed by 1111 of the principal inhabitants of the island, praying for 25 Pe Sal OR Rie) So 26 The Virgin Islands certain reforms which would give a greater measure of self-government, and control of internal affairs, than that which the island already possessed. There is proof that the petition bore the looked-for results. However, nothing immediate transpired, for while His Majesty in his reply expressed satisfaction to learn of the loyalty of his people, and assured them that with their support it would be his aim and that of his Government to promote the interests of the islands, the vagueness of the Colonial law, against which the peti- tion was principally directed, continued just as vague as ever. The old laws which were obsolete and unsuited to the times, and which are occasionally, even now, brought forward for particular purposes to the discom- fort and dismay of the many, were unrepealed and served as an instrument for the unscrupulous to use as it might suit them. On the 11th of February, 1871, the seat of government was removed from St. Croix to St. Thomas. On the 23d day of October of the same year, a fright- ful hurricane took place. Fearful havoc was caused in town, many lives were lost, and many persons wounded. The heaviest gusts of wind were from half-past four to five P.M., when they came from the north-west. Then it was that the great destruction was completed. The fierce roaring of these fearful gusts, the noise of zinc sheets, whirling through the air and along the streets, and the crash of falling houses in that gloomy half-hour were awful. As usual, the merchants sub- scribed promptly and liberally for the relief of the immediate distress occasioned by this great calamity, the private subscriptions amounting to $6600. In 1872, on the 16th of February, telegraphic communica- tion between St. Thomas and Europe was established St. Thomas 27 via a line to Havana and thence to the United States and Europe. A new lighthouse was erected on Muh- lenfel’s Point, and was formally delivered to the Government by the contractor, Mr. Carl Berg, on the 12th of June. On the 16th of March, 1873, H. B. M.S. Challenger arrived on a scientific expedition and a tour round the world. It is pleasing to note that one of their number, in writing of St. Thomas to the Daily News, London, said: ‘‘After careful enquiry, I am inclined to the opinion that St. Thomas has been very much maligned and that it is not the undesirable nor unhealthy spot it is generally believed. The fact is, and ought to be recognized, yellow fever is not indigenous here, but is imported from what is still called (in local parlance) the Spanish Main, or some other of the West India islands. There are no noxious mangrove swamps to breed malaria, as in Jamaica and in other places, and receiving, as they do, the full strength of the salu- brious ‘trades,’ all the year round, the Virgin Islands possess unusual advantages in a sanitary point of view.” Trade had now considerably declined. Besides the Royal Mail Steam Packet’s magnificent fleet of steamers, other lines had started and extended their operations throughout the West Indies. It was now possible for a merchant in Porto Rico or elsewhere to have his goods brought direct to his own doors, without the assistance of St. Thomas. Planters could also export their own produce direct. There was no longer any necessity to send it to St. Thomas to be shipped. The consequences soon became apparent to everyone. Purchasers be- came fewer every year. Still a goodly number of vessels frequented its port, and many passengers visit- 28 The Virgin Islands ing it en route to other places gave it an appear- ance of activity not observed elsewhere in the West Indies. The St. Croix-St. Thomas cable was successfully laid on January 20, 1875, by the Hooper, and the first message transmitted from St. Croix to St. Thomas through the West India Islands was sent that day, the time occupied being fifty-seven minutes, including detention at each separate station. During the year 1876 another hurricane visited the Danish West Indies. This time St. Croix was included. The damage to that island was frightful. Fortunately, there were not many vessels in the harbour of St. Thomas. Several of these, however, were damaged, a few shanties were blown away on shore, and many houses had their tiles or tin sheets torn off. Being so far removed from the centre, St. Thomas escaped a worse fate, for it was believed by competent meteor- ologists to have been one of the most terrific cyclones that had ever visited the West Indies. On October 2, 1877, St. Thomas. was startled by the news of an insurrection among the labourers of St. Croix. Close upon this intelligence came a crowd of homeless fugitives from ‘‘ West End,”’ whose tales of suffering struck terror and dismay into the hearts of those who had relatives or friends in that ill-fated spot. His Excellency, Governor Garde, accompanied by the Police-Master and fifty soldiers, left as soon as possible in the Royal Mail Steamship Arno, for the scene of action. The riot was soon quelled, and the ring-leaders were shot or otherwise punished. In the year 1880, a census was taken of the Danish West Indies. According to the returns published sometime afterwards, the population of the three islands eee 2 <a era 4 bite e ge a Eta Bx ~ oe aa > oe ¥ .; G te i| : Fee 4 ba. a. en = — “4 = 4 aad om ai «@ ce 1 ta oe |] ‘acon ig ae St. Thomas 29 numbered 33,783, of which 18,440 were in St. Croix, 14,399 in St. Thomas, and 944 in St. John. The population had been on the decrease since 1860, for in that year in St. Croix there numbered 23,194 souls (in 1870, 22,760); in St. Thomas, 13,463 (in 1870, 14,007); in St. John, 1574 (in 1870, 1054). Of the population in St. Croix, 4939 lived in Christiansted, 3480 in Frederiksted, and 10,011 in the country districts. The majority of the female sex was exceedingly large, for 14,889 were males and 18,894 females. The mar- riage statistics showed 763 bachelors, 240 married men, 31 widowers, and 2 divorced; 739 unmarried women, 172 married, 87 widows, and 2 divorced. In regard to means of subsistence, 10,010 lived by agri- culture, 7409 by industrial occupations, 6600 as port- ers, labourers, etc., 2897 by commerce, and 1845 by the sea, etc. Of the religious persuasions 11,344 belonged to the English Episcopal Church, 10,025 to the Roman Catholic, 5881 to the Moravian, and 4862 to the Lutheran and other churches. The commerce of St. Thomas had reached a painful crisis. The revenues had decreased annually, and each successive budget bore upon its face a large deficiency, in spite of the fact that the island was no longer paying any contribution to the General State Expenses. The office of President was abolished, January 1, 1884, and in the two districts, the Superior Administra- tion, established by Colonial Law dated November 27, 1863, was to be exercised by the Governor. His Excel- lency was to reside six months in St. Thomas, and six months in St. Croix. During his absence from either district he was empowered to entrust, on his own re- sponsibility, the despatch of the daily current business. At about this period several firms were contemplat- 30 The Virgin Islands ing liquidation. The removal of the Royal Mail Steamship Company’s offices was already decided upon, and that of the French Company was talked about. If it were possible for anything to be done for the island, it would have to bedone quickly. Progress was the order of the day elsewhere, but St. Thomas seemed to be slowly drifting back to the old order of things. While other places were doing their utmost to bring trade to their ports, St. Thomas, complacently reposing on the assurance that it was the keystone of the West Indies, because of its splendid geographical position, was doing absolutely nothing to attract customers. It is true that other islands were passing through a fiery ordeal owing to the competition of the beet-root and the low price of sugar, their staple production. But all of them were rising to the occasion, and striv- ing by every means in their power to avert their impending ruin and desolation. St. Thomas was doing nothing to arrest the cankerworm of decay, beyond finding fault with everything and everybody except the real cause of its unparalleled misfortunes. On the 21st of February, 1885, a petition, signed by many influential people, was addressed to His Majesty, representing the fallen fortunes of St. Thomas, and asking that the Mother Country should assume the military expenses and the pensions. During this same year the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company removed its headquarters to Barbados. This transfer, effected on the Ist of July, meant a loss of about twelve thousand dollars a month to the com- munity, not to speak of the loss to the shopkeepers, whose trade with the passengers, brought to the island by its ships, was an item of considerable importance. The year 1887 was marked by a still further decrease St. Thomas 31 in the island’s revenues by the removal of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique’s headquarters to Marti- nique, and a rapid decline in every branch of trade. As if to make matters worse, carefully worded reports of St Thomas’s declining state were circulated far and wide, and every endeavour was made by interested parties to divert its large shipping trade to the ports of jealous rivals. It never occurred to these people that, although greatly reduced from its former propor- tions, the commerce of St. Thomas was yet something of which few of the West Indies could boast. Men no longer made hundreds of thousands, but they lived comfortably, and did not fail quite so often as they did in the islands said to be so much more prosperous and thriving. When the year 1888 found its harbour crowded with shipping, mostly of large tonnage, and it was once more a scene of activity, scarcely any one doubted that if further advantages were held out to seeking vessels St. Thomas would yet be a busy place and the favourite port of call in the Antilles for many a long year to come. During the early nineties reports were extensively circulated concerning the probable transfer of St. Thomas to America. Nearly every mail from the United States brought newspapers containing articles more or less in favour of the project, notably the New York Herald and the Sun which caused people to believe that sooner or later something would be done in the matter. But, like many a former rumour, it ended in nothing, though it was pretty generally felt, in the now rapidly increasing fortunes of the island, that a change of some sort would be beneficial. Pro- minent Americans believed that the acquisition of St. Thomas was desirable. Its harbour had time and 32 The Virgin Islands again been reported by the best naval authorities as the finest in the West Indies. The American Govern- ment had coquetted with Haiti for the possession of Mole St. Nicolas, and with San Domingo for the Bay of Samana, but had not succeeded in obtaining either of them. Here was a port ready made, as it were, with a harbour almost landlocked, capable of holding nearly two hundred vessels, with a fine floating dock, wharves, large warehouses, a clean and well-kept town, sub- stantial buildings, an intelligent and industrious people, and, in fact, everything most desirable for a naval and coaling station. It was most natural that St. Thomas should receive attention. It is true that just then America was on the verge of a war with Chile, and felt the necessity of such a port, but with a peaceful settle- ment of the difficulty the desire faded away, and Uncle Sam remained without a Naval Station in West Indian waters. On the Ist of April, 1893, the port of St. Thomas was declared free, and the import dues were raised three per cent. In the latter part of the nineties, the sale question was again revived in the islands, and interest in the matter lasted for several years. In 1900 an active agitation in favour of the transfer of the islands to the United States flag was started by some of the most influential men of St. Croix, who were especially eager for the change because of the probable benefits to the extensive sugar interests of the island. The Republican platform on which McKinley was elected in 1896 declared for the purchase of the Danish West Indies, but it was not until six years later that a treaty to this end was drawn up. The sum of five million dollars for all three of the Danish West Indies St. Thomas 33 was offered to Denmark, and the offer accepted. Secre- tary Hay signed the treaty on January 24, 1902, and three days later President Roosevelt sent it to the Senate for ratification. The treaty was held up in the Senate committee for over a year before it was finally passed, and when it reached Denmark considerable opposition was encountered. The treaty passed the Folkething, which is the lower and popular house, but when it was taken up by the Landsthing, which is composed of sixty-six members, of whom twelve are appointed by the Crown for life and the remainder chosen by the leading taxpayers for eight years, a tie vote resulted and the treaty was lost. During the fifteen years since, the Danish Govern- ment has done much to better conditions in her West Indian Colonies, among the more important of which is the establishment of a national bank, which has car- ried on a successful business. In addition, millions of dollars have been spent in the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix by the West Indian Company, in im- proving the St. Thomas harbour, and by the Danish Plantation Company, as well as by the Hamburg- American Company; but in most cases the ultimate results have been disappointing to the people. The Great European War has had a disastrous effect upon the St. Thomas shipping interests, which are the most important consideration of the island at present, and during the years 1915 and 1916 the general condi- tions among the labouring classes, and the merchants as well, were far from satisfactory. Affairs in St. Croix were, in view of the serious labour troubles, even more unsatisfactory, and this in spite of the fact that the 1916 sugar crop was the most profitable that the planters had had for a long number of years. 3 CHAPTER IV HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ST. CROIX Location and discovery—Caribees and Arrowauks—Arrival of the Dutch and English in 1625 and subsequent conflicts—Later occu- pations by Spanish and French—Fertility of soil—The Knights of Malta—Abandonment of island in 1720—Purchase by King Christian VI. of Denmark—Again a prosperous community— Temporary possession by English—Slave trade—Uprising of negroes—Emancipation of slaves in 1848—Labour troubles in 1916. THE island of Santa Cruz, or St. Croix, lies in lati- tude 17° 44’ 32” N., and in longitude 64° 14’ W., of Greenwich, and was discovered by Columbus on his second Western voyage, November 14, 1493. An- choring there to obtain water, he found the island in- habited by Indians similar to those he had seen in Guadeloupe, whom the Spaniards, on account of their cannibalistic propensities, called ‘‘Caribees.”” Among them as captives were the more peaceable Arrowauks, who had been taken from Porto Rico, or its vicinity. The natives called the island ‘“‘Ay Ay.’ At first, peaceably disposed, they welcomed the sailors with true Carib hospitality, but it was not long before a skirmish ensued which resulted in the death of a Carib and one of the Spaniards. Several Caribees were taken prisoners by the Spaniards and were carried to Spain. 34 St. Croix 35 From this time till the year 1625 we hear nothing whatever of St. Croix. Bryan Edwards, in his infer- esting history of the West Indies, states that the Dutch and English came to St. Croix in 1625. This state- ment is partly corroborated by Du Tertre, who says that for many years prior to 1645 St. Croix was in possession of the Dutch and English, who had been joined by certain French refugees from the island of St. Christopher. In the year 1645, the population numbered over six hundred persons, who up to this date had lived in comparative peace and harmony. But about this time the Governor of the Dutch por- tion of the island having killed in his house, either designedly or accidentally, M. de Brasebet, the Governor of the English, a series of reprisals ensued, in which the English, violating a promise of protection, seized the Dutch Governor, condemned him to death in retaliation for the murder of their own Governor, and publicly shot him. Seeing the impossibility for peace, the Dutch abandoned the island and retired to St. Eustatius and St. Martin. It was not long before the English were to experience in their turn something of the treatment that they had meted out to their former fellow-colonists. The prosperity that attended them after they were left sole masters of the island excited the envy of the Spaniards at Porto Rico, who, becoming alarmed at having so prosperous a colony at their doors, sent twelve hundred men in five ships on the 1oth of August, 1650, to drive out the intruders and take possession of the island. This was speedily accomplished, the Spaniards putting to death every inhabitant falling into their hands, murdering as at Tortuga even the women and children. Those who escaped left the island for St. 36 The Virgin Islands Christopher’s. Once again the Dutch attempted to regain the island but without success. Soon afterwards, the French at St. Christopher’s, then governed by M. de Poincy, Knight of St. John’s and Lieutenant-General over the French West Indies, determined to take possession of the island. Laying his plans with great judgment, De Poincy sent an ex- pedition under M. de Vaugalan to St. Croix to besiege the fort. The Spaniards, not knowing the strength of the French, at length capitulated, leaving the fort with their arms and baggage, and in a vessel that had been given them embarked for Porto Rico. The island was then rich in forests, and as a conse- quence very unhealthful. The poisonous vapours arising from the dense vegetation proved fatal to the latest conquerors, who, lamenting the loss from malarial fever of several of their number, decided to set fire to the woods. Taking refuge on board of their ships, they became spectators of the vast conflagration. As soon as the flames were extinguished, they returned on shore and energetically applied themselves to the improvement and cultivation of the land. With the advantages of a virgin soil, the grounds which they had cleared became incredibly fertile, and it was not long before the Colony reached a high state of prosperity. In 1653, Louis XIV. transferred St. Croix, with St. Christopher, St. Bartholomew, and St. Martin, to the Knights of Malta. In 1659, a Monsieur Du Bois was appointed Governor of St. Croix by M. de Poincy. Falling sick in St. Croix, he was obliged to go back to St. Christopher, but in 1661 he returned to his post with another reinforcement of colonists. In 1665, a newly formed West India Company purchased the island from the Order of Malta, and when this company —-—- we > 1 eo ve Pat - a! “a ye ra ——— A ee fe V fy i 4 2B, & “Ge ¢ y! be NY \) Vt % i 4 ‘ p i if & ay | ou r ty “4 ils 3 £ é ft Kh . We Ne i — BA t Le Be ii. Hosted by Google ma St. Croix 37 was dissolved by Royal edict in 1674, the island was again annexed to the French Crown. In 1696, the population is said to have numbered 147 whites, exclusive of women and children, and 623 blacks. Notwithstanding the extraordinary fertility of the land when the rains were sufficient, the droughts at that time were so frequent and destructive that the French settlers, having demolished their forts, aban- doned the island and removed to Santo Domingo. In 1720, St. Croix was uninhabited. It was visited by vessels of all nations up to 1727, when the French captured seven English merchant vessels that were lying there and again took possession of the territory. From that time until 1733 St. Croix continued to be the property of France, from whom it was at length purchased by King Christian VI. for seven hundred fifty thousand French livres. Some time after the Danish purchase was effected, the land was parcelled out into plantations, or oblong squares for plantations, measuring in length three thousand Danish feet from north-north-west to south- south-east, and in breadth two thousand Danish feet from east-north-east to west-south-west, and comprising one hundred and fifty acres of land of forty thousand square feet to the acre. This having been done, an invitation was extended to planters of other islands to come and occupy the lands on easy and attractive terms. As a result, many rich and influential persons from St. Eustatius, Virgin Gorda, and Tortola purchased estates and settled there and abandoned St. Croix once more became a prosperous community. Sugar cane was planted, the two towns now known as Christiansted and Frederiksted were built, roads were laid out, and the wilderness became a garden. 38 The Virgin Islands There are but few records to describe the progress of St. Croix as an agricultural community, from 1760 to 1801. In the latter year, the island was taken by the British, restored to Denmark after a few months, retaken by the English in 1807, held by them until 1815, when the Danes again became its lawful posses- sors. In the meantime, many slaves had been imported into St. Croix for the purpose of working on the plan- tations. St. Thomas had been for many years the headquarters of an enormous traffic in these unfor- tunate beings, and though the slave trade had been declared unlawful by. the Danish Government as early as 1792 it was not entirely suppressed in the Colonies until several years afterwards. Following a serious uprising of the negroes in St. Croix, the emancipation of the slaves in the Danish West Indies became an accomplished fact in 1848. In 1878 unfortunate labour troubles took place through- out the island, which finally resulted in a labourers’ riot that well-nigh laid the place waste and caused many people, both whites and blacks, to lose their lives. The experiences of St. Croix during recent years have been closely identified with those of St. Thomas, where varying degrees of prosperity and adversity have been experienced. St. Croix, although an agri- cultural community without any special interests in shipping matters, has been dependent largely upon good weather conditions and a favourable labour situation for its success. In 1916 the sugar-cane crop was the best that the island had known for a number of years, but on account of serious labour troubles that lasted throughout the cane season, the planters, St. Croix 39 in spite of the high prices received for the sugar, be- came sornewhat discouraged, and not a few decided to abandon their estates for the coming year, and either to await a time when the labourers on the island would be more agreeable to the terms of the planters or else to sell their lands for the best price that could be obtained. CHAPTER V CHARLOTTE AMALIE St. Thomas most important of three islands commercially—Location —General description—Town of Charlotte Amalie—Built on spurs of three mountains—Most picturesque spot in Caribbean Sea—‘‘ Magnificent, gem-like, glorious’’—Essentially a business community—Massive, brick stores—Empty warehouses—Memo- ries of days when Spanish dollars were carted through streets in wheelbarrows—Bluebeard’s and Blackbeard’s castles—Romantic pictures. St. THOMAS is commercially the most important of the three islands that constitute what were formerly known as the Danish West Indian group. It lies in latitude 18° 20’ north, longitude 65° 56’ west. It is twelve miles long, from east to west, and ranges from one to three miles in width. Its appearance is that of a lofty ridge of dome-shaped hills, running through the centre of the island, whose highest point,‘‘Crown Peak,” is about fifteen hundred feet above sea-level. Charlotte Amalie is the only town of the island, and is situated on the south central side on the spurs and lower slopes of three hills that overlook the harbour. St. Thomas is almost surrounded by small islands and cays, in general bold and steep, and like its two sister islands it possesses a large number of beautiful bays that afford the local folk and their visitors delightful sea-bathing all the year round. 40 Charlotte Amalie - Al The country roads are few, as might be expected from the formation of the island, and do not total in length more than fifteen miles, but pleasant cab or automobile rides may be taken to Smith’s Bay, at the island’s eastern extremity, or to John Bruce’s Bay on the western point. In addition, delightful horseback drives and walks can be enjoyed over the greater part of the island. The energetic pedestrian can walk from the town to the top of Mafolie Hill, from the summit of which one of the finest panoramic views in the West Indies is revealed. Below are the charming town and harbour, and away, far over the ocean, to the south and east respectively, can be observed St. Croix and Porto Rico. On Mafolie Hill is an obelisk to commemorate the visit, in 1882, of the Brazilian astronomers to view the transit of Venus. There are other attractive walks—to Water Bay, to Benders, to Bovoni, where one may have a unique experience in rowing across the wonderful grove lagoon, and to ‘‘Windberg,” the highest point on the island, to have a view that surpasses description. Many pleasant boat trips can also be made along the coast of St. Thomas, to the innumerable caves admirably adapted for picnicking parties, to French- man’s and Morningstar Bays, on the southern side of the island, to Magen’s Bay on the northern side, and to ‘‘Manecke’s Villa” and Krum Bay, on the western shore. There 1s but one town in St. Thomas, whose name is rarely mentioned. It is Charlotte Amalie, and was so christened by His Majesty, Christian the Fifth, during whose reign the island was acquired by Den- mark and the town formally laid out, in honour of His Royal Consort, Queen Charlotte Amalie. It is built 42 The Virgin Islands on the spurs of three mountains, which form a noble background and add a certain majesty to the town’s general appearance. Because of its unique situation, the attractive lay-out of its trailing mountainous streets, and the beautiful blend of the structures and colours of its public and private buildings, whose red-tiled roofs rise one above the other up to the very summits of the hills, with the umbrageous green of the fringing guinea grass, cocoanut palm, mountain cabbage, and banana, it has come to be regarded as one of the most picturesque places in the Caribbean Sea. The well- known American writer, Mr. F. Ober, styles it as ‘magnificent, gem-like, glorious,” and says that the spot is worthy of all the adjectives one can heap upon it. Awe-inspiring hills surround it on all sides, save toward the southern sea, where the entrance lies between two high promontories that are guarded by ancient forts. As to beauty of location, it is, perhaps, unsurpassed by any other town in the West Indies. The town is essentially a place of business, and there is but one main thoroughfare, parallel with the harbour, the other streets branching off here and there up the hillside to commanding elevations from which may be obtained magnificent tropical views. A more cleanly town to-day than Charlotte Amalie scarcely exists. From the trimly-kept, red brick fort, used as a prison and a police-station, and the handsomely-built bar- racks, down to the smallest building, one is impressed with the air of neatness and cleanliness that prevails. All the streets are macadamized, with stone-paved gutters. The three principal water-courses, or ‘‘guts”’ as they are called, are paved in the same manner, and carry down the water from the mountains to the sea. Substantial brick stores extend to the water’s edge fe ~ * es 74 bee 4s th ‘a $ - a i | ¢ Wb ‘ rt 1 “sé E-Sm 4S he ~.a4 a! 4 of & rg —— Sao am yt i, 7h, Nu n Fy ‘t mA Hy 4 14 is war a pes ~—, il 4) on L Warr — Ser eevee Te and ae _, > \.. “22 wy ae &\ ~o( he et os Charlotte Amalie 43 some four hundred feet away. There are probably a hundred such buildings, many of them having been put up at a cost of from fifty thousand to sixty thousand dollars apiece. Each has its own private wharf for the landing of merchandise, and railroad tracks for its carriage to the storehouse, and some possess powerful hoisting cranes. The great commercial firms that once operated at Charlotte Amalie, whose importations used to amount to millions of dollars annually, are now no more; many of the warehouses are empty and de- serted; many merchants and clerks have gone to more favoured communities to ply their trades until the prosperity of St. Thomas shall return and she shall, as of old, become the Emporium of the Antilles. The pavements no longer re-echo the footsteps of barterers of a hundred nationalities. Porters lounge at the street corners; cooks stray leisurely towards the market- place; nurse-maids with their little ones saunter along the sidewalks and by the seashore. The town is slumbering and dreaming the days when roystering sailors made the streets dangerous by night; when merchants toiled from early to late; when banks were unknown, and Spanish dollars were wheeled on barrows through the thoroughfares. Quiet prevails, but there are few who have once lived in St. Thomas and become acquainted with its people who would not be glad to return. Bluebeard’s and Blackbeard’s castles are two old towers, respectively situated east and north of Charlotte Amalie. According to tradition, these castles were once the abodes of the villains whose names they bear. History, however, does not confirm the fable. The truth is, very little is known about these towers, but Blackbeard’s Castle is supposed to 44 The Virgin Islands have been built before Bluebeard’s, and in all prob- ability both were employed in the olden days as watch- towers and for defensive purposes. To-day they start one dreaming. Looking over the town and harbour from these points of vantage, one of imaginative tendencies, who is more or less familiar with the ancient history of the place, can weave as romantic a picture as could be desired. The harbour will again become gay with the flags of many nations, and from the misty past there will be conjured the slender forms of piratical schooners and slave-traders to replace the prosaic, smoke-belch- ing steamers of the present. The streets of the town will be peopled with the picturesque and ruthless sea- rovers of old, along with those sturdy Brandenburghers, who, with their wives and children, inhabited the quaint, one-storey wooden tenements that once stood where are now brick, fire-proof warehouses. Other fancies will suggest themselves to the imagination, and a visit to those old towers will be well rewarded. Their massive walls have withstood the hurricane’s fury and the earthquake’s shock; they have seen wealth-laden traders arrive and depart, and have watched impassively the disembarkation of cargoes of miserable slaves. Within sight of them poor men have grown rich, have lived and died. For hundreds of years they have looked down upon the world below, upon its hopes and joys, its griefs and pleasures, its days of prosperity and of suffering, and still the grey walls remain unchanged in a world of changes, enduring monuments of the past. aN Fed xe s 33% aye ay ve whe ae sa oP ee CE pa, i d Le -¥ ey an ca 9 ahys a rae wwe | e an te BA) ate bay | e.! St ve “a ae Vee +e ye fe nad ee ty the eer ba 7.8 Ye ‘A Bee ris Ve, % ax ” i. iy is pe 2 aes Hosted by Google CHAPTER VI ‘“THE GARDEN OF THE WEST INDIES”’ St. Croix—‘‘The Garden of the West Indies’’—Natural beauties of Christiansted—Enterprise of the Frederiksted inhabitants— Early home of Alexander Hamilton—Commerce and native pro- ducts—Topography of island—Geological formations—Varied scenery—As a health resort—Climate and rainfall. St. Crorx is not the rich island it once was; but for natural beauty, fertility of soil, and high standard of sugarcane cultivation it is surpassed by few, if by any, of the West India Islands. Its wooded hills, cultivated ’ valleys, and magnificent roads, lined on either side for miles by beautiful cocoanut or mountain cabbage palm, all help to justify its claim to the title which has been given it—‘‘The Garden of the West Indies.” Bassin, or Christiansted, situated to the north, is the seat of government; while West End, or Frederiksted, at the western extremity, though despoiled of much of its former grandeur by the destruction of its finest buildings in the riot of 1878, is the more important town commercially. The’ town of Christiansted is picturesquely situated, within an amphitheatre of dark and lofty mountains, and an air of quiet repose about the place gives a decided contrast with the stir and bustle of St. Thomas. A sloop or two at anchor on the placid waters of the 45 46 The Virgin Islands harbour; a fishing boat near the wharf; the old red fort, with its guns peeping over the ramparts; the post- office hidden among the trees; the Custom House; streets branching off in various directions; a few in- dividuals sauntering about leisurely; — this is one’s first impression of the quietest and pleasantest town in the Danish West Indies. It is regularly laid out in squares, and possesses some fine buildings, notably Government House,—the largest in the Lesser Antilles. This building gives a fine appearance to King’s Street, the principal thoroughfare of the place. At one time St. Croix was the seat of government for the Danish West Indies, but eventually this was transferred to St. Thomas. Latterly, since the passage of an ordinance to that effect, the Governor passes his time between the two places. Lutherans, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Moravians have churches in Chris- tiansted. The entrance to the harbour at Christiansted is so tortuous that vessels of any size seldom attempt to’ enter. Sugar is shipped from this port, but the load- ing of vessels is all done by means of lighters, and practically all of the imports are received by way of Frederiksted and transported across the island by automobiles or around it in small sloops. Of Frederiksted itself there is not much to be said except in praise of the energy and commercial enterprise of its inhabitants, who, in face of unparalleled mis- fortunes, have rebuilt their little town and are now doing a thriving business. Bay Street is once more the scene of great activity, especially during harvest time. Of special importance to Frederiksted is the fact that it is in direct steam communication with the United States. This has had a decided influence upon its “Garden of the West Indies’”’ 47 commerce and has, no doubt, been beneficial to its merchants. The Custom House, which during the riots was almost destroyed, has been restored and many new buildings have been put up to replace the old ones. Frederiksted has a population of about three thousand inhabitants. It has Lutheran, Epis- copalian, Moravian, and Roman Catholic churches, a hospital, an apothecary hall, and one or two good board- ing-houses. It wasin this town that Alexander Hamil- ton served as a clerk before he emigrated to America. Frederiksted does approximately eighty per cent. of the import and export business of St. Croix. It is located at the extreme western end of the island and is a port of call for the Quebec line of steamers that ply between New York and Georgetown, British Guiana, the steamers making fortnightly calls in each direction. Frederiksted’s harbour being simply an open roadstead, is not a good harbour, and all passengers and cargo are landed by means of lighters and small boats. Several of the large sugar estates have resident agents in the town, and the greater portion of the sugar made here is shipped from this port. St. Croix is able to produce all kinds of tropical fruits in abundance, and in recent years efforts have been made, and not unsuccessfully, by one or two planters, to cultivate systematically such fruit as oranges and bananas for local use with a view to exporting them in the future. The shape of the island is elongated, its greatest extent being about nineteen (English) miles from east to west. From north to south the extent varies be- tween five miles (toward the west) and one mile (toward the east). The area is about eighty-one (English) square miles, or 51,873 acres. 48 The Virgin Islands The northern part of the island is intersected from east to west by a range of hills, or low mountains, of which the highest summits—Mt. Eagle, 1116 feet (350 metres), and Blue Mountain, 1059 feet (332 metres)—are found toward the west. Toward the east the highest ridges do not reach above from 584 to 830 feet (183 to 260 metres). The south-western part of the island is level or slightly undulating. Coral reefs extend along the shore except on the north-west where the water is one thousand fathoms deep. There are several small creeks or water- courses, of which Salt River in the north is the largest. The coast line of St. Croix is more regular and the surface more level than in most of the Virgin Islands, the hills stretching only along the northern coast and through the eastern part of the island. Along the coasts are found new alluvial formations, often enclosing lagoons, some of which are of consider- able size. These lagoons are being gradually filled up with vegetable matter, as well as with sand and stones washed down from the hills by the rains. In the Virgin Islands many similar lagoons have been raised several feet above the level of the sea and laid completely dry, but no such thing has been observed in St. Croix. The geological formations of St. Croix belong to different ages. The northern ridge is the older. It consists of the same species of stratified rocks (diabase, diorite, bluebit-conglomerate, felsite, also clay-slate and limestone) as the mountains of the Virgin group, and probably belongs to the same geological age. The rocky surface exhibits strongly disturbed strata, above which are found much less irregular beds of coral limestone and white marl, of a much later period. It is thought that the most recent formation of the “Garden of the West Indies” 49 island is the level and undulating land to the south of the mountain ridge, which appears to rest on the coral rock. This coral formation is frequently found near the surface, in the eastern half of the island, while in the central and south-western parts it lies much deeper, covered by a heavy layer of clay and earth mixed with marl. The surface soil is alluvial, and the seashore sand consists largely of coral substances. St. Croix has not inaptly been styled ‘‘The Garden of the West Indies,’’ on account of its superior cultiva- tion, beautiful homes, and its fertility. Its extremely varied scenery possesses great interest for the student of nature as well as for those who look upon the island only as a health resort. To the lover of dark, gloomy mountains and large, waste lagoons the eastern part of the island offers many attractions. Here are to be found most of the stock estates with good pasturage for the rearing of sheep and oxen. Elsewhere the country is well cultivated; large sugar estates greet the eye at every turn of the fine macadamized roads which, hard, smooth, and level as a floor, intersect the country in all directions. A rich, fruitful valley occupies the central and most southern portion of the island, and a drive over the splendid road that runs from Chris- tiansted to Frederiksted—a distance of fifteen miles— between rows of cocoanut trees, interspersed here and there with lovely areca palms, will amply reward any one who enjoys picturesque scenery and the purest of fresh air. Beyond are the fields, full of undulating canes ready for cutting. Hard by is a little village of labourers’ houses, substantially built and with an appearance of comfort sufficient to satisfy the most fastidious, and scattered over the country are many rich estates, while all about us are hills cultivated to 4 50 The Virgin Islands their very summit, and valleys constantly changing in hue with the alternations of sunlight and shadow. A windmill can be noted here and there, and now and then there is a glimpse of the sea. This is a. landscape that is rarely seen outside of the tropics, and not often outside of St. Croix. Many are the delightful ‘drives, each one with its own special attraction. To appreciate and understand the beauties of St. Croix, to assimilate them, as it were, one must see them, for so richly en- dowed by nature is the island that all descriptions fail. It is natural to conceive that in order to induce such fertility a temperature at once equable and constant would be necessary. With such sudden changes as are incident to a northern climate this perennial verdure could not exist. The geographical position of these islands, however, is so favourable that it may truly be said that there are no seasons. It is true that in the months of December, January, and February it is cold enough for one to call for an extra covering at night, but then it is only the difference of a few degrees, for a comparison of the coldest month, February, showing 25.6° C. = 78.8° F., with the warmest, Sep- tember, which registers 28.9° C.=84.0° F., shows a dif- ference of only 3.3°C=5.9° F. The yearly mean average is divided nearly equally through all the months. The same uniformity is observed in the daily variation, which scarcely ever surpasses 5° C.=9° F., the thermometer rising gradually from six in the morning till two in the afternoon and falling just as gradually the rest of the twenty-four hours. An equal regularity manifests itself with regard to the pressure of the atmosphere, the daily variations of the barometer being only about 0.05 inches, and the maximum yearly difference only 0.2 inches. The “+e eo XS y ars, Cy “% fh wa uae a all -* 3 : Px i 4 @ Fy { 7 al 44 fl 4 | vn ee Jt at dj A Rr \ a G ai } - = \ Ri po e 3 za 4 My t oh af t bh. a ‘‘Garden of the West Indies” 51 barometer is more seriously affected only during strong gales and hurricanes, when it falls sometimes as much as 2 inches. These hurricanes, as a rule, occur only during the period from August to October. The mean annual quantity of rain is about the same in all the islands. In St. Thomas a twenty-four hours’ consecutive rain rarely occurs,—at most, not more than three or four times a year. The rain usually falls in showers, and will often descend more copiously in from two to ten minutes than it does in so many hours in northern latitudes. Drizzling rains seldom occur, and mists and fogs are unknown. The showers are very local, one estate being frequently well watered while another in the immediate neighbourhood suffers from drought. The following table was compiled by Dr. Hornbeck, who has given the mean rainfall for each month during eleven years, and the calculated mean annual rain- fall: English Inches. January..... 0.5... eee ee eee 2.6 February........ 000. c eee eee 2.8 March....0........ 02.0.2 2.7 April... cee eee eee 2.8 May... .. 2. eee ce eee 5.0 June... 0. ee eee eee 3.1 July... ee eee eee 3.5 August............ 0.0.0 c eee eee 5.1 September..................000. 5.6 October. ... 0.0... 2 cece eee eee 5.1 November............ 000000000 5.7 December...............2.0000- 2.8 Annual mean rainfall for eleven 52 The Virgin Islands During the greater part of the year a fresh tradewind from the east is generally blowing. During the hurri- cane months,—August, September, and October,— and occasionally in other months, the tradewind becomes irregular and even ceases altogether. Owing to the shape of the island of St. Croix and its position in relation to the direction of the wind the eastern part gets less rain than the western, and because of its size and isolation St. Croix has a lesser rainfall than most of the other West India islands, excepting the other members of the Virgin group. CHAPTER VII ST. JOHN Situation of St. John—lIts history closely allied to that of St. Thomas— Best watered of Virgin group—Fertile soil—Bay leaves, limes, coffee, sugar, and tobacco—Scarcity of labour—Means of communicating with outside world—‘‘Camel Mountain’’—Hurricane-proof Coral Bay—Popular tourist resorts. THE island of St. John lies in latitude 18° 18’ 8” north, and longitude 64° 41’ west. It is eight miles long and four miles wide in the broadest part. It was first formally taken possession of by the Danes in 1684, but was not colonized by them until 1716, when several men of St. Thomas received permission to cultivate it. Since this date its history has been closely allied to that of its more important sister island of St. Thomas. The island consists of a mass of rugged and uneven hills, the highest of which has an elevation of one thousand feet. It is considered the best watered of the Virgin group, but, although possessed of great natural advantages, it enjoys little or no commercial prosperity. The soil of St. John is very fertile, and the bay tree, which provides for the island its most important indus- try, flourishes in almost every part. The lime tree also does well here, but because of the lack at present of suitable transportation facilities the growing of limes receives but little attention. Coffee of a superior 53 54 The Virgin Islands quality, as well as sugar and tobacco, were cultivated _ in St. John to a considerable extent in former years, and might have been to this day if the emancipation of the slaves had not produced a scarcity of labour. Only a small quantity of sugar is produced in the island at present, though back in 1775, of the sixty-nine ¢ estates, twenty-nine were sugar plantations. St. John may be reached by any of the sloops running between the islands; or from the east end of St. Thomas at Smith’s Bay, by boat to Cruz Bay, which, consisting of a few detached houses, is called the town. Many years ago it rejoiced in a battery mounted with cannon, and a lieutenant with a detachment of twenty soldiers. Now only a judge and two policemen represent the majesty of the law in this peaceable and well-ordered island. Dutch-Creole was once the prevailing language, many of the planters being of Dutch descent. The present population of nine hundred consists almost entirely of negroes, who speak English. They are represented in the Colonial Council of St. Thomas and St. John by three members, one appointed by the government and two elected by the people. Only on horseback and not without a certain sense of fear can one ride along the pathways of the steep cliffs and mountains. Probably on account of the difficult roads and the distance between the estates, social life is virtually nil. “Camel Mountain,” the highest peak in St. John, affords a fine view over the whole country, the sea, and surrounding islands. So bracing and deliciously cool is the atmosphere at the summit that one seems to be in another climate. Of the several bays running inshore Rif Bay is the most famous, on account of the Carib inscriptions on the neighbouring rocks. But there is oy Tae oe “ *, 7 a Oy kt hy \ @ # i Lay Phas @ a: yates t . Qe” taal ee) a4 ti “, 7 eq eae se oe weg Emmans, Moravian Mission, St. John Photo by Clare E. Taylor we. => nf ee wee e, ” ze ve ss s, »~ East End Settlement, St. John Photo by Clare E. Taylor Hosted by Google St. John 55 none more serviceable for large ships than Coral Bay— indeed it is the most serviceable in the Danish West Indies. Extremely wide, and surrounded on three sides by mountains which protect it from storms, it is hurri- cane proof. The steep dip of the mountains makes it possible for ships to go close under the land. The bay runs very far in, which makes it difficult for sailing vessels to get out when the tradewind is northerly. The hopes of the inhabitants of St. John were once centred upon this place as the possible rival of St. Thomas, and they even went so far as to lay out the land in magnificent town lots as the future port which was to attract all the trade, but their hopes were frus- trated, and now the harbour shelters scarcely a fishing boat. The lover of natural scenery will find much to reward him in his rambles over this picturesque island. Mag- nificent views are to be had everywhere, and whether walking, horseback riding, or boating the excursionist can be assured that he will always find himself in the most delightful surroundings. Should boating be preferable a pull to St. Mary’s Point or to Smith’s Bay is not easily forgotten. At the former will be found lofty granite cliffs studded with mica, that glimmer in the sunshine, while at Smith’s Bay there is one of the finest bathing beaches that one will find anywhere. The bottom of the bay is of beautiful white sand, spread out like a carpet and covered with all sorts of brightly coloured marine plants. These plants spring up in graceful form and owing to the peculiar transparency of the waters seem quite near to the observer. It is a rare and pretty sight and never fails to call forth admiration. Denis Bay, America Hill, and Leinster Bay are popular resorts among the regular visitors to St. John and at 56 The Virgin Islands all these places good food and splendid living accom- modations can be had at reasonable prices. The island has many other attractive places for the visitor in search of health and recreation. a x dy, E od mA a x A Chapel in St. John Photo by W. J. Ryan a fy, 7 “he. sgh 7 weer A Shepherd and his Sheep Photo by W. J. Ryan Hosted by Google CHAPTER VIII HARBOUR AND SHIPPING AT ST. THOMAS Approaching landmarks—Lighthouse on Buck Island—Muhlenfel’s Point and Cowell’s Battery—Prince Rupert’s Rock—Port charges and ship’s dues—Clearance of vessels—Quarantine—Prevailing prices for accommodations and supplies—Stevedores, warehouses, and stores. St. THOMAS is almost surrounded by small islands and cays, with but very few hidden dangers to guard against along the coast. Approaching St. Thomas from the eastward two small islands will be observed on the south side, Frenchman Cap and Buck Island. French- man Cap is southernmost, and lies 208 degrees, four and one third miles from Dog Island, at the eastern extremity of St. Thomas. It is a remarkable islet, 300 yards long, 200 yards broad, and 195 feet high, covered with long grass and steep-to. On the northern side there are depths of six to eight fathoms at 400 yards from the islet, and on the southern side twenty- four fathoms at 200 yards. Buck Island is three quar- ters of a mile in length, 120 feet high in the eastern part, and lies about one and a half miles from the nearest shore of St. Thomas. It is steep-to on its southern side. Off the western end a shallow ledge extends to the distance of 100 yards, and to the north the sea depth is five fathoms at the same distance. Good landing will be found in the little bay on the west. 57 58 The Virgin Islands On Buck Island the Danish Government has con- structed a new lighthouse and a quarantine station, which was completed on August 1, 1916. The light- house is on the highest north-eastern point of Buck Island, and the light shines forth from a square white tower 2914 feet high. It shows three flashes every twenty seconds, namely, light 14 second, dark 3% seconds, light 14 second, dark 324 seconds, light 1g second, dark 1124 seconds. The height of the flame above the sea is about 125 feet and it is visible about 17.5 nautical miles, with illuminative powers for 23 nautical miles, and lenticular apparatus of the sixth class. The position of the lighthouse is: north latitude 18° 16’ 48”; west longitude 64° 53’ 36’. In the bear- ings from about 304° to about 309° the light is hidden for about 2.4 nautical miles by the summit of the south- eastern part of theisland. The lighthouse is unguarded. The harbour of St. Thomas is practically land- locked, with the town of Charlotte Amalie directly facing its mouth. It lies in latitude 18° 20’ N., longi- tude 65° 56’ W. The harbour’s entrance is narrow, three hundred yards wide at its narrowest part, but it has no bar and being open to the southward, is easy of ingress or egress night or day. It spreads out on either side into a circular basin about three quarters of a mile in diameter, with a mud and soft clay bot- tom, and the average depth of the water is six fathoms. On the eastern point of the harbour entrance, which is called ‘‘Muhlenfel’s Point,” is a lighthouse from whose. circular iron red tower, 118 feet above sea-level, is shown a revolving white light, that gives one flash every fifteen seconds that can be seen from a distance -~- Harbour of St. Thomas 59 of twelve to twenty miles at sea. Here is located also the old quarantine station. Directly opposite, on the western point, ‘‘Cowell’s Battery’ is the Govern- ment’s Signal Station, which notifies the pilots as to the nationality and the point from which they are coming, of all vessels passing or entering the port. On the centre hill of the town are two fixed red range lights in white towers; the rear light is 303 feet and the front light 198 feet; above the sea. Each light is visible ten miles and in line lead in mid-channel bearing 346°. The lights are intensified for 3° on each side of the range. They mark the direct centre of the harbour from the entrance. A fixed green light, visible two miles, is shown from the end of the jetty, which extends west-south-westward from the water battery of Fort Christian. A fixed red light, visible two miles, also is shown from the western angle of King’s Wharf. At the narrowest part of the channel into the harbour, about a half a mile north of the lighthouse, lies the so- called Prince Rupert’s Rock. At its base large boul- ders, which are only just covered at high water, extend westward fifty yards. This group is whitewashed, and on the westernmost rock is an iron beacon with white staff and ball thirteen feet high. On the south the rocks are steep-to at thirty yards off. Between them and ‘‘ Havernsight Point’ the water is only twelve to fifteen feet deep. There are no port or other similar charges on vessels in ballast or on those calling for orders, or to replenish their bunkers with coal, fuel-oil, etc., and vessels arriving in distress also are free from all charges, provided they are not condemned. The government’s pilots meet all vessels outside the harbour, but pilotage 60 The Virgin Islands is optional. The pilot’s tariff for the piloting of vessels to and from the harbour is as follows: Ships-of-war, steamers belonging to companies habitu- ally using a pilot, steamers entering for the purpose of replenishing their bunkers with fuel-oil or coal or for discharging coal or receiving orders: Draught. Day. Night. 12 feet inclusive...............--8 4.00..........004. $ 6.00 From 12 to 16 feet............. 500... cee eee eee 8.00 16 20 “LL eee 8.00. . 6.6... e ee eee 12.00 “20 “24 12.00..........005- 16.00 Over 24 feet.............0000. 16.00....... 200-0 ee 20.00 Other steamers: 12 feet inclusive..............208 6.00..........0000. $ 8.00 From 12 to 16 feet ............. 8.00.............. 12.00 “ 16 “20 “ eee I2.00..... 0.00. 18.00 20 “24 Lecce eee 18.00.........0-005 24.00 Over 24 feet..... 0.2... eee ee eee 24.00... . 00. eee eee 32.00 For warping in the harbour, when demanded, the charges are the same as for piloting from the harbour. For mooring, when demanded, the charge is half the amount fixed for warping, but not less than $2.00. Sailing Vessels: To the Harbour. From the Harbour. Draught Day. Night. Day. Night. 10 feet inclusive.............$ 2.00.....$ 3.00.....$ 2.00.....$ 3.00 From Io to 12 feet .......... 3.00..... 4.50..... 2.00..... 3.00 “a2 “iq “ou, 4.00..... 6.00..... 3.00..... 4.00 14 “16 eee eee 5000... 7.500... 3.50..... 5.00 “16 “18 “ Lee 6.00..... 9.00..... 4.00..... 6.00 “18 “20 “ oo... eee 7.00..... 10.50..... 5.00..... 7.00 “ 20 “22 “ .......... 8.00..... 12.00..... 6.00..... 8.00 “22 “a4 oo........ 10.00..... 15.00..... 7.00..... 10.00 Over 24 feet............2... 15.00..... 24.00..... I0.00..... 15.00 JOTAR], “AY ase Aq oyoug esnoyyysry puvys, yong Shipping at St. Thomas 61 The former light dues are abolished. Ship’s dues are payable by vessels discharging or partly discharging, loading or partly loading, in the following manner: (1) Vessels of 50 registered tons and upwards, per ton of goods discharged or laden................. $0.50 (2) Vessels upward of 20 registered tons, but under 50 registered tons, per ton of goods discharged or laden... 1. cece eee tee eeene 0.25 (3) Vessels of 20 registered tons or less, that dis- charge one ton of goods or upwards, per registered ton of entire burden, inward and outward......... 0.15 (4) Sailing vessels under the Danish flag trading between what were formerly the Danish West Indian Islands, that discharge or load one ton of goods or upwards, per registered ton of entire burden....... 0.02 (5) Steamers under the Danish flag trading between what were formerly the Danish West Indian Islands, per ton of goods discharged orladen............. 0.02 (6) Vessels of 50 registered tons and upward dis- charging or transshipping coal, for every registered ton discharged... 0... . eee eee eee $0.32 (7) Vessels of 50 registered tons and upward, loading coal from the shore or in other vessel, pay no ship dues on account of the coal. (8) Vessels mentioned sub 1 and 2, to or from which cargo, excepting coal, is transshipped, two fifths of the charges specified sub 1 and 2; but should the trans- shipment be effected from and to vessels of the same line, the charge specified sub 1 will be but one eighth. (9) Vessels registered in what were formerly the Danish West Indian Islands are exempt from ship dues when the voyage does not go beyond the customs dis- trict of St. Thomas, which comprises the islands of 62 The Virgin Islands St. Thomas and St. John, with the islets thereto belonging. Ships of war and other government vessels, Danish or foreign, not used in the carrying trade, are exempt from ship dues. As soon as a vessel has anchored, the clearance, manifest, bills of lading, and other documents relating to the cargo shall be delivered’ upon demand to the Harbour Master or his assistant, who shall forthwith hand them over to the Custom House. The master of the vessel shall furthermore, within twenty-four hours after the arrival of the vessel, appear in person at the Custom House and deposit the vessel’s certificate of measurement or register, or any corresponding ship’s paper, which document will remain in the keeping of the Custom House until the vessel is cleared out- wards, unless the said ship’s papers are deposited at the Consulate of the nation to which the vessel belongs. In that case the Consul becomes officially responsible for the appearance of the papers whenever required until the vessel is cleared at the Custom House. Before commencing the discharge, not later than twenty-four hours after the arrival of the vessel, the master shall _sign at the Custom House the general ‘‘Entry” made out there concerning the entire cargo, including a statement as to what part of the cargo is destined, respectively, for landing, transshipment, and for ex- portation in the same vessel. If a vessel enters in ballast the master is bound by the regulations respect- ing the delivery of documents showing what the vessel carries, as well as the ship’s papers, and must make, entries that are required for vessels arriving with cargo. If a vessel arrives on a holiday, or on the day before a holiday, the time allowed the master to make general &: 7 “4 zi rt chee , viet ae am heey a 1 ty a id Pr ES jee ity tf Bs Dt “a Lf; = rit sf EA -f oS b 1t if te . 4a rf 2 os fi . a 1b a uf! fea aa a4 " it tee hp i '{ ve ” f ud R is pot a as 4 D. ss a fh, Shipping at St. Thomas 63 entry is extended twenty-four hours for each intervening holiday. When clearing a vessel, the master shall sign the clearance, which, if it be for a foreign port, may be made under general heads, such as provisions, dry- goods, etc. But according to the old regulations if it was destined for the mother country or another of the Danish West Indies the report of the whole cargo must specify marks, numbers, contents, net or gross weight, and measurement of gauge, and must state whether the goods are exported for account of the master or others. Upon arrival of all vessels, before pratique is allowed with the shore, the vessel is boarded by the Health Officer of the port, to whom the bill of health from the last port is to be delivered. Passengers and crew are to be lined up for inspection. The cost of this visit is for a ship or any other three-masted vessel, brig, brigan- tine, or any steamer of two hundred tons or upward, $3.00; for a schooner, sloop, or smaller vessel, $2.00. Between six P.M. and six A.M. the fee is double. When the Health Officer is ordered to visit on board a vessel in consequence of disease having occurred while in port or during the voyage, or because the vessel has come from an infected or suspected port, the fees are the same as above. If it is found necessary to place the ship under quarantine observation of some duration, or under quarantine for the purpose of discharging or disinfecting, the following further charges will event- ually be made: For the Health Officer’s additional visits, fees as above specified; for quarantine guard on board, not more than $1.00 per day for each person and board as one of the crew, and materials for fumigation at their cost. The fumigation fee is $10.00. 64 The Virgin Islands If any of the crew is placed in quarantine at the Station the cost of same per day is: First class board and lodging, $2.50; second class board and lodging, $1.75; third class board and lodging, $1.00. Stranded vessels, and vessels that on account of contrary winds, damage sustained at sea, or other dis- astrous occurrences, or for the purpose of saving the cargo, put into the port are exempt from ship dues inward and outward so far as it concerns the goods brought and re-exported in the vessel. The cargo discharged from such a vessel, but re-exported for account of the original owners in the same vessel, or in another vessel, is also exempt from import duty, provided that the exportation takes place within one year from the importation. Prices Asked for Various Accommodations and Supplies. Lighterage. Yor lighters, of from ten to fifteen tons capacity, without labour, per day, $5.00. Ballast. Rock or sand ballast can be obtained at $1.00 per ton, f. 0. b. Bunkers. ‘There are all facilities for the bunkering of vessels, day or night, with all grades of coal, and fuel oil. The port is so completely protected that steamers can lie alongside the coal wharves in perfect safety, even during the hurricane months. American coal, such as Pocohontas, New River, Eureka, etc., has been selling at the rate of $6.00 per ton alongside. Trim- ming in bunkers costs twopence per ton extra. When ships are supplied in the stream from lighters, two shil- lings per ton extra are charged. Merchant vessels can be supplied at the rate of from 60 to 150 tons per hour, day or night, according to their bunker accommodations. 7 a | ( NN te “(9 3 ine Hed Ser aib % Mw ” 1 lace by wire ~~ = eee Signal Station, St. Thomas Photo by Clare E. Taylor whe a i i {! PRs en. ae Ln wnt Fy am, a, Be ae, aad i a peneseenars eens Pen cas 3% =e ae poe tae ets —~- —— ee ye ~~ a awe aera mae > @ we Floating Dock, St. Thomas Photo by A. Ovesen Hosted by Google Shipping at St. Thomas 65 Water. Water is usually supplied at present from large water boats, and is pumped into the ship by motor boats. The present prevailing price is $1.00 per tun of 250 gallons. Docking. There is a floating dock measuring 250 feet in length and 70 feet in width, and having a gross lifting weight of 3000 tons. Vessels with a 300-foot keel, drawing 20 feet of water, can be taken up. The charge for docking varies from 60 to 90 cents per ton for the first day, and for succeeding days it ranges as low as 10 cents. There is also a repairing slip, on which vessels are taken at the same rates. The facilities for repairing are excellent, there being many competent ship carpenters, sailmakers, and rig- gers, also an up-to-date machine repairing shop. Stevedores. There are many stevedores on the island who are always ready to make tenders for the discharg- ing and loading of vessels. Warehouses. There are many large warehouses, constructed of metal, stone, wood, etc., both on the wharves and in the town, that shipmasters can hire at reasonable rates. Stores. Ship stores are obtainable nearly as cheap as in the United States, owing to the nominal import duty. The principal imports at St. Thomas are coal, fuel oil, lumber, general provisions, dry-goods, spirits, etc. ; while the chief articles of export are bay rum, hices, and skins. There is no export duty. 5 CHAPTER IX THE WEST INDIAN COMPANY AND OTHERS Capital stock—Operations at: St. Thomas—A gigantic project— Dredging and reclamation of land areas—Description of dock and accessories—Facilities for supplying steamers—Board of Directors —The East Asiatic Company—St. Thomas Dock, Engineering and Coaling Company—Large floating dock—Creque’s Marine Slip and Coal Yard. THE West Indian Company, Ltd., a joint-stock company organized under the laws of Denmark on October 16, 1912, with domicile originally in Copen- hagen, is the largest concern dealing intimately with the affairs of St. Thomas; and its new harbour works, coaling station, and complements in Longbay promise to be, when fully completed, the finest of their kind in the West Indies. This organization might be regarded as an offspring of the East Asiatic Company, Ltd., which established a successful business in the Danish West Indies in 1903. Its interests here now, however, and since the end of 1915, are in the hands of the West Indian Co., Ltd., which acts as its agent. To return the compliment, so to speak, the East Asiatic Company, Ltd., represents the interests of its St. Thomas successor in Copenhagen. The capital of this new syndicate is Kr. 6,000,000 ($1,680,000), divided into Kr. 3,000,000 stock shares, and Kr. 3,000,coo 4% interest-bearing bonds, of which 66 The West Indian Company 67 Kr. 2,291,300 was paid in on December 31, 1913, leaving an unpaid balance of Kr. 708,700. Practically all of these interests are in Danish hands, the controlling stock being held by the East Asiatic Co., Ltd., under whose auspices the preliminary surveys were begun in the year 1904. Serious work was started in May, 1913, the company being represented in St. Thomas by three engineers from the mother country,——Messrs. K. B. Hey, Oluf Olsen, and H. Linde; while the principal contracting firm, Messrs. Monberg, Saabye & Lerche, was represented by Baron Lerche and Mr. Kjaer Petersen. On October 9, 1915, the company’s head- quarters were transferred to St. Thomas. In the early part of 1916 formal announcement was made that the first large section of their extensive new harbour works had been completed, the depth of the water in the harbour and in Longbay basin having been increased to 31 feet (9.5 metres), while new quays and wharves had been constructed totalling 3200 feet (970 metres) in length. The wharves are provided with modern methods for securing vessels alongside. The present work is but a part of a more gigantic project that its promoters, in anticipation of a generous share of the Panama Canal trade, planned to carry into effect in the island. This original undertaking, which would have required a capital stock of not less than $7,000,000, embraced the reclamation of the entire east- ern corner of St. Thomas harbour, where there is a natur- ally spacious basin, and the erection there of piers, warehouses, oil tanks, electric light plants, huge water reservoirs, machine-shops, a dry-dock, and a break- water, such as would have made the St. Thomas port the best equipped of any in the Caribbean Sea. Various obstacles were met with, however,—principally the 68 The Virgin Islands difficulty in procuring all the necessary funds from purely Danish investors, which was very desirable,— with the result that the original plans were pared down so as to accommodate themselves to the Danish capital already subscribed. The spot selected for the company’s operations lies in an inward curve of the land that forms a perfect semicircle from Havernsight Point to Fredericksberg Point, but a short distance east of the Custom House and King’s Wharf, which directly faces the harbour mouth. This area, which is admirably situated for docking purposes, comprises a basin of water approxi- mating 2430 feet across and extending inward some 2000 feet. The hills on this part of the island half encircle the spot, and form a perfect protection in times of storm. Had the original scheme been adhered to, the entire shore of this basin would have been re- claimed, and dock embankments would have been built around the entire curve, with a projecting pier 2000 feet long in the centre, a dry-dock 800 feet in length at the seaward end, and a breakwater to afford greater protection in rough weather from the south. Considerable dredging was found necessary in order to make the approach to the dock practicable for vessels drawing 30 feet of water, and a channel, varying from 400 to 500 feet in width, has been dredged out. Owing, also, to the narrow margin of the shore— scarcely more than a strip at the base of the hills— it was found necessary to build land along the entire portion of the curve, and this has been done with the sand, clay, and shells dredged from the channel, the result being the reclamation of approximately 50 acres of ground, which represents a filling-in of over 600,000 cubic yards of soil. Upon this area already stand the Pt nad ne wm ae ae Wes, oes Lio at ee a 44y 2 Dock and Wharves of the West Indian Company = — = Parc ai vw se oat shy Bia ig tae ~ My Huge Coal Crane Laid Low by Hurricane Photo by Clare E. Taylor Hosted by Google The West Indian Company 69 two coal cranes, and the space for the coal supplies, two large oil tanks, a pumping plant, a warehouse, and the electric power plant. It is proposed to construct a second large warehouse later on, and should future conditions in St. Thomas warrant it, there is ample space for the erection of two or three good-sized fac- tory buildings, for the profitable manufacture of such articles as are at present imported at considerable expense. In addition to the 50 acres of reclaimed land, the company possesses about 30 acres of land that immediately adjoins, and another 40 acres near by. The dock itself has an iron facing of sheet-piling, known as the Larssen system, which consists of trough- like piles, seven eighths of an inch thick, which alter- nately turns the trough inward and outward, the piles being kept together by rivets along the edge of each. They are kept in place partly by being driven into the solid ground and partly by being bolted to a system of wooden piles on the landward side. The wooden piles, of which over 8000 were used, are of American yellow pine, averaging from eight to fourteen inches in diameter and from sixteen to fifty feet long. The space between the piles has been filled in with soil dredged from the bottom of the channel. The pier measures 2100 feet in length, with a bridge extension of 264 feet from its west end. The depth of the water along the whole length of the pier is 3114 (Eng.) feet at mean low water, with a height above mean sea-level of 81% feet. There is accommodation for 180,000 tons of coal, and two large electric conveyors have been provided for discharging and bunkering, each capable of delivering 150 tons per hour. The coal is weighed automatically on Officially adjusted weighing scales. These coal- 70 The Virgin Islands conveyors cover a space of 1200 by 241 feet, which represents the ground covered by the conveyors in moving over the tracks. On the adjoining area is a large warehouse suitable for storing cargo of all kinds. It is constructed of corrugated iron sheets, with lower roof of asbestos sheets, and a concrete floor. It is 450 feet long, 52 feet wide, and 24 feet high from the floor to the eaves of the roof. Directly back of the coal cranes two oil tanks have been erected, 110 feet in diameter, 30 feet high, with a capacity of 8000 tons each. Pipes lead to the quay berths, including the oil pier which is 264 feet long. A pumping plant of two force-pumps for receiving and discharging oil through the pipe lines that lead from the tanks to the wharf front, where connections are made with the ships, is capable of pumping fuel oil on board at the rate of 300 tons per hour. Fresh water is obtained from three nearby wells, and can be delivered aboard vessels at the rate of 15 tons (250 gallons to the ton) per hour. Later on seven additional wells will be drilled, a filter station and reservoir will be built to contain one thousand tons, and when the business of the company demands, a second reservoir will be constructed capable of holding two thousand tons. In addition to supplying what vessels may come into St. Thomas, these reservoirs will be ample to accommodate the needs of the town, should future opportunities arise for such service. Upon the receipt of the necessary machinery, delivery pipes will be extended the entire length of the wharves, making it possible to supply vessels with fresh water at the rate of 50 tons per hour. For the lighting and operation of the dock by elec- The West Indian Company 71 tricity a power house (built on hardwood piles, with a concrete foundation) has been erected, and here two Diesel motors of 300 horsepower each have been in- stalled. The lighting on the docks is done by metallic incandescent lamps of 400 candle-power. A pumping- house, for cooling the motors with sea-water, has also been put up and connected with the engine rooms. The dynamos and coal cranes used are manufactured by the firm of Titan, in Copenhagen, while the Diesel motors have been purchased from Burmeister & Wain of that city. The lighting system, besides supplying. all the needs of the dock, furnishes lights for the city, which until recently depended upon gas, and has facilities in readiness for operating a wireless station, whenever such may be erected. These plants have been installed by Messrs. Andersen & Meyer, Copenhagen, and the West Indian Company itself. The West Indian Company, Ltd., has a small ma- chine-shop at present but plans in the future to enlarge its plant and extend the scope of its work. In addition to its operations already indicated, the Company undertakes the loading and discharging of vessels, and for those anchored away from their wharves has provided four iron lighters (two having a capacity of 300 tons, and two of 70 tons) and nine wooden lighters (one of 10 tons capacity, and the others ranging between 15 and 25 tons capacity). Besides these the company owns one iron water boat (of 22 tons capacity) and three wooden water boats (of 18 to 20 tons capacity) and a lighter with motor pump attachment for pumping water. The work has been carried out entirely by Danish engineers and mechanics, of whom about fifty were brought out from Denmark; while native labour found 720 The Virgin Islands employment to the extent of about three hundred persons. The pay given to the natives was sixty cents a day for unskilled hands and $1.25 for mechanics. The total cost, up to date, for the first large section of the extensive works, including electrical plant and the lighting of the city, approximates $1,500,000, and it is estimated a further sum of $500,000 will be needed before the present plans are entirely completed. His Royal Highness, Prince Valdemar of Denmark, is the Protector of the company, and the Board of Directors consists of: Governor L. C. Helweg-Larsen, Chairman; Captain H. P. Berg (who is also the Man- aging Director of the company, with head offices in St. Thomas); and Messrs. A. H. Lockhart, I. de Lugo, P. Schack-Eyber, and V. P. Thorsen. The East Asiatic Company, Ltd., founded in the year 1897, is reputed to be one of Denmark’s most enterprising and successful steamship concerns. The company’s head office is at Copenhagen, with branches in Bankok, Singapore, Shanghai, Vladivostok, San Francisco, and Valparaiso. It owns many fine steamers, embodying all the latest improvements, and in addition to its shipping other departments re- present many varied activities. Formerly a monthly steamship service was maintained with the West Indies, with an office at St. Thomas. This was estab- lished in the year 1903 in order, so it is reported, to help the Danish West Indies when the question of their sale to the United States was on the carpet. A noteworthy success attended these efforts. Its coal depot in the harbour was up to a few years ago one of the finest and best equipped in the West Indies. Its site is on the left-hand side of the entrance to St. Thomas harbour, on a slope of Orkan- Oe ayers, Dr. Viggo Christensen, Whose Sug- Hon. C. H. Payne, American Con- sul at St. Thomas for Fourteen gestion Gave Rise to the Name Years “The Virgin Islands of the United States of America” Photo by Funker Jensen ate fhe nes bere oo - itr 4 “rep wy mmanpete oz Are hee ~* ah vaste * geal tl do! ae View over West Indian Company’s Plant after the Hurricane Photo by Clare E. Taylor wy, or Py 4) Hosted by Google St. Thomas Dock Company 73 shullet Island. It is located on a wooden wharf that has a frontage of 300 feet, with 31 feet of water along- side. Since the completion of the extensive harbour works of the West Indian Company, Ltd., however, the old East Asiatic docks and coaling station have remained practically unused. During the second half of the year 1914 the West India line was run somewhat irregularly, owing to the war. The total number of callings at St. Thomas were nevertheless somewhat numerous, as the company’s ships, which passed through the Panama Canal, all called at St. Thomas to discharge cargo for trans- shipment to the Antilles. About this time the work on the new harbour in Longbay for the new ‘West Indian Co., Ltd.,” in which the East Asiatic Co., Ltd., held controlling shares, and under whose direction the preliminary surveys were made, was drawing to a completion, and on the 4th of December, 1915, official announcement was made that the branch office of the East Asiatic Co., Ltd., in St. Thomas had been taken over by the West Indian Co., Ltd., and that the latter company would in future act as the former’s agents. All of its investments here, with the excep- tion of Water Island, were purchased by, or otherwise transferred to, the West Indian Co., Ltd., which, as agents of its parent concern, has attended to the business involved by the rare and irregular callings of its West Indian steamers. The St. Thomas Dock, Engineering and Coaling Company, Ltd.,.is the product of an amalgamation of the West Indian interests of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and the St. Thomas Dock Company, effected in July, 1909, and its head offices are in London. One of the company’s chief assets is its floating dock, 74 The Virgin Islands 250 feet long, 70 feet broad, which is capable of accom- modating vessels of 3000 tons, gross weight, a keel of 300 feet, and a draft of 20 feet. The company’s wharf on a slope of Orkanshullet Island, on the left-hand side of the entrance to St. Thomas harbour, is 220 feet long, and has a depth alongside of 31 feet. On the wharf isa small warehouse, a crane capable of lifting 20 tons, and space for the accommodation of a limited supply of coal and water. The Dartmouth Coaling Company is in reality the agent for the St. Thomas coal supply business at this wharf, and 10,000 tons were sold during the year 1915. The water tanks are capable of holding 1100 tons. The St. Thomas Dock, Engineering and Coaling Co., Ltd., owns four iron lighters (one of 50, two of 25, and one of 15 tons capacity), and three water boats,—two of iron (of 25 and 15 tons capacity, respectively), and one of wood (of 8 tons capacity). Its most active interests, however, are in its machine- shop, where the work executed includes the casting of iron and brass, as well as engineering work of all kinds, for which there is a fair equipment of machinery and other facilities to meet urgent demands. The motor force of the plant is supplied by a sixty horsepower Tangye’s gas engine. The company is agent for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which, in the year 1885, moved their West Indian headquarters from St. Thomas to Barba- dos, and usually does the coaling, etc., work for the Quebec Steamship Company, the F. Leyland Company of Liverpool, and for numerous tramp steamers. Mr. Charles B. Stewart, the British Consul in St. Thomas, is the local Superintendent for this company. In the western part of the harbour, under the ruins Creque’s Marine Slip 75 of Shipley Battery, there is a marine slip, with cradle, capable of taking vessels of 400 tons. Its length is 156 feet and its width 30 feet. The pier is 200 feet long, and the depth of water alongside is 31 feet. There are accommodations for coal supplies, but very little business is being done at present along these lines. This concern formerly went under the name of the “Orkanshullet Island Coal and Oil Fuel Depot,’’ and cost its original promoters approximately a quarter of a million dollars. A disinclination of a majority of the shareholders to meet an additional outlay in connection with the undertaking resulted in its sale, at a nominal price in 1910 to Mr. Henry O. Creque. This gentleman has since died, but the marine slip, coaling, and shipping business that he formerly carried on is now being conducted by his son, Mr. Hermann O. Creque. CHAPTER X STEAMER SERVICE Hamburg-American Line—Steamers received by this company in St. Thomas in 1913—Money paid out to natives—Coal depot and wharves—Fine office building—History and activities of the Quebec Steamship Company—Compagnie Générale Transatlan- tique—Connections at San Juan—lInter-island service—Arrivals and departures of vessels in 1916. The Hamburg-American Line, which was founded in 1847, extended its service to the West Indies in 1871, and in 1873 established its West Indian office » at St. Thomas. From the date of its first appearance in these waters, a steady increase in business followed its efforts, up to the time of the outbreak of the present European war. During the calendar year 1913 the total number of German steamers that were re- ceived by this company at St. Thomas numbered 177, of which 172 belonged to the fleet of the Hamburg- American Line; and an increase would have followed in the succeeding year had the war not interfered, inas- much as the number of steamers registered at St. Thomas up to the first of August, 1914, totalled 104. Practically all of this number proceeded from Hamburg to the West Indies. Transshipping business for the year preceding the war included 350,000 packages, containing general merchandise, besides 900 tons of wood. During the St. Thomas financial year (from 76 Steamer Service 77 April Ist to March 31st), 1913-1914, 63,000 tons of coal were sold from its wharves. The American “Eureka’”’ was most generally used, and was imported through the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company of New York. The financial year 1914-1915 found but 28,000 tons of coal utilized, and for the past year no supplies at all are reported to have been brought in. Employing many hundreds of the natives of St. Thomas for the coaling of their vessels, the Hamburg- American Line paid out to them for their services an average amount of Fr. 125,000 ($24,125.00) monthly; and this sum sometimes rose as high as Fr. 150,000. The benefits that have been lost to the local community on account of the temporary forced abandonment of this shipping business needs no comment. It has for the most part affected the labourers, who depended almost entirely upon this source for their livelihood, and it is of deep concern also to the local tradespeople and others who profited largely by their sales to the ships’ officers and crews, as well as to the great number of tourists that these steamers regularly brought here. The coal depot and wharves of the Hamburg- American Line occupy about eight acres of land (three of which are rented and five owned) on the slope of Orkanshullet Island, on the left-hand side of the entrance to St. Thomas harbour. The company’s dock frontage is 300 feet, with a depth of 30 feet of water alongside. Plans are in mind for an extension of its docks at the conclusion of the war. The company has three large warehouses, one constructed of iron and two of stone. These are capable of storing a whole steamer’s cargo. The tanks and cisterns for water have a capacity of approximately 1500 tons. Rain- water chiefly is used in St. Thomas, and excellent 78 The Virgin Islands facilities are provided by the Hamburg-American Line for its conservation above the coaling depot; a gal- vanized iron roof painted white and having across its centre the huge letters H. A. L. catches the water and conveys it to large tanks below. The most perfect of their rainwater systems, however, can be observed in the large new office building, directly facing King’s Wharf where, on the third storey and just below the roof, are tanks and cisterns that hold 60 tons of water. When these are full, or whenever the water is needed, a splendid system of pipe lines conveys it readily to another large tank, in the yard below, holding 80 tons. Two steel water boats are in service, which are, respectively, of 15 and 25 tons capacity. The company possesses, for the accommodation of its lighters, a marine slip, which has a steam engine attachment for hauling. Six lighters are employed, totalling 400 tons capacity, the smallest of 10 tons, the largest of 100 tons, while the remaining have from 60 to 80 tons capacity. Steam launches are employed for towing these lighters, and the company owns also a large up-to-date motor launch for passenger transport service. The office building of the Hamburg-American Line is one of the best constructed and most imposing edi- fices in St. Thomas. Besides, its location, next to King’s Wharf and directly facing the entrance to the harbour, is all that could be desired. The building is of concrete construction. Two floors are for office purposes and the third storey is filled with water tanks and cisterns. Special precautions were taken in the building to insure against possible damage from earth- quakes. The building is 130 feet in length, 85 feet in width, and cost approximately $60,000.00. It was “ne yt if ‘| \ nt $F i! 'y wai | ial io oe ty h Ms » * f fi | =< / a) | it ;{ a; mame vou o4 ay 4 a wee om I ft we i i im) a] lf Hag A ed 4 | ' Ay il i i] Aull ba th it a3 iy } a] ( |, pt a ie a tt He a wa al | “q Ie HT | Z ae Ra Ny 1] nt ' me ie q o i | p> \\ if te | vk we! tj \ \ he dk. ft re \4 i a a tox ~E ¢ 3 | Hl Le paid Ah 1 A mt 4 mee. wErrere iE Hosted by Google Steamer Service 79 completed in July, 1914. The second storey is utilized for office purposes by the company itself, while the lower floor is at present vacant. The management of the St. Thomas business has been since August, 1913, under the direction of Mr. Julius Jochimsen, who holds also the office of local German Consul. A regular semi-monthly West Indian service for both freight and passengers is carried on by the Quebec Steamship Company, whose New York offices are located at No. 32 Broadway. Three of the steamers are fitted out with comfortable passenger accommoda- tions and proceed from New York to Demerara, British Guiana, stopping at all of the important island ports en route. St. Thomas is the first port touched at go- ing south and the last place visited on the trip north. Frederiksted, St. Croix, is visited in each direction and during the sugar-shipping season a few calls are made at Christiansted. However, owing to the unfavorable condition of the harbour at the latter place, the Quebec Line goes there only when the weather conditions are satisfactory. The Quebec Steamship Company was founded in the year 1867 in conformity with the laws of the Dominion of Canada, under the name of the Quebec and Gulf Ports Steamship Company, with its head office at Quebec. Having established itself at New York by opening a line from there to Bermuda in 1874, the company in 1880 started the first steam communication between New York and the Windward Islands, when it operated several steamers of 1500 to 2000 tonnage. To-day the company employs for this service the steamship Guiana, which was built in England in 1907 and has a displacement of 7300 tons; the Parima with 80 The Virgin Islands a displacement of 6870 tons, and the Korona of 6450 tons. In addition, two freight steamers, the Canadian and the Trinidad, are run on this line, carrying large cargoes of foodstuffs from New York to St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Demerara, and taking back from these places cargoes of sugar, molasses, lime juice, fresh limes, and general cargo. A monthly service between St. Thomas and San Juan, Porto Rico, is maintained by the steamship A bd-el-Kader of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. This boat sails from ports in Cuba, Haiti, Santo Domingo, and Porto Rico to ports in the Lesser Antilles. It takes seven and a half hours for the trip from San Juan to St. Thomas and the fare is now twenty dollars, having been raised from eight dollars since the be- ginning of the European war. Passengers, mail, and freight are carried, but as the steamer does not stop at St. Croix transshipments for that island have to be made at St. Thomas. At San Juan it is possible to connect with direct steamers for the United States, Cuba, Santo Domingo, South America, France, and Spain. Previous to the middle of 1914, it was not necessary to go to San Juan for these connections as the following lines were making regular calls at St. Thomas: Hamburg-American Line, the East Asiatic Company, Ltd., Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, Leyland Line, Quebec Steamship Company, Royal Dutch West Indian Mail, La Véloce Company, and the Herrera Steamship Line. On April 24, 1916, there was inaugurated between St. Thomas and Fajardo, Porto Rico, a regular weekly sailing service by means of which mails are despatched Steamer Service 81 from what were the Danish West Indies to Porto Rico and the United States every Monday and the return mails brought from Porto Rico to St. Thomas on the following Thursday. Mr. Emile A. Berne, a prominent business man of St. Thomas, is at the head of the enterprise and for the present is employing for this service his five-ton sloop Oriole, which for some months previous had been making irregular trips to and from Porto Rico for the accommodation of such passengers and small cargo business as could not await the monthly sailings of the French line steamships. A subsidy of approximately $50.00 per month, for a period of six months, was subscribed to the Oriole service by the St. Thomas business men, when this service was first started, and it was hoped to increase this amount to $80.00 per month. The Oriole can comfortably accommodate five pas- sengers, and the present price of a ticket between St. Thomas and Fajardo is ten dollars. The sloop generally leaves St. Thomas at nine o’clock Monday evenings and, with a fair breeze, can make Fajardo on the following morning. Immediately after its inauguration, the postal authorities in Porto Rico resolved to make use of the Oriole’s weekly trips to Fajardo and to establish the desired weekly mail service with St. Thomas. Accord- ing to the present arrangement, the mail for St. Thomas and her sister islands is received at the Post Office in San Juan up to 9 o’clock on Wednesday evenings so as to be despatched on the following morning in time to reach Fajardo by midday on Thursdays when the Oriole is scheduled to leave, arriving in St. Thomas, weather and tide permitting, on Friday morning. In addition, the postmaster in Porto Rico communicated 6 82 The Virgin Islands with the New York postal authorities for the despatch from that port to Porto Rico of any American mail destined for the former Danish West Indies, excepting when a steamship was going from New York directly to St. Thomas, and as a result the St. Thomians are able to receive their American and European mail at least once every week, whereas formerly the intervals between the receipt of the foreign mails sometimes © extended over a month’s time. In conjunction with the weekly service of the Oriole, Mr. Berne put in operation his new, twenty-one ton motor-boat Carmen during the early part of January, 1916, and shortly afterwards established an automobile service between Fajardo and San Juan, by means of which passengers are enabled to purchase tickets from St. Thomas direct to San Juan. The price of these through tickets is $15.00 one way, and $25.00 for the round trip. In addition, this motor-boat is being used for excursion purposes, whenever there is a demand, among the three islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, as well as Porto Rico and the neighbouring island of Tortola. Between St. Thomas and St. Croix the sloop Mizpah maintains a semi-weekly service, carrying mail and passengers. The Mizpah leaves St. Thomas every Monday and Friday at midday, and with favouring winds and seas takes about six hours to make the trip. Other small craft carry on an irregular service between these two islands, and at all times some kind of a sea- going craft can be hired to make the trip should such be found desirable. The distance from St. Thomas to St. Croix is about forty-two miles and with the exception of the afore- mentioned Mizpah the only regular means of trans- * “= eo te SE ‘ AS = de KS i te Ye a ved Para RS oe Nic pt Me \ ae Sy ¥, Paid (a aoa ct i» . o Met > ee Say +3 ee Kus oh SORE: re Coal Women in St. Thomas ee Su mane # ok ,e 2» ote j we we EE: _e en a a inn ) Vd th ne, aw a), ew 3 be kt * > Foust? Ns ta “4 Se “4 is a 2<- 07, a (2 a oe / J yeh ww 44 ‘/ “ss TE — s j ' > -. mere: we — on od nnn illest ine Cane Gatherers Photo by A. Ovesen Hosted by Google Steamer Service 83 portation is by the steamers of the Quebec Steamship Company. The fare is $3.00 one way, either by steamer or sloop. Two semi-weekly sailing services are regularly carried on between St. Thomas and St. John, one by a nine- ton mail boat, which sails on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the other by a twenty-ton sloop owned and operated by Mr. A. H. Lockhart, which carries passengers and small freight, and which also makes her trips on Tues- days and Fridays. Motor-boats, sloops, and sailing craft of various sizes and descriptions make irregular trips between St. Thomas and St. John, as well as to the neighbouring islands of Porto Rico, Tortola, etc., and can be counted on for such service at almost any time. The following table shows the arrivals and departures of vessels of all nationalities at the port of St. Thomas during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1916. STEAMSHIPS AND MOTOR-BOATS No. Nationality, Tonnage. 28.0... eee Danish... es eee eee eee 43,876 5 7, a English owe eee eee 241,854 a French ........ beeeeeee 25,577 I6...... 0.00... ee eee Norwegian .................. 24,121 i Swedish ..... Lecce eee eee 5,494 Teceeeeceseeeeeeee Dutch cece ee eee eee eee 10,796 i American ...............05. 97,293 Qeeccec cece cece eee Dominican................006 310 | Spanish ..... 0... eee eee .. 2,857 Qeeesee cece ccc eeees Mexican ..............-05. 5,074 5, Brazilian ...............0.. 5,053 241 Total 462,305 84 The Virgin Islands SAILING VESSELS No. Nationality. Tonnage. 7 Danish ww. eee eee eee 5,361 Bh4ecececec cere cceeee English ww. eee eee eee 2,263 evccececeeeeerccee French ws. eee eee eee 332 ) Norwegian ..........0.0e eee 9,843, 2: Dutch... eee eee eee .. 1,549 BO. cece cee cence ene American ..............005- 7,562 | rs Russian ow... eee eee 451 sO b> a 6) 9 27,361 CHAPTER XI HARBOUR FACILITIES Lack of good harbours in St. Croix—Wharf at Frederiksted—Coral reefs outside Christiansted—No improvements at St. John—St. Croix port charges—Import tariff. In Frederiksted, the port at which most boats stop in St. Croix, there is no protected harbour. The boats anchor about half a mile from shore in the open road- stead and the freight is lightered each way. Passengers are transported by rowboats operated by natives. The wharf is a substantial concrete structure about thirty feet wide and extending fifty feet from shore. At this distance out the water has a depth of some twelve feet. A hand-operated crane capable of lifting one ton is conveniently mounted on the wharf. The harbour at Christiansted is well protected from heavy seas, but the entrance is so filled with coral reefs that the channel is tortuous and dangerous. The boats of the Quebec Steamship Company frequently enter the harbour during the sugar-shipping season but avoid it at other times. Since most of the traffic between the islands is carried on in small sloops the harbour is adequate, although if a portion of the reef were removed a greater degree of safety would be assured them as well as larger boats. The steamers entering Christiansted anchor some 85 86 The Virgin Islands distance out in the harbour, lightering all freight. The sloops, however, can tie up to the wharf, which is similar in construction and equipment to the one at Frederik- sted. i As the island of St. John has no commerce except that which can be carried on in small sailing boats there have never been any harbours or ports built up there. However this could be done with great ease if conditions warranted it, as there are many natural harbours that have deep water and are well protected from storms. In this respect it is perhaps better off than either St. Thomas or St. Croix. The most attrac- tive of these natural harbours is Coral Bay, which according to reliable authority can be developed into a harbour larger than St. Thomas and superior to it in many respects. The largest settlement is at Cruz Bay where there is a wharf about twelve feet wide and thirty feet long and eight feet of water. As this bay is on the side of St. John nearest to St. Thomas it would afford an excellent harbour for the small craft that might ply between the islands if St. John should ever become as populous as it once was or if it were to become popular as a tourist resort, for which it is so well suited. St. Thomas is practically a free port and there are no port or wharfage dues. However, 6 cents a ton is charged on all goods handled here for transshipment. At Frederiksted wharfage is charged at the following rates: Hogshead, Io cents; tierce, 17 cents; barrel or bag, 4 cents; case, from I to 3 cents according to its size. The crane may be used free of charge. There are no wharfage dues at Christiansted but for the crane the charge is 2 cents a bag. In St. Thomas the import tariff is 6 per cent. ad — ba some nae a aioe ~— al I te SS x if Aen, 4 iN mig erg ue y ' .- Wy f 3 ty h ey ft NW Tal ai ‘tt a yy Vy it Hf, Huy HW i) te lay H fi fa Ini Heh a oO (ir — ym wee ae Bs se i Ree ~5 yo Se wes ae yee = eee ee Swe, ‘Tir, ne ~~ re S. aa pie * ae pee cai ee 4 ie Pm aig ae Som we? on es ae oe a aes we © opty ne ‘te wait ss # sees A 5S oes USt6 5 aah yeas Sea fe ae ye Ak Government House, Christiansted Photo by A. Ovesen Hosted by Google Harbour Facilities 87 valorem on all classes of merchandise and the duties are based on the invoice for the goods. St. Croix imposes an import tax even against goods which have been previously entered at St. Thomas. These taxes are in accordance with a government schedule and vary with the classifications into which imports are divided. One class, consisting of things necessary to the development of the island, such as agricultural implements, drain pipes, and windmills, is admitted duty free. The other several classes are obliged to pay the following taxes: One at fixed or specific amounts, such as lard at $2.00 per 100 pounds; one at 5 per cent.; one at 12% per cent.; one at 20 per cent.; one at 25 per cent.; and one which includes all distilled alcoholic liquors, at 5 francs (or one dollar) per gallon. CHAPTER XII IMPORTS AND EXPORTS St. Thomas the logical distributing centre—Importance of location on direct line between European ports and Panama Canal as well as between important ports of the two Americas—Imports and exports of what were formerly the Danish West Indies during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916—The United States furnishes greater part of supplies for three islands even during normal times. THE group of land areas generally denominated up to March 31, 1917, as the Danish West Indies embrace some fifty or more independent islands, but only three of these are of sufficient size and importance to be known by name to any but topographers and local inhabitants. St. Thomas lays claim to particular attention ow- ing to its possession of one of the best harbours in all the West Indies; St. John is noted as the home of the bay tree (Pimenta acris) from the leaves of which is produced the famous bay rum of these islands, with the reputation of being the finest in the world; and St. Croix, or, as the Spanish called it, Santa Cruz, is famous as a sugar-growing country and as the producer of the well-known Santa Cruz rum. Because of its peculiar geographical position, St. Thomas is the logical distributing centre for goods, from Europe or the United States, destined to any of the islands of the Caribbean or to the northern ports of South America. It is located on the direct line of communication between European ports and the en- 88 Imports and Exports 89 trance to the Panama Canal and in addition is in the path of vessels plying between the Atlantic ports of the two Americas or between the Atlantic and Pacific ports of these two continents. St. Thomas, which lies about 50 miles east of Porto Rico, is just 1444 miles from New York, 1020 miles from the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal, and 480 miles from La Guaira, the chief port of Venezuela. Its location com- mands the Virgin Passage to the Caribbean Sea, the easternmost gateway to that body of water. In normal times transportation facilities between St. Thomas and the other islands of the Lesser Antilles are fairly good, permitting a salesman with headquarters in this island to make the rounds of his business at frequent intervals; and merchandise transshipped at this point may be delivered without undue delay. The commerce of St. Thomas during normal times amounts to slightly more than one million dollars during the year, but for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916, it amounted to only about three quarters of a million dollars. The imports embrace a wide variety of articles, but the exports are confined princi- pally to bay rum and a few hides and skins. The following table shows the value of the St. Thomas imports. with principal countries of origin, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916: ARTICLES AND PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN. IQI5-16 Drugs and chemical Beverages: preparations: (a) Mineral water: Denmark........... $ 530.56 Denmark........... 8.51 Great Britain....... 874.79 Great Britain....... 48.89 France...........6 24.53 France...........+6 21.37 United States....... 2,533-69 West Indies........ 18.82 West Indies......... 316.70 Total... .....0. 97-59 Total........... $ 4,280.27 go Beverages—Continued (b) Beer, porter, and malt extract: Denmark........... $ 9,352.92 Great Britain....... 682.86 United States....... 106.88 West Indies......... 2.01 Total .........4. $10,144.67 (c) Wine: Denmark........... $ 78.86 Great Britain........ 393.19 France..........6++ 2,526.49 Germany........... 203.19 United States....... 401.38 Other countries. 994.96 Total. .......65 $4,598.07 (d) Spirits: (1) Danish brandy and aqua vite: Denmark..........- $ 485.36 Other Countries..... 27.07 Total... 1.2.2.0 $ 512.43 (2) Brandy: Great Britain....... $ 807.23 France.........+--- 343.31 Total. . 1.05.4 $ 1,150.54 (3) Gin: Great Britain....... $ 433.66 Holland............ 9,662.30 West Indies......... 2.90 Total... .....5- $10,098.86 (4) Liqueur: Denmark........... $ 159.40 France ..........6. 268.29 Total. .......5- $ 427.69 (5) Rum: West Indies........ $5,847.99 _ The Virgin Islands (6) Whisky: Great Britain....... $ 3,632.18 (7) Other spirits: Denmark........... $ 313.58 Great Britain....... 194.93 West Indies........ 19,149.75 Total........... $19,658.26 Fish & animal pro- ducts (for those hermetically sealed see Conserves): (a) Fish, fresh: West Indies......... $ 540.02 (b) Fish, dried, salt- ed, smoked, etc.: Denmark........... $ 1,143.31 Great Britain........ 37-36 United States....... 4,475.25 West Indies......... 184.92 Total........... $ 5,847.84 (c) Poultry, all kinds: United States....... $ 32.12 West Indies......... 341.10 Total. ......... $ 373.22 (d) Sheep & goats: West Indies......... $ 2,639.28 (e) Horses: West Indies......... $ 101.33 (f) Horned cattle & calves: ; : West Indies......... $ 8,400.33 (g) Mules & asses: West Indies........ $ 203.04 an) — aqui om ig SN e i qo oa t \ “| eee * sd me The “ Herald’? 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Ovesen ec Hosted by Google Imports and Exports (h) Hogs & pigs: United States....... $ 5-02 West Indies......... 1,053.78 Total........... $ 1,058.80 (i) Beef, pork, sau- sage, hams, tongues, etc. (smoked, salt- ed, etc.): Denmark........... $ 139.43 United States....... 7,651.65 West Indies......... 16.21 Total........... $ 7,807.29 Dye-stuffs, painting material, & varnish: Great Britain....... $ 5,430.00 Holland............ 208.98 United States....... 1,453.14 West Indies........ 191.78 Other countries..... 7.00 Total........... $ 7,290.90 Lard, animal & vege- table: United States....... 10,122.37 West Indies......... 1.51 Total.........+. $10,123.88 Footwear: Denmark........... $ 10.72 Great Britain....... 1,034.29 France............. 177.28 United States....... 11,661.91 West Indies........ 985.23 Other Countries..... 635.29 Total........... $14,504.72 Fruit, vegetables, etc: (a) Fresh: France............. $ 67.16 United States....... 5,063.76 West Indies......... 7,299.78 Total. .......... $12,430.70 gI (b) Dried, such as dates, figs, almonds, nuts, raisins, cur- rants, prunes, etc.: Great Britain....... $ 185.43 France...........-. 36.25 United States....... 1,255.82 West Indies........ 28.68 Total.........4. $ 1,506.18 Fancy goods: Denmark........... $ 59.56 Great Britain....... 1,096.24 France............. 3.51 United States....... 6,624.84 West Indies......... 18.27 Other countries..... 18.34 Total........... $ 7,820.76 Glassware: Denmark........... ¢ 2,199.81 Great Britian...... 178.10 France............. 2.78 United States....... 3,187.42 West Indies......... 602.55 Total.........6. $ 6,800.66 Cereals, all kinds: Denmark........... $ 64.41 Great Britain....... 358.43 United States....... 1,106.19 West Indies......... 106.35 Total........... $ 1,635.38 Gold, silver, & plated ware: Denmark........... $ 81.90 Great Britain....... 41.79 Germany........... 48.23 United States....... 288.66 West Indies......... 65.23 Total. ......... $ 525.81 g2 Earth & clay: (a) Natural condition: (b) Cement: Denmark..........- $ 5,625.64 United States....... 30.61 West Indies......... 682.45 Total........... $ 6,338.70 (c) Chinaware, crock- ery, earthenware, etc. Denmark........... $ 54.78 Great Britain....... 578.05 United States....... 950.69 West Indies......... 86.89 Total........... $ 1,670.41 Coffee (all kinds) and substitutes: Great Britain....... $ 42.19 United States....... 352.67 West Indies......... 2,467.84 Total. ......... $ 2,862.70 Confectionery, sweet- meats, chocolate, cocoa, etc. Denmark........... $ 123.23 Great Britain....... 1,114.53 France............. 40.57 United States....... 1,612.44 West Indies......... 2,657.25 Total.......... $ 5,548.02 Conserves, all kinds unless specially mentioned: Denmark........... $ 1,094.92 Great Britain....... 1,340.10 France.........-.6- 395-53 United States....... 4,261.93 West Indies......... 246.82 Other countries...... 185.48 Total.......... $ 7,524.78 The Virgin Islands Grain & breadstuffs: (a) Beans and peas: United States....... $ 7,229.99 West Indies......... 77-76 Total. ......... $ 7,307.75 (b) Oats: Denmark........... $ = 71.37 United States....... 463.47 Total.......... $ 534.84 (c) Corn: United States....... # 3,414.62 West Indies......... 54.38 Other countries...... 246.08 Total. ......... $ 3,715.08 (d) White flour: United States....... $62,300.88 (e) Corn meal: United States....... $10,028.32 West Indies......... 125.45 Total. ......... $10,153.77 (£) Rye-flour: United States....... $ 3,377.04 (g) Other grain mftres: Great Britain....... $ 1,450.52 France............. 113.05 United States....... 2,439.06 West Indies......... 21.20 Total. ........ $ 4,023.83 Powder & ammuni- tion: United States....... $ 1,919.48 West Indies....... . 183.41 Total. ......... $ 2,102.89 Imports and Exports Spices: Great Britain....... $ 226.48 United States....... 202.53 West Indies......... 8.01 Total. .......6 $ 437.02 Coal: Hard coal: Great Britain....... $ 345.15 United States....... 82,013.41 West Indies......... 856.39 Total. ......... $83,214.95 Charcoal: West Indies......... £ 3,850.05 Dry goods: (a) Of cotton: Denmark........... $ 240.79 Great Britain....... 24,901.74 France...........6- 288.60 Germany........... 100.78 United States....... T1,517.51 West Indies......... 2,347.99 Total. ......... $39,397-41 (b) Of wool: Great Britain....... $ 664.00 United States....... 14.05 Total. ........ $ 678.05 (c) Of silk: Great Britain....... $ 181.43 United States....... 48.30 Total. ......... $ 229.73 (d) Mixed: Denmark........... $ 16.08 Great Britain....... 638.64 France...........-- 991.82 Germany........... 23.49 Total. ......... $ 1,670.03 93 (e) Apparel: Denmark........... £ 7.96 Great Britain....... 2,212.80 France...........0. 14.62 United States....... 2,764.34 West Indies......... 462.65 Other countries...... 11.58 Total. ......... £ 5,473-95 (f) Hats & caps: Great Britain. ...... $ 420.05 United States........ 185.16 Total.......... $ 605.21 Margarine: Holland............ $ 738.48 United States....... 5,042.65 Total. ........- $ 5,781.13 Machinery & parts: Denmark............ $ 474.17 Great Britain....... 29.97 United States....... 274.06 West Indies.......... 20.07 Total.......... $ 798.27 Metal: (a) Raw, in blocks, ingots, etc: Great Britain....... $ 680.41 United States....... 45-66 West Indies......... 46.97 Total. .......-. $ 773.04 (b) Mftd., such as wire, pipes, plates, poles, etc.: Denmark........... $1,766.78 Great Britain....... 2,899.01 United States....... 6,741.32 West Indies......... 708.90 Other countries..... 15.44 Total. .......-. $12,131.45 94 Metal— Continued (c) Other manu- factures, excepting those previously mentioned: Denmark........... $ 1,094.08 Great Britain....... 2,001.14 Germany.........-- 184.53 United States....... 3,740.98 West Indies......... 455-53 Total. ......... $ 7,476.26 Oils: (a) Gasoline: United States....... $ 94.57 West Indies......... 511.31 Total. ........+ $ 605.88 (b) Petroleum: Great Britain....... $ 19.05 United States....... 3,990.95 West Indies........- 319.98 Other countries..... 136,460.40 Total. .......-- $140,790.38 (c) Machine oil: Great Britain....... $ 37.36 United States....... 944.09 West Indies........- 70.88 Total.......... $ 1,052.33 (d) Paint oil: Great Britain....... $ 150.56 United States....... 430.05 Total. .......4. $ 580.61 (e) Bay oil: West Indies......... $ 490.19 (f) All other oils: Great Britain. ...... $ 1,375.64 France........---+- 2,069.69 Holland..........-- 781.95 United States......... 1,847.55 West Indies......... 143-58 Other countries...... 21.23 Total ......55+- $ 6,239.64 The Virgin Islands Cheese: Denmark........... $ 110.65 Great Britain........ 44.96 Germany........... 128.79 Holland............ 350.91 United States....... 4,436.87 Total. . 6.2.6.4. $ 5,072.18 Paper & paper goods: Denmark........... $ 982.10 Great Britain....... 1,178.09 France............- 815.66 Germany........... 13.84 United States....... 3,688.46 West Indies......... 948.96 Total. ......... $ 7,627.11 Perfumery & sweet- scented articles: Great Britain. ...... $ 491.41 France...........-- 2,096.11 Germany.........-. 82.77 United States........ 505.35 West Indies......... 32.37 Total... 1.6.05 $ 3,208.00 Corks: Denmark........... $ 50.04 Great Britain....... 435.12 France........- eee 100.17 United States....... 255-42 Other countries...... 2.90 Total. ......... $ 843.65 Rice: Great Britain....... $ 4,770.46 United States....... 341.62 West Indies......... 321.90 Total. .......-- $ 5,433.98 Salt: Great Britain....... $ 14.32 United States. ...... 43.08 West Indies......... 99.25 Total. .......55 $ 156.65 va \ a —_ | el oo a ie . aan pes EP | st. Ik 4 Bed 03 mm 4V I || Sym Red V4 Me, 2 = 48 ed sg? ee en fd ee ne pire ky ee “ King’s Street, Frederiksted, St. Croix Photo by A. Ovesen tj é . Ss ‘| y' oo \ fi ete re i! ( il cal afl Lil “2 Ee dacs) even Whey as The American Consulate, St. Thomas Photo by Clare E. Taylor on Hosted by Google Imports and Exports 95 Ships, boats, and Tea: vessels: Denmark 17.26 United States $ 598.73 Great Britain ee eee 1340.16 West Indies. 889.15 United States 923.02 Total........ $ 1,487.88 Total $ 2,280.44 Butter: Tar & pitch: Denmark. Great Britain ee eee ee ee ee $10,408.25 5-64 United States see eee 2,559-57 United States 110.49 West Indies 11.45 Total 146.13 Total $12,979.27 Tobacco products: Playing Cards: (a) Leaves & stalks: United States cece eee 146.09 United States $ 4,027.44 West Indies. 10,433.63 Starch: Total re United States peewee $14,461.07 $ 2,015.49 West Indies. eee eee ee 13.51 (b) Cigars: Denmark ee eee ee eee $ 399.56 Total........ $ 2,029.00 Holland 544.83 Straw & straw goods United States 158.27 West Indies 3:926.09 such as hats, bas- kets, etc.: Total # 5,028.75 Great Britain see eens $3,542.28 United States 743.80 (c) Cigarettes: West Indies. 414.31 Great Britain see eee $ 2,577.04 Other countries... .. 3,071.68 United States 45.01 Total $ 7,772.07 West Indies. 2,501.06 Other countries...... 144.51 Sugar Total $ 5,267.62 United States sae e eee £$ 4,023.16 West Indies 107.00 (d) Other Mftres. Total $ 4,130.16 Denmark 98.67 Great Britain 597-50 United States 76.10 Soap (not sweet- scented): Total eee e ewes $ 772.27 Denmark ee ce ee eee 223.12 Great Britain sere eee 1464.71 Rope: France ee ee eee eee Great Britain $ 517.82 44.03 United States see eee 739.18 United States 1,628.43 Total Total $ 7,471.04 $ 2,146.25 96 The Virgin Islands Wood: (a) Boards, planks, etc., raw, planed, or tongued: United States....... $ 4,333.53 West Indies......... 343.90 Other countries...... 28.95 Total. ......... $ 4,706.38 (b) Staves for barrels & boxes: United States....... $ 4,213.36 Other countries...... 633.28 Total. ......... $ 4,846.64 (c) Shingles: West Indies......... 137.49 (d) Other wooden articles: (except matches & carriage appliances): Denmark........... $ 141.23 Great Britain....... 143.95 United States....... 3,019.02 West Indies......... 72.17 Total. ......... $ 3,376.37 Matches: Denmark........... 772.23, Other Countries..... 1,452.30 Total. ......... 2,224.53 Carriage appliances: Denmark........... $ 80.42 United States....... 272.99 West Indies......... 6.52 Total. ......... $ 359.93 All other articles not mentioned above: (a) Duty free: Denmark........... $ 7,924.18 Great Britain....... 4,748.06 United States...... 2,428.34 West Indies......... 2,963.17 Other countries...... 6.52 Total. ......... $18,070.27 (b) Dutiable: Denmark........... £ 4,371.86 Great Britain....... 4,771.25 France............. 2,845.44 Germany........... 408.90 Holland............ 313.26 United States....... 16,074.81 West Indies......... 3,512.33 Other countries...... 413.34 Total. ......... $32,711.19 Note: For the harbour works at Longbay goods were imported to an aggregate value of $19,164.90 which is not included in the above summary. The total value of the St. Thomas imports during the financial year from April 1, 1915, to March 31, 1916, with the exception of the machinery and material brought in for use at the harbour works at Longbay, as given out by the Customs authorities and shown in the foregoing tables, amounted to $734,680.38, which was shared as follows by the several countries of origin: Imports and Exports 97 United States, $332,286.11; West Indies, $91,747.77; Great Britain, $88,410.96; Denmark, $50,777.70; France, $13,286.26; Holland, $12,600.71; Germany, $1,194.52; all other countries, $144,376.35. As there are no export duties exacted in St. Thomas and St. John no statistics covering the exportation of articles from these two islands are obtainable, with the exception of those that were kept at the American Consulate for goods invoiced for some port in the United States or Porto Rico. According to the returns made by the St. Thomas Consulate during the calendar year ending December 31, 1915, the following shipments were made to some port in the United States: Bay rum, valued at $145.62; beeswax, $67.24; cocoa, $106.69; copper, $53.42; copper nails, $5.41; copper still, $80.00; goatskins, $3,588.13; hides, $3,053.10; mirrors, $7.00; old metal, $614.23; old brass, $49.25; rum, $69.75. In addition, shipments were invoiced to some port in Porto Rico as follows: Angostura bitters, valued at $53.88; butter, $234.05; charcoal, $259.60; engine parts, $15.05; gin, $50.25; household furniture, $309.50; malted milk, $386.66; playing cards, $301.29; Ship’s awnings, $227.50; whisky, $118.87. According to the Custom House statistics, the values of the imports into St. Thomas during the financial year from the first of April, 1913, to the 31st of March, 1914, were as follows: From Denmark, $45,851.20; Great Britain, $144,444.17; France, $19,230.73; Ger- many, $55,629.81; Holland, $21,302.86; United States, $552,902.38 (which includes 88,715 tons of coal, valued at $253,606.76); other West India islands, $108,063.98; other countries, $33,010.79; total, $980,435.92. For the financial year ending March 31, 1915, the 7 98 The Virgin Islands values of the St. Thomas imports were given as follows: From Denmark, $48,985.37; Great Britain, $131,385.77 (which includes coal valued at $1,035.79); France, $12,- 572.12; Germany, $28,870.88; Holland, $17,603.65; United States, $429,800.33 (which includes coal valued at $139,595.79); other West India islands, $83,513.62; other countries, $9,694.63; total, $762,426.37. According to the St. Croix Customs statistics both the imports and exports of this island are classified into six groups, as follows: A.—Duty-free goods; B.— Goods on fixed duty; C——Goods on five per cent. duty; D.—Goods on twelve and a half per cent. duty; E.— Goods on twenty-five per cent. duty; and F—Goods on twenty per cent. duty. The value of the importations through the port of Frederiksted, St. Croix, during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916, is given as follows: A. Goods Entering Duty Free. 1. Agricultural implements, exclusive of ploughs and harrows (which are listed under Tariff number 12), also Paris Green: From Denmark, $187.21; United States, $928.14; other foreign places, $372.88; total, $1,488.23. 2. Heads and staves: From the United States, $1,365.48. 4. Hogsheads for sugar, rum, and molasses: From St. Thomas, $165.98; United States, $160.19; other foreign places, $148.61; total, $474.78. 6. Manure, artificial and natural: From other foreign places, $19.30. 8. Steam engines and parts thereof: From Den- mark via St. Thomas, $419.00; United States, $10,- 605.54; other foreign places, $77.20; total, $11,101.74. Imports and Exports 99 13. Implements for manufacturing sugar and rum, also lime: From the United States, $810.02. 14. Fire-bricks: From St. Thomas, $72.38; United States, $221.95; total, $294.33. 15. Mineral coal: From St. Thomas, $1,263.19. 16. Wooden hoops: From the United States, $41.30. 17. Vegetables and garden plants: From St. Thomas, $80.29; United States, $2,183.22; other foreign places, $314.20; total, $2,577.71. 18a. Sugar bags: From the United States, $80.29; other foreign places, $1,371.84; total, $1,452.13. The total value of the importations under Schedule A, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $20,888.21. B. Goods that Enter on Fixed Duty. 19. Wheat flour: From the United States, $1,335.17. 21. Peas, dried, and beans of every kind: From the United States, $525.93. 22. Fish, salt and plain dried: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $60.22; St. Thomas, $13.32; United States, $2,563.43; total, $2,636.97. 23. Fish, pickled, of every kind: From St. Thomas, $6.95; United States, $3,818.89; other foreign places, $48.64; total, $3,874.48. 24. Fish, smoked, of every kind: From the United States, $1,241.38. 25. Pork, salted and smoked, exclusive of hams (which are listed under Tariff number 32): From St. Thomas, $17.37; United States, $3,936.81; other foreign places, $121.59; total, $4,075.77. 26. Beef, salted and smoked: From the United 100 The Virgin Islands States, $495.62; other foreign places, $17.37; total, $512.99. 27. Meal, wheat: From St. Thomas, $730.89; United States, $39,095.05; other foreign places, $160.19; total, $39,986.13. 28. Meal, maize: From St. Thomas, $137.61; United States, $32,549.06; other foreign places, $252.06; total, $32,938.73. 29. Meal, other kinds: From St. Thomas, $15.25; United States, $1,763.25; total, $1,778.50. 30. Cheese: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $106.15; St. Thomas, $28.18; United States, $1,436.89; other foreign places, $9.65; total, $1,580.87. 31. Sausage and tongues, smoked and _ salted: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $116.96; United States, $18.53; total, $135.49. 32. Hams: From the United States, $1,404.46. 33. Butter: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $2,- 232.82; St. Thomas, $336.59; United States, $5,088.25; other foreign places, $36.48; total, $7,694.14. 34. Lard: From St. Thomas, $42.46; United States, $11,833.99; other foreign places, $83.96; total, $11,960.41. The total value of the importations under Schedule B, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $111,681.42; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $11,259.04. C. Goods that Enter on Five Per Cent. Duty. 37. Oats: From St. Thomas, $11.58; United States, $661.22; total, $672.80. 39. Lime, slaked and unslaked, chalk, cenient, plaster of Paris, etc.: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $434.25; St. Thomas, $5.79; United States, $1,239.45; other foreign places, $6.37; total, $1,685.86. 7 4g as ‘7 Fat Sai af u n Ww oH e Se = ad = He ea ee ee ry Hosted by Google Imports and Exports IOI 40. Carts, wheels, axles, boxes for carts, and sugar wagons: From the United States, $925.82. 41. Animals, living, of all kinds, exclusive of horses, mules and asses (see Nos. 67, 10 and 18): From other foreign places, $93.61. 42. Leather, raw: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $34.16; United States, $565.30; total, $599.46. 44. Maize and bran: From St. Thomas, $3.67; United States, $94.76; other foreign places, $6.76; total, $105.19. 45. Metals, iron, steel, etc.: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $535.19; United States, $1,838.33; other foreign places, $56.16; total, $2,429.68. 46. Oilmeal: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $1,217.44; St. Thomas, $1,416.23; other foreign places, $17.17; total, $2,650.84. 47. Canvas: From the United States, $259.20; other foreign places, $44.39; total, $303.59. 51. Nails, spikes, and screws: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $27.60; St. Thomas, $2.70; United States, $365.93; other foreign places, $24.32; total, $420.55. 52. Tallow: From the United States, $76.04. 53. Tar, pitch,andresin: From St. Thomas, $55.00. 54. Rope: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $156.52; United States, $523.42; total, $679.94. 56. Lumber and timber for building purposes, exclusive of mill-timber (see No. 11), also wood for fuel: From St. Thomas, $6,695.36; United States, $423.06; other foreign places, $177.37; total, $7,295.79. 57- Tools of every kind: From Denmark, $15.83; Denmark via St. Thomas, $220.41; St. Thomas, $647.90; other foreign places, $318.45; total, $1,202.59. 58. All other goods which enter on five per cent. duty and cannot be listed with any other in this class 102 The Virgin Islands (C): From St. Thomas, $30.30; United States, $555.84; other foreign places, $213.65; total, $799.79. 58a. Charcoal: From St. Thomas, $992.02; other foreign places, $370.17; total, $1,362.19. The total value of the importations under Schedule C, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $21,358.74; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $1,010.36. D. Goods that Enter on 121% Per Cent. Duty. 59. Drugs of all kinds, also mineral waters: From Denmark, $47.86; Denmark via St. Thomas, $805.78; St. Thomas, $451.43; United States, $2,389.92; other foreign places, $192.81; total, $3,887.80. 60. Coffee: From St. Thomas, $168.68; United States, $181.23; total, $349.91. 61. Confectionery: Chocolate, sweetmeats, pre- serves, dried and preserved fruits, etc.: From Den- mark, $12.93; Denmark via St. Thomas, $115.22; St. Thomas, $26.83; United States, $1,170.16; other foreign places, $278.31; total, $1,603.45. 62. Articles of food (luxuries) : a. Preserved, animal as well as vegetable, in her- metically sealed tins: From Denmark, $9.07; Den- mark via St. Thomas, $230.06; St. Thomas, $12.16; United States, $1,080.61; other foreign places, $26.06; total, $1,357.96. b. Otherwise preserved, also tinned and smoked goods, such as anchovies, sardines, etc., excepting such as are classed under Nos. 23-26: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $26.63; St. Thomas, $135.68; United States, $40.34; other foreign places, $74.50; total, $277.15. 63. Fancy articles of all kinds, gold, silver, plated Imports and Exports 103 wares, cases, trinkets, toys, umbrellas, etc.: From Denmark, $804.23; Denmark via St. Thomas, $168.10; St. Thomas, $714.29; United States, $3,766.01; other foreign places, $3,337.94; total, $8,790.57. 64. Glasswares of all kinds, excepting such as is classed under the heading Fancy Articles: From Denmark, $33.79; St. Thomas, $9.07; United States, $637.87; other foreign places, $13.12; total, $693.45. 65. Groats of all kinds: From Denmark, $27.99; Denmark via St. Thomas, $76.04; St. Thomas, $769.68; United States, $1,360.65; other foreign places, $564.33; total, $2,798.69. 66. Hats and caps: From Denmark, $23.35; St. Thomas, $576.11; United States, $721.63; other foreign places, $500.06; total, $1,821.15. 67. Horses: From other places, $33.78. 68. Musical instruments: From the United States, $47.86. 68a. Margarine: From the United States, $1,894.30. 69. Hardware of all kinds, excepting such as is classed under Nos. 13, 45, 48, 51, and 57: From Den- mark, $128.35; Denmark via St. Thomas, $544.45; St. Thomas, $691.71; United States, $13,006.08; other foreign places, $3,383.68; total, $17,754.27. 70. Clothing, ready-made, of every kind: From Denmark, $378.67; Denmark via St. Thomas, $27.21; St. Thomas, $118.70; United States, $2,389.92; other foreign places, $1,352.74; total, $4,267.24. 71. Candles of every kind: From St. Thomas, $43.81; United States, $91.87; total, $135.68. 72. Dry goods: a. Linens of every kind: From Denmark, $3.28; Denmark via St. Thomas, $30.88; United States, $250.90; other foreign places, $258.81; total, $543.87. 104 The Virgin Islands b. Cottons and articles of cotton and linen mixed, stockings, gloves, ribbons, cordage, thread, etc.: From Denmark, $33.78; Denmark via St. Thomas, $73.92; St. Thomas, $474.20; United States, $6,516.45; other foreign places, $8,869.51; total, $15,967.86. c. Cloth, bamboo, and other articles of clothing, also woollen articles of every kind: From St. Thomas, $53.08; other foreign places, $457.99; total, $511.07. d. Silk and all sorts of goods mixed with silk, stockings, gloves, ribbons, cordage, thread, etc.: From St. Thomas, $9.26; other foreign places, $157.30; total, $166.56. 73. Furniture of every kind, mattresses, etc.: From the United States, $360.52; other foreign places, $8.11; total, $368.63. 74. Painters’ wares, paints, colours, oils, and varnishes: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $283.13; St. Thomas, $93.99; United States, $1,317.23; other foreign places, $286.80; total, $1,981.15. 75. Lamp-oil, and train-oil: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $32.62; United States, $7,321.84; total, $7,354.46. 76. Paper, pens, ink, protocols, copybooks, and everything pertaining to stationery: From Denmark, $19.11; Denmark via St. Thomas, $140.70; St. Thomas, $12.74; United States, $1,262.99; other foreign places, $57.13; total, $1,492.67. 77. Perfumes, pomades, and all fine articles of that kind: From Denmark, $38.99; Denmark via St. Thomas, $16.98; St. Thomas, $43.62; United States, $296.64; other foreign places, $215.58; total, $611.81. 78. Porcelain and crockery and all kinds of pottery, excepting what comes under head of fancy articles: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $11.58; St. Thomas, Imports and Exports 105 $11.58; United States, $203.23; other foreign places, $110.20; total, $336.59. 79. Rum: From St. Thomas, $69.09. 81. Shoemaker’s work of all kinds: From Den- mark, $63.11; St. Thomas, $171.77; United States, $4,186.56; other foreign places, $61.76; total, $4,483.20. 83. Starch: From St. Thomas, $7.72; United States, $744.79; total, $752.51. 85. Sugar, refined: From St. Thomas, $47.48; United States, $1,557.51; total, $1,604.99. 86. Soap, ordinary: From St. Thomas, $797.28; United States, $994.14; other foreign places, $1,068.06; total, $2,859.48. 87. Tea: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $78.74; St. Thomas, $15.44; United States, $994.14; other foreign places, $133.94; total, $1,222.26. 88. Tobacco: a. Leaf: From St. Thomas, $162.89; United States, $2,303.46; total, $2,466.35. b. Cigars: From Denmark, $396.04; Denmark via St. Thomas, $220.21; St. Thomas, $431.55; United States, $590.39; other foreign places, $472.27; total, $2,110.46. c. Smoking, snuff, and chewing tobacco: From Denmark, $33.00; Denmark via St. Thomas, $24.51; St. Thomas, $37.06; United States, $205.55; total, $300.12. d. Cigarettes: From Denmark, $36.28;St. Thomas, $586.91; United States, $39.76; other foreign places, $73.92; total, $736.87. go. Grocery articles of every kind, including olives, capers, olive oil, vinegar, pickled cucumbers, etc., and all kinds of Colonial wares, exclusive of coffee, tea, sugar, and rum: From Denmark, $30.69; Denmark via St. Thomas, $626.48; St. Thomas, $687.27; United 106 The Virgin Islands States, $3,716.99; other foreign places, $1,063.62; total, $6,125.05. The total value of the importations under Schedule D, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $97,778.31; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $12,218.83. E. Goods that Enter on Twenty-five Per Cent. Duty. gt. Wines: In bottles: From St. Thomas, $807.42; other foreign places, $319.90; total, $1,124.23. The total value of the importations under Schedule E, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $1,124.23; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $281.01. F. Goods that Enter on Twenty Per Cent. Duty. 92. Beer, ale, porter, and all other malt liquors: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $1,858.40; St. Thomas, $373.65; United States, $83.57; total, $2,315.62. The total value of the importations under Schedule F, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $2,315.62; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $463.01. The total value of the importations into St. Croix, through the port of Frederiksted, during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916, according to the foregoing statement, amounted to $255,146.53. The value of the importations through the port of Christiansted, St. Croix, during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916, is given as follows: A. Goods Entering Duty Free. 1. Agricultural implements, exclusive of ploughs Imports and Exports 107 and harrows (which are listed under Tariff number 12), also Paris Green: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $703.49; United States, $273.67; total, $977.16. 2. Heads and staves: From the United States, $7.72; other foreign places, $3.86; total, $11.58. 4. Hogsheads for sugar, rum, and molasses: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $73.34; United States, $147.65; total, $220.99. 5. Fish (fresh), and turtles: From other foreign places, $16.98. 7. Cotton machinery, packing and disinfecting articles: From the United States, $38.60. 13. Implements for manufacturing sugar and rum, also lime: From other foreign places, $21.04. 15. Mineral coal: From other foreign places, $5,349.96. 16a. Iron hoops. From the United States, $11.77. 17. Vegetables and garden plants: From St. Thomas, $124.10; United States, $5.40; other foreign places, $57.32; total, $186.82. The total value of the importations under Schedule A, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $6,834.90. B. Goods that Enter on Fixed Duty. 19. Wheat flour: From St. Thomas, $16.79; United States, $469.57; total, $486.36. 20. Flour made of other grain: From St. Thomas, $1.16; United States, $441.78; total, $442.94. 21. Peas (dried), and beans of every kind: From the United States, $714.10. 22. Fish, salt, and plain dried: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $16.60; United States, $1,398.09; other foreign places, $127.96; total, $1,542.65. 108 The Virgin Islands 23. Fish, pickled, of every kind: From the United States, $2,067.42. 24. Fish, smoked, of every kind: From the United States, $2,268.14. 25. Pork, salted and smoked, exclusive of hams (which are listed under Tariff No. 32): From St. Thomas, $347.40; United States, $4,849.32; total, $5,196.72. 26. Beef, salted and smoked: From the United States, $135.68. 27. Meal, wheat: From St. Thomas, $2,047.73; United States, $39,150.05; total, $41,197.78. 28. Meal, maize: From St. Thomas, $131.82; United States, $20,657.37; total, $20,789.19. 29. Meal, other kinds: From St. Thomas, $11.39; United States, $3,157.87; total, $3,169.26. 30. Cheese: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $92.25; St. Thomas, $73.73; United States, $1,866.50; total, $2,032.48. 31. Sausage and tongues, smoked and _ salted: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $240.86; St. Thomas, $27.79; United States, $150.73; total, $419.38. 32. Hams: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $4.05; St. Thomas, $51.72; United States, $731.86; total, $787.63. 33- Butter: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $4,502.69; St. Thomas, $246.85; United States, $2,789.62; total, $7,539.16. 34. Lard: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $3.47; St. Thomas, $134.71; United States, $11,831.29; other foreign places, $8.30; total, $11,977.77. 34a. Spirits: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $161.16; St. Thomas, $957.28; United States, $743.44; other foreign places, $2,565.16; total, $4,427.04. Imports and Exports 109 The total value of the importations under Schedule B, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $105,193.60; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $10,121.69. C. Goods that Enter on Five Per Cent. Duty. 37. Oats: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $77.20; United States, $378.28; other foreign places, $84.92; total, $540.40. 39. Lime, slaked and unslaked, chalk, cement, plaster of Paris, etc.: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $1,259.33; St. Thomas, $92.64; United States, $23.16; other foreign places, $162.12; total, $1,537.25. 40. Carts, wheels, axles, boxes for carts, and sugar wagons: From the United States, $72.38; other for- eign places, $54.04; total, $126.42. 41. Animals, living, of all kinds, exclusive of horses, mules, and asses (see Nos. 67, 10, and 18): From other foreign places, $23.16. 42. Leather, raw: From the United States, $1,949.88; other foreign places, $45.16; total $1,995.04. 43. Mule harness: From the United States, $33.97. 44. Maize and bran: From the United States, $171.96; other foreign places, $10.81; total, $182.77. 45. Metals, iron, steel, etc.: From St. Thomas, $38.79; United States, $832.99; other foreign places, $67.55; total, $939.33. 46. Oilmeal: From St. Thomas, $42.46; United States, $523.03; total, $565.49. 47. Canvas: From the United States, $275.22. 48. Anchors, chains, and blocks: From the United States, $72.38. 51. Nails, spikes, and screws: From Denmark via 110 The Virgin Islands St. Thomas, $73.73; St. Thomas, $0.97; United States, $950.53; other foreign places, $73.15; total, $1,098.38. 52. Tallow: From the United States, $286.99. 53. Tar, pitch, and resin: From St. Thomas, $34.74. 54. Rope: From St. Thomas, $77.20; United States, $530.75; other foreign places, $24.70; total, $632.65. 56. Lumber and timber for building purposes, ex- clusive of mill-timber (see No. 11), also wood for fuel: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $18.53; St. Thomas, $1,432.25; United States, $2,181.48; total, $3,632.26. 57. Tools of every kind: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $26.25; St. Thomas, $16.41; United States, $279.27; other foreign places, $2.70; total, $324.63. 58. All other goods which enter on five per cent. duty and cannot be listed with any other in this class (C): From St. Thomas, $1.93; United States, $56.55; total, $58.48. The total value of the importations under Schedule C, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $12,359.56; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $618.37. D. Goods that Enter on 12% Per Cent. Duty. 59. Drugs of all kinds, also mineral waters: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $276.57; St. Thomas, $942.81; United States, $1,307.96; other foreign places, $153.05; total, $2,680.39. 60. Coffee: From St. Thomas, $71.60; United States, $69.09; total, $140.69. 61. Confectionery: Chocolate, sweetmeats, pre- serves, dried and preserved fruits, etc.: From Den- mark via St. Thomas, $108.27; St. Thomas, $30.30; Imports and Exports Ill United States, $68.34; other foreign places, $64.85; total, $271.76. 62. Articles of food (luxuries) : a. Preserved, animal as well as vegetable, in her- metically sealed tins: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $195.51; St. Thomas, $286.99; United States, $3,745.55; other foreign places, $483.66; total, $4,711.71. b. Otherwise preserved, also tinned and smoked goods, such as anchovies, sardines, etc., excepting such as are classed under Nos. 23-26: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $150.73; St. Thomas, $76.43; United States, $247.43; other foreign places, $6.95; total, $481.54. - 63. Fancy articles of all kinds, gold, silver, plated wares, cases, trinkets, toys, umbrellas, etc.: From Den- mark via St. Thomas, $286.61; St. Thomas, $689.01; United States, $2,996.90; other foreign places, $1,487.84; total, $5,460.36. 64. Glassware of all kinds, excepting such as is classed under the heading Fancy Articles: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $26.06; St. Thomas, $34.74; United States, $413.60; other foreign places, $53.65; total, $528.05. 65. Groats of all kinds: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $19.30; St. Thomas, $283.13; United States, $1,164.18; other foreign places, $93.61; total, $1,560.22. 66. Hats and caps: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $16.41; St. Thomas, $282.17; United States, $192.81; other foreign places, $80.87; total, $572.26. 68. Musical instruments: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $0.39; United States, $9.65; total, $10.04. 69. Hardware of all kinds, excepting such as is classed under Nos. 13, 45, 48, 51, and 57: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $33.39; St. Thomas, $3,462.42; United 112 The Virgin Islands States, $6,426.90; other foreign places, $136.07; total, $10,058.78. 70. Clothing, ready-made, of every kind: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $252.06; St. Thomas, $618.57; United States, $3,441.77; other foreign places, $302.43; total, $4,614.83. 71. Candles of every kind: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $10.42; St. Thomas, $141.66; United States, $36.28; other foreign places, $30.49; total, $218.85. 72. Dry-goods: a. Linens of every kind: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $21.04; St. Thomas, $51.92; United States, $768.72; other foreign places, $1,340.19; total, $2,181.87. b. Cottons and articles of cotton and linen mixed, stockings, gloves, ribbons, cordage, thread, etc.: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $29.72; St. Thomas, $845.92; United States, $6,324.42; other foreign places, $21,313.76; total, $28,513.82. c. Cloth, bamboo, and other articles of clothing, also woollen articles of every kind: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $19.30; St. Thomas, $1.93; other foreign places, $879.12; total, $900.35. d. Silk and all sorts of goods mixed with silk, stockings, gloves, ribbons, cordage, thread, etc.: From St. Thomas, $29.34; United States, $312.27; other foreign places, $844.57; total, $1,186.18. 73. Furniture of every kind, mattresses, etc.: From the United States, $11.97. 74. Painters’ wares, paints, colours, oils, and varnishes: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $9.46; St. Thomas, $397.39; United States, $2,804.68; other foreign places, $640.95; total, $3,852.48. 75. Oil, lamp, and train-oil: From St. Thomas, $279.08; United States, $7,778.29; total, $8,057.37. Wee ee ay e- 7 Ys Be fr 4 v a a 1 meatal te rh UF 7 a ‘a yy a & a bee , +3 AN Me 4 t ¢ & hd L s ‘ [s "} «! rs Hosted by Google Imports and Exports 113 76. Paper, pens, ink, protocols, copybooks, and everything pertaining to stationery: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $149.77; St. Thomas, $53.65; United States, $1,832.92; other foreign places, $282.36; total, $2,318.70. 77. Perfumes, pomades, and all fine articles of that kind: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $29.34; St. Thomas, $36.28; United States, $215.97; other foreign places, $155.94; total, $437.53. 78. Porcelain and crockery and all kinds of pottery, excepting what comes under head of fancy articles: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $3.09; St. Thomas, $9.07; United States, $139.73; total, $151.89. 80. Saddlery of all kinds, exclusive of mule harness: From St. Thomas, $6.18; United States, $787.44; other foreign places, $33.78; total, $827.40. 81. Shoemaker’s work of all kinds: From St. Thomas, $92.64; United States, $5,664.74; other foreign places, $355.12; total, $6,112.50. 83. Starch: From St. Thomas, $102.48; United States, $930.45; total, $1,032.93. 85. Sugar, refined: From St. Thomas, $106.34; United States, $1,247.17; other foreign places, $4.83; total, $1,358.34. 86. Soap, ordinary: From Denmark via St. Thomas $5.79; St. Thomas, $452.39; United States, $1,514.47; other foreign places, $85.50; total, $2,058.15. 87. Tea: From St. Thomas, $66.01; United States, $725.68; other foreign places, $125.45; total, $917.14. 88. Tobacco: a. Leaf: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $43.23; St. Thomas, $112.91; United States, $1,370.69; other foreign places, $40.34; total, $1,567.17. b. Cigars: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $297.99; 8 114 The Virgin Islands St. Thomas, $328.68; United States, $173.31; other foreign places, $753.09; total, $1,553.07. c. Smoking, snuff, and chewing tobacco: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $14.48; St. Thomas, $14.48; United States, $86.66; total, $115.62. 89. Goods, all other: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $307.26; St. Thomas, $133.17; United States, $1,255.66; other foreign places, $111.36; total, $1,807.45. go. Grocery articles of every kind, including olives, capers, olive oil, vinegar, pickled cucumbers, etc., and all kinds of Colonial wares, exclusive of coffee, tea, sugar, and rum: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $579.39; St. Thomas, $623.58; United States, $3,586.71; other foreign places, $290.85; total, $5,080.53. The total value of the importations under Schedule D, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $101,351.94; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $12,671.42. E. Goods that Enter on Twenty-five Per Cent. Duty. gi. Wines: a. In pipes and casks: From St. Thomas, $130.47; other foreign places, $3,447.56; total, $3,578.03. b. In bottles: From Denmark via St. Thomas, $44.00; St. Thomas, $26.44; United States, $17.37; other foreign places, $232.92; total, $321.73 The total value of the importations under Schedule E, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $3,899.76; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $975.04. F. Goods that Enter on Twenty Per Cent. Duty. 92. Beer, ale, porter, and all other malt liquors: Imports and Exports 115 From Denmark via St. Thomas, $2,415.40; St. Thomas, $169.07; United States, $458.18; total, $3,042.65. The total value of the importations under Schedule F, as given in the foregoing statement, amounted to $3,042.65; and the sum of the customs duties paid on these importations amounted to $608.53. The total value of the importations into St. Croix, through the port of Christiansted, during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916, according to the foregoing statement, amounted to $232,682.41. Of the staple products of St. Croix the following were exported through the port of Frederiksted during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916: ; Sugar: To Denmark, 163,225 net pounds, valued at $3,788.20; United States, 6,282,559 net pounds, valued at $173,461.84; St. Thomas and St. John, 207,628 net pounds, valued at $4,734.87; total, 6,653,412 net pounds, valued at $181,984.91; on which amount were paid export duties totalling $10,919.17. Rum: To Denmark, 59,185 gallons, valued at $20,513.78; United States, 6,601 gallons, valued at $2,332.98; St. Thomas and St. John, 2,895 gallons, valued at $1,052.24; total, 68,681 gallons, valued at $23.899.00, on which amount were paid export duties totalling $717.19. Molasses: To Denmark, 60 gallons, valued at $6.95; St. Thomas and St. John, 409 gallons, valued at $47.09; total, 469 gallons, valued at $54.04, on which amount were paid export duties totalling $1.54. Cotton-seed: To the United States, 123 net pounds, valued at $0.77, on which no export duty was paid. The total value of other products of St. Croix, as well as various imported goods, that were exported through 116 The Virgin Islands the port of Frederiksted during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916, amounted to $12,133.91. Of the staple products of St. Croix the following were exported through the port of Christiansted during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916: Sugar: To the United States, 885,378 net pounds, valued at $19,736.59; St. Thomas and St. John, 586,734 net pounds, valued at $13,830.66; total, 1,472,112 net pounds, valued at $33,567.25, on which amount were paid export duties totalling $1,657.03. Rum: To Denmark, 47% gallons, valued at $16.86; St. Thomas and St. John, 1,171 gallons, valued at $423.44; total, 1,21814 gallons, valued at $440.30, on which amount were paid export duties totalling $13.42. Molasses: To St. Thomas and St. John, 800 gallons, valued at $106.54, on which amount were paid export duties totalling $3.18. Cotton-seed: To the United States, 137,755 net pounds, valued at $930.54, on which amount were paid export duties totalling $27.92. The total value of other products of St. Croix, as well as various imported goods, that were exported through the port of Christiansted during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1916, amounted to $6,926.96. When considering the given statistics concerning the imports and exports of the former Danish West Indies the fact should be borne in mind that sugar and its by-products and a small amount of cotton and its by-products comprise practically all of the natural products of St. Croix that are exported, while those for the sister islands of St. Thomas and St. John are likewise confined to but three or four articles. Consequently, when the figures show that other goods are added Imports and Exports 117 to the list it is safe to conclude that, in the majority of cases, such were originally the output of other countries and that it is only by accident, so to speak, that they have been incorporated among the former Danish West Indian exports. CHAPTER XIII BANKS AND BANKING Closing of the St. Thomas branch of the London Colonial Bank—Expres- sion regarding loss to community appearing in St. Thomae Tidende— Established in 1836, and reaped big harvest when St. Thomas was the “Emporium of the Antilles’—Depended chiefly on shipping trade, and when this declined had no other option but to close— “The National Bank of the Danish West Indies,” and the ‘St. Thomas Savings Bank’’—National Bank given sole right to issue bank-notes in the former Danish West Indies—Methods of business and business transactions of the two banks, On April 28, 1916, official notice was given to the public that the Court of Directors of the Colonial Bank, London, had decided to close the St. Thomas Branch, and depositors were requested to receive pay- ment at their earliest convenience. In its issue of April 29, 1916, the St. Thomae Tidende, the Government news-organ, voiced the popular feeling concerning the loss to St. Thomas of this time-honoured institution by the following expression: ‘‘The announcement that the Colonial Bank will shortly close its Branch here will, we are sure, be re- ceived with more than a mere passing expression of regret. ‘‘Parting with the Colonial Bank means in a business sense parting with an old and time-tried friend whose earliest connections with St. Thomas recall most prosper- 118. Banks and Banking 119 ous days fourscore years ago. Not very long ago when there was talk of the Bank’s closing owing to the negotiations with the Royal Bank of Canada there was some anxiety; the scheme, however, fell through and the Bank remained. But now it is decided—the old institution will end its career, and that too at a time when, after the world war is over, a period of com- mercial activity is anticipated through increase of the shipping trade of our harbour. “The withdrawal of the Colonial means the dis- appearance from Main Street of one of its few remaining landmarks, and though our flourishing Na- tional Bank will fill its place, the feeling of having one important business house less may not alone have its local influence but may also not be without its meaning abroad.” The Colonial Bank was first established in the former Danish West Indies in the year 1836, at the time of the establishment of the other principal branches in Barbados, Jamaica, and Guiana. In the earlier years the St. Thomas division was, practically speaking, the most prosperous of the four branches, as at that time, although the island had no products for export of any importance,—either agricultural or mineral,— the place was the rendezvous, or central receiving and distributing depot, for all the Spanish Main, the islands of Santo Domingo, Haiti, etc. It was no uncommon sight in those days to see in the harbour hundreds of vessels of all sizes and descriptions that were bound for various ports. The produce from all parts of the world was consigned here for transshipment, and St. Thomas reflected this condition of affairs by a period of flourish- ing activity that has hardly a parallel. 120 The Virgin Islands The Colonial Bank naturally came in for its share of this prosperity, and undoubtedly made very good profits which lasted up to the advent of steam communication. This, however, made the merchants of Central and South America and the other West Indian islands quite in- dependent of St. Thomas, and enabled them to make and receive their shipments direct. From that time on St. Thomas steadily dwindled in importance until now there is just a bare living to be had in the place. The Bank had no means of utilizing its capital, as there were no productions or manufactures for export, except on the mortgaging of fixed property, which is against the rules of the parent institution. Conse- quently, seeing no future for the place, the Board of Directors had no option but to close its St. Thomas Branch. With the exception of loaning money against mort- gages on fixed property, as is done by ‘‘The National Bank of the Danish West Indies,’’ the Colonial Bank carried on a general banking business, depending chiefly on the St. Thomas shipping trade. The Bank had its own note issue up to a few years ago; but never had a savings department, as is the case with the remaining West Indian Branches. A sub-Branch was founded in Frederiksted, St. Croix, soon after the St. Thomas office was opened, but on account of the lack of business there, and possibly because of the competition of ‘‘The National Bank of the Danish West Indies,’’ which was started here in 1905, the St. Croix department was closed in 1906. In 1912 overtures were made by the Royal Bank of Canada to the Colonial Bank, London, for an amalgamation, but for reasons that have never been made public the proposed amalgamation was not effected. o C4 wey —~| A? The Old Colonial Bank, St. Thomas Ws Pa an. te rad a &. “Wy al a if | if Vs Fla ed Ih] A | a | at Sawing i The National Bank of the Danish West Indies Photo by Clare E. Taylor a Hosted by Google Banks and Banking 121 The transfer of the head offices of the ‘‘Royal Mail Steam Packet Company” from St. Thomas to Barbados in 1885 seriously hurt the St. Thomas banking business, and the European war has also exerted a depressing influence here. But the chief cause of the Bank’s withdrawal at the present time is the utter lack of means for utilizing its funds on hand, owing to the small amount of trans-shipping business and the absence of important exports. The Colonial Bank, incorporated by Royal Charter in’ 1836, had in 1915 Branches and Agencies in Antigua, Barbados, Berbice, Demerara (Georgetown and Ma- haica), Dominica, Grenada, Grenville, Jamaica (Kings- ton, Falmouth, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Port Maria, and St. Ann’s Bay), Savana-la-Mar, St. Kitt’s, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, and Trinidad (Port of Spain and San Fernando). Two banks now remain in the former Danish West Indies, ‘‘The National Bank of the Danish West Indies’”’ (Den dansk-vestindiske Nationalbank) and the St. Thomas Savings Bank, the latter a purely local institution for the island of St. Thomas. The domicile, as well as the head office of the National Bank, is at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, with branches at Christiansted and Frederiksted, St. Croix. The capital of the National Bank is five million francs, of which one fourth is paid up in cash. For the re- mainder, guarantee bonds are issued by the four banks in Denmark that united in the founding of this institu- tion, and these bonds are deposited with the Ministry of Finance at Copenhagen. The National Bank was given the sole right, for a period of thirty years, dating from June 23, 1904, to issue bank-notes in the Danish West Indies, which notes, at the request of the bearer, 122 The Virgin Islands are exchangeable for gold coin. The note issue is regulated according to business requirements, and is not allowed to exceed ten million francs. As the chief assets, which may serve as security for the notes not covered by the cash reserve and for the general liabilities of the bank, may be reckoned: (1) Mortgages; (2) bills of exchange,—domestic and foreign; (3) deposits with foreign banks and bankers; (4) officially quoted interest-bearing stock at market value; (5) The Danish West Indian Credit-notes that were issued by the government; (6) the bank’s own mortgage bonds. The business of the bank embraces the following kinds of transactions: (1) Receiving monies at call and on current accounts, also on deposit and on savings- bank conditions; (2) granting of loans on stocks up to 75 per cent. of the value of the security. As a rule loans are only to be granted on security of bonds issued by states, municipalities, and public mortgage institu- tions, which are quoted on a stock exchange, on bank shares, which are quoted on a stock exchange, and also against mortgages on real estate. On mortgage bonds issued by the bank itself, loans may be granted whether these bonds are quoted on the stock-exchange or not; (3) advances on goods; (4) purchase and sale of bills, bullion, stocks, and shares; (5) emission of loans, and procuring capital for business enterprises; (6) granting of cash credits against personal sureties or securities; (7) granting of mortgages on real estate in what were formerly the Danish West Indian islands within half the estimated value of the property, against which are issued bank mortgage bonds. The National Bank has connections in Europe and the United States, and may be utilized for collection purposes by commercial firms. It is likewise in a Banks and Banking 123 position to furnish credit information on importers in all lines of business in the former Danish group. The St. Thomas Savings Bank received in deposits during the year ending October 20, 1915, the sum of $13,323.00, which comprise 1133 accounts. The total number of accounts now carried by this bank is 1644. CHAPTER XIV CURRENCY Currency of the islands—American money in paper and coin was freely circulated and prices were usually reckoned in dollars and cents—English system of weights and measures in general use— Merchants cautious in business and few failures—Good credits— Directory of leading merchants, etc., who are likely to be interested in business with the distributing centres of the United States. A CURRENCY that was distinctive to the Danish possessions in the West Indies formerly held nominal sway in these islands, though American money in paper and coin was found circulating freely in both country and city districts, and prices were usually reckoned in dollars and cents. The smallest unit in general use was the five ‘‘bit’’ piece, which was generally taken as the equivalent to one cent in American money. One hundred ‘‘bits’”’ make a franc, and five francs was the smallest denomination of papercurrency. As arule, one dollar American currency was used interchangeably with five francs, although at various times since the beginning of the European war American money has been at a premium in the former Danish West Indies, which went at one time as high as 1514 per cent. The English system of weights and measures is in general use throughout these islands, although formerly the Danish ‘‘pund” (1.102 pounds) was occasionally employed as a unit of weight. 124 Currency 125 The greater number of the merchants in the American Virgin Islands are cautious in their business dealings, and as a consequence failures are comparatively in- frequent. At the present time, when business in St. Thomas is especially poor owing to the lack of shipping in the harbour, merchants are wisely carrying as low a stock of merchandise as possible. Credits in general appear to be good, and all prospective importers of goods are usually quite willing to furnish banking references as to their business standing and financial responsibility when such are required. In common with the methods employed by commercial firms of other importing countries, long terms of credit are frequently demanded, the ‘‘cash against documents” system being contrary to their custom. The failure to satisfy this demand, as contrasted with the relative ease in obtaining long credits with most European exporters, has been responsible for the loss of much valuable American business in the islands. Credit information on importers in all lines of business in the three islands can be obtained from ‘‘The National Bank of the Danish West Indies,’ St. Thomas, or from the New York office of R. G. Dun & Company. Following is a directory of the leading merchants, etc., of the Virgin Islands of the United States of America who are interested in exporting goods to or importing goods from the principal distributing centres of the United States of America. CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX Canegata, J. C. Boots AND SHOES AND Dry Goops Creque, H. O. Fross, M. Alexander, J. Romney, F. Armstrong, Robt. Behagen, I. FEEDSTUFFS Benjamin, R. D. Canegata, J. C. 126 FEEDSTUFFS— Continued Ramsey, Thos. FENCING AND FENCING MATERIALS Clendinin, W. FERTILIZERS Ramsey, Thos. GROCERIES Abramson, W. Alexander, J. Benjamin, R. D. Bough, S. Canegata, J. C. Creagh, W. A. Fabio, A. Lummersill, Jas. Merwin, R. L. Pulto, M. A. HARDWARE Clendinin, W. Creagh, W. A. LUMBER Merwin, R. L. FREDERIKSTED, ST. CROIX Boots AND SHOES AND Dry Goops Benjamin, R. D. Christiansen, E. Hendersen, A. E. Hill, S. A. Westcott, R.A. Drucs AND DrucGcist SUPPLIES Petersen, Jean FEEDSTUFFS Benjamin, R. D. Merwin, R. L. Ramsey, Thos, The Virgin Islands FENCING AND FENCING MATERIALS Higgins, R. E. Merwin, R. L. FERTILIZERS Merwin, R. L. GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS ‘Benjamin, R. D. Hendersen, A. E. Higgins, R. E. Jacobs, C. Merwin, R. L. Ramsey, Thos. Roberts, H. M. Stafford, M. L. HARDWARE Higgins, R. E. INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS Armstrong, Robt. (Barbados Mutual Insurance Company) Creagh, W. A. (Northern Assur- ance Co., Ltd., London) Merwin, R. L. (Sun Life Assur- ance Company of Canada; Commercial Union Assurance Company, London; Danmark Assurance Company, Copen- hagen; Western Assurance Com- pany, Toronto; Lloyd’s Associa- tion, London) Stakeman, A. E. (Royal Fire In- surance Company, Ltd., Liver- pool; Danish State Life Insur- ance Company, Copenhagen) LUMBER AND TIMBER Merwin, R. L. STATIONERY AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SUPPLIES Ovesen, A. os By 7) &! 7 i? . bet . " aa! ws € uy ares ‘i e- we pp?” ea Aa * a 1? vt — #4 be wo’ Pe hee ai fe dé ~ oui & eR I w 1 o | a lid bp ad 1h yp i fy —_ if! a a B: ; g sj — _— = ~ “ Rooms to Rent ”’ Photo by R. H. Beck UB < Ee %, e a nee The “a * Mey ft} —_— \f f fi! | ee mee we oe {th ¢ ed ‘Lh a «went, a> 35 Ooi ea este, en Taw tte Front View of Grand Hotel and ‘“ 1829” Photo by R. H. Beck a Hosted by Google Currency 127 ST. JOHN Bay Ort anp Bay Rum (MaNnv-’ FACTURERS) Bornn, G. Danish Plantation Company Lindquist, A. Marsh, E. W. White, A. ST. THOMAS BANKS National Bank of the Danish West Indies St. Thomas Savings Bank Bay Rum MANUFACTURERS Bornn, David Michelsen, H. Miller, Valdemar Riise, A. St. Thomas Bay Rum Company, Ltd. (J. Paiewonsky, Managing Director) Vance, A. Boots AND SHOES (SEE Dry- Goops) CaBLE COMPANY West India & Panama Telegraph Company, Limited COALING STATIONS St. Thomas Dock, Engineering & Coaling Company (Coal) West India Company (Coal & Fuel Oil) Hamburg-America S. S. Co.(Coal) Cotton Goops (SEE Dry-Goops) Dry Goops Beretta, G. De Leon, O. De Yongh, J. Higgins, E. Levin, I. Leviti, G. Levy, A. Lockhart, A. H. Miller, J., & Co. Newton, A. Paiewonsky, I. Schon, E. I. Smith Bros. Souffront, J. H. Trepuk, M. E. Van Beverhoudt, Elida Van Beverhoudt, Ernest Varlack, S. ELECTRICAL Goops Svendsen, E. West India Company, Ltd. FEEDSTUFFS Fechtenburg, J. H., & Co. La Beet, C. V. Lockhart, A. H. Lugo, A., & Co. FENCING AND FENCING MATERIALS Creque, H. O. Lockhart, A. H. Manecke, M. E. FERTILIZERS Lockhart, A. H. GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS Burnet, A. Castillo, J. Fechtenburg, J. H., & Co. Graham, Thos. La Beet, C. V. Levi, George Lewis, Chas. Lockhart, A. H. Lugo, A., & Co. 128 The Virgin Islands GROCERIES AND PROvISIONS—Con. Miller, V. A. O’Neal, M. Seaton, R. Thomas, E. HARDWARE Creque, H. O. La Beet, C. V. Manecke, M. E. Van Beverhoudt, A. R. INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS Aggerholm, L. P. (Den Kjoben- havnfke Fo-assurance-Ferening; Det Kongelige Octroierede Al- mindelige Brandassurance Com- pagnie) Baerentzen, A. (Sun Fire Insur- ance Company) Berne, E. A. (Forsakrings Aktie- bolaget ‘‘Hansa’’; The New- Foundland Marine Insurance Company; Comité D’Assureurs Maritime D’Anvers; Russian Transfer and Insurance Com- pany; The National Board of Marine Underwriters of New York) Brunn, A. W. (‘Danmark”’ Insurance Company) Burnet, A. (North British and Mercantile Insurance Company; The Board of Marine Under- writers of New York) Delinois, Ch., & Co. (The French Underwriters of Paris, Nantes, and Bordeaux) Duurloo, A. H. (Palatine In- surance Company) Levi, Geo. (Hamburg, Bremen Fire Insurance Company; La- fonciére of Paris) Ridgway, J. A. (London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Com- pany) Riise, A. H. (The Northern Assur- ance Company) Stewart, C. B. (Lloyd’s, London) JEWELRY Corneiro, F. M. Lightbourn, J. N. Stakemann, D, LUMBER AND TIMBER Creque, H. O. La Beet, C. V. Lockhart, A. H. St. Thomas Lumber & Trading Co. MANUFACTURERS’ AGENTS AND CoMMISSION MERCHANTS Aggerholm, L. P. Berne, E. A. Daniel, C. E. Miller, V. A. REPAIR SHop, DocKING St. Thomas Dock, Engineering & Coaling Company Sip BROKERS AND AGENTS Berne, E, A. Burnet, A. St. Thomas Ship Brokers Associa- tion, The STATIONERY AND STATIONERS’ Goops Hay, C. Lightbourn, J. N. Taylor’s Book Store STEAMSHIP LINES Compagnie Générale Transatlan- tique. A. Burnet, Agent Currency STEAMSHIP LINES—Cont. East Asiatic Company, West India Company, Agent Hamburg-Amerika Line. Ham- burg-Amerika Line, St. Thomas Station, Agent International Mercantile Marine Lines. E. A. Berne, Agent La Véloce Line. George Levi, Agent Leyland Line. Agent New York & Porto Rico Steam- ship Co, E. A. Berne, Agent Quebec Steamship Company. E. lA, Berne, Agent 9 E. A. Berne, 129 Royal Dutch West India Mail Line. E. A. Berne, Agent Royal Mail Steam Packet Com- pany. St. Thomas, Dock, En- gineering & Coaling Company, Agent. STEVEDORES Berne, E. A. Blake, G. B. Bryan, A. H. Daniel, C. E. TAILORS Audain, W. Best, W. C., & Co. Eloi, E. CHAPTER XV THE COST OF LIVING-—-LABOUR CONDITIONS Cost of living—Principal items of food—Retail prices—Day wages for men—Settlement of St. Croix strike—Press’ reflections—Forma- tion of labour unions—Membership and activities—Agreement between St. Thomas coal carriers and the West Indian Company. THE cost of living in the Virgin Islands of the United States of America cannot be said to be high by any means. In fact, as compared with the same charges in the neighbouring island of Porto Rico, the amounts paid for hotel and household living expenses must necessarily be regarded as rather low. To illustrate, the regular rate at the two leading hotels for board, room, and service is two dollars per day for transient boarders, but for a month’s board and lodging the rates range from twenty-five to forty dollars a month, according to the location of the room. For this charge can be obtained comfortable living quarters, good ser- vice, and splendid table board. The principal items of food for the poorer classes in all three islands are ‘‘fungee,’’ or a sort of corn-meal mush, mackerel, shad, herring, and salted fish. During the cutting season in the sugar-cane fields the workers are allowed to cut a certain amount of the cane for their own consumption, and for many weeks in the year this constitutes their principal article of diet. Vegetables and fruits are not raised in sufficient abundance, espe- 130 The Cost of Living 131 cially in the island of St. Thomas, to supply the needs of half of the population, and the greater part has to be imported from Tortola, Porto Rico, and other neighbour- ing islands. By far the largest proportion of the money earned by the natives is used for the purchase of clothing rather than for food. The prices of bread and of sugar have risen during the past year, but in other respects the costs of food- stuffs and clothing are not appreciably higher than they were during the early months of the present European war. ‘To illustrate this point, reference is made to the report of the special committee appointed by the Governor and the St. Croix Colonial Council early in 1916 for the purpose of regulating the prices for food- stuffs, etc., on that island. This committee met on April 12th, and decided that from that date until further notice the maximum retail prices in Christian- sted for certain necessary household and living articles should be as follows: Cornmeal...............0000 $0.04 per single pound; 2 Ibs. 7 cts. Flour (best grade) ............ 0.06 “ ‘ “ Flour (counter)............... 0.05 “ “ “ Muscovado Sugar............. 0.05 “ “ Molasses Sugar (raw).......... 0.06 “ Rice... cece cee eee ee eee 0.08 “ * “ White Beans................. o.10 “ oe “ Red Kidney Beans............ o12 “ “ Black Eye Peas............... oir “ Green Peas. ........... 00.00 0.08 ‘“f “ “ Yellow Canada Peas........... o12 “ “ Hake... ccc eee ee eee eee o10 “ Herrings..............0.0000- 0.08 ‘“ & “ Alewives............0 eee ee ees 0.08 “ * “ American Butter..............- 0.32 “ “ “ Starch.......... 0.0... e eee eee 0.08 “ * “ Clear Pork................00- 0.20 “ & “ 132 The Virgin Islands Lard... .. eee cee eee $0.18 per single pound Tea (common)...............+. 0.36 “ “ “ Blue Cloud Soap.............. 0.25 per bar of about 2 pounds Lion Blue Soap............... 0.20 ff en“ Kerosene Oil 110 test.......... 0.06 per bottle The present-day wages (for men) in the island of St. Croix, where work on the large sugar estates offers the principal means of livelihood, are, generally speak- ing, thirty-five cents for nine hours’ labour. Previous to the month of January, 1916, the prevailing wage had been twenty cents per day, but by reason of a general strike among the sugar-estate labourers, a considerable monetary advance was obtained. The actual differ- ence between the old-time and the present returns, however, is not so great as appears on the surface, for under the earlier conditions many benefits were fur- nished by the various estates. These included a free house and a plot of ground for the growing of vegetables and grain, and in a number of instances the privilege was granted for the keeping of a horse and cow. Free medicine and medical attention were also provided for the labourers by the planters. The strike in St. Croix, although of long duration was carried through without any acts of violence, and the success that attended the efforts of the labourers for the improvement of their condition is due largely to the establishment, by Mr. D. Hamilton Jackson, of a labour union whose present body numbers, so it is stated, six thousand members. Delegates representing the Planters’ Association and the Labour Union, with the mediation of the govern- ment, arrived at a settlement of the perplexing labour dispute at a meeting held in Christiansted on the night of February 26, 1916. The planters’ delegates in- Labour Conditions 133 cluded Messrs. G. B. Fleming, C. J. G. Sorensen, and Karl Lachmann; while the representatives of the Labour Union numbered Messrs. Ralph J. Bough, Charles C. ” Reubel, and C. R. T. Brow. These gentlemen signed an agreement in the presence of his Excellency, Gover- nor Helweg-Larsen, and the first day of March was the date fixed for the resumption of labour in the sugar-cane fields. A copy of the agreement between the planters and labourers follows: ‘‘Between the undersigned Committee members respectively for Planters and Labourers the following agreement has been made today in accordance with the power granted the Planters’ delegates in meeting of the Planters’ Association Managing Committee on the 17th inst. and the Labour Union’s delegates by de- claration of 17th inst.: ‘‘The work is resumed on the estates on the following conditions: “The pay shall be for all kinds of work for all Ist class labourers: 30 cents a day for 4 days’ work a week; 35 cents a day for 5 or 6 days’ work a week. If work is stopped for any labourer during the week for any reason for which he is not responsible, the pay of 35 cents a day is to be paid him. “The Governor binds himself to lay before the Colonial Council a proposal to grant either an amount of $3,000—say Three Thousand dollars—for paying out bonus to those labourers who have been making cane- cutting during the crop 1916 at a rate of about 21% cents a day, or an amount of $5,000—say Five Thousand dollars—for reducing the import duty for corn-meal and salt fish, and to make known to the Council that it 134 The Virgin Islands will be preferable to adopt a grant for the first men- tioned purpose. In case a strike should break out among the factory hands, and it should be found neces- sary to stop the work of a factory on account of such a strike, the owners of the estates delivering canes to the factories in question are not obliged to employ the labourers living on the estates. The Labour Union binds itself not to support such a strike. Should it be proved that such a strike has been instigated by Planters or Factory-owners the above clause shall not be valid. ‘This agreement is valid until the 1st of November a.c. ‘“The wages for 2nd and 3rd class Estate labourers are increased at the same ratio as the pay for Ist class labourers. “Over work is paid with 4 cents an hour. ‘‘The wages of pasturemen is increased at the same rate as the pay for Ist class labourers. The working hours are as hitherto. “The Labour Union is to instruct the Labourers to go back to the same Estates from where they have left. “The Planters bind themselves to pay every such returning Labourer an amount of 50 cents in advance to be paid back with 25 cents after 2nd week and 25 cents after 3rd week. ‘‘The Labourers are entitled to a provision-ground of jth of an acre, good land. In case of the Labourer being discharged he has the right to dispose of it ashe likes, and the manager has no right to appropriate or destroy the provision growing. “If the labourer is prevented from working the full day for reasons for which he is not responsible, he will Labour Conditions 135 be paid for the hours he has been working proportionate upon a whole day’s (9 hours) pay. “The labourers are entitled to receive any visitor in their houses, as long as the visitors do not destroy the order of the place. “‘The Labour Union will exert themselves to have the return of the Labourers to take place as soon as possible, and see that it commences at latest Wednesday the 1st of March a. c. ‘“‘The Labourers retain the same privileges as they enjoyed before the strike. ‘“‘The employers are not to use any offensive language against the labourers or their institutions, while on the other hand the labourers must pay due respect to their superiors. “The Ikabour Union and the Planters’ Union upon request bind themselves to help their members or sub- ordinates to get redress at court of justice for such offensive behaviour. “‘Christiansted, the 26th February, 1916. “TSigned] G. B. FLemina, C. J. G. SORENSEN, RALPH Boucu, C. REUBEL, C. R. T. Brow, Kart LACHMANN. ‘‘Signed in my presence, “(| Signed] HELWEG-LARSEN, “‘Governor. “P.V.G. “T Signed] WILL JACOBSEN, ‘Secretary to the Committee.” In connection with the statement appearing in the first part of the paragraph immediately following the wage specifications for all first-class labourers, it might be added that at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Colonial Council held on February 29th it was decided 136 The Virgin Islands to reduce the tariff on corn-meal, but not on salt fish for the fiscal year 1916—17. Editorial comment regarding the strike settlement as appearing in the West End News, the Government news- paper at Frederiksted, St. Croix, D. W. I., which was believed to favour the planters’ side of the question, and The Herald, a Christiansted daily edited by D. Hamilton Jackson, the head of the Labour Union in St. Croix, reflected general satisfaction on the part of all concerned. In the February 29th edition of the first-named daily the following comment was made: ‘‘We are happy that the strike has come to a close, and we think the conditions arranged for the two parties, planters and labourers, are rather favourable to both sides. We hope the higher wages promised the labourers will induce them to perform good and earnest work, and that it will be long before we see our island in such a deplorable state again.” The concluding paragraph of an article entitled “The Salvation of St. Croix,’”’ appearing in this same issue, reads: “It must now be sincerely hoped that the Estate owners will receive the labourers in the same good spirit in which they return, and that both parties will compete trying to forget the words of hatred and abuse which have been used freely during the recent combat, and endeavour to bring about the good and pleasant relation between employer and employee without which no future for St. Croix is possible.” -The Herald was more demonstrative in its remarks concerning the ‘‘complete victory for the labourers,”’ as Labour Conditions 137 its editor characterized the negotiations in the first edition of his paper following the strike settlement. “The labourers have won a victory,” he stated, ‘‘a brilliant one, one that was not expected in Santa Cruz. The Labour Union is only a two months’ old baby, and unweaned it has fought a huge battle with giants; it was wounded, it bled, and with the wounds as yet unhealed, it has won the battle. The labouring man is now strongly protected from the abuse of managers and others placed in power over him... . We have now forgotten the past, and we look forward to that future when this settlement shall prove that the labourer is worthy of consideration. . . . On the whole we think things have worked out satisfactorily and, if looked at from an equal standpoint, both planter and labourer ought to be glad to be brought together in an organized body to work for the upbuilding of Santa Cruz.” Considerable satisfaction over the happy issue of affairs in St. Croix was evidenced in St. Thomas, as can be seen by an extract from Lightbourn’s Mail Notes which reads: “A sigh of relief has gone up for St. Croix in the settlement of the strike which has been on for the past month. It was settled on Saturday evening by a compromise, the planters yielding to an advance of wages on the lines which we published about ten days ago. Weare glad to say that the labourers behaved all through commendably, thereby gaining much sympathy for their cause, and they can now cheerfully return to their work on the Ist of March, and we hope it will be many a day ere the buried hatchet will be resurrected.” 138 The Virgin Islands In St. Thomas during normal seasons, when the harbour is busy, labourers around the wharves and shipping have been accustomed to earning a dollar or more per day. The agricultural labourers earn far less than this amount, but have various perquisites as a compensation. No serious labour trouble, or threatened trouble, has existed in St. Thomas during recent years up to Novem- ber, 1916. At this period, as a result of the devasta- tions of the hurricane of October 9th—10th, and the many inconveniences that followed, a season of hard times prevailed. Inspired, possibly, by the successes of the St. Croix strikers the coal carriers and other labourers in St. Thomas decided to resort to strikes in order to obtain better wages, and three ships were compelled to go elsewhere in order to be coaled. A labour union was established, with Mr. George A. Moorehead at its head, and a membership approximat- ing 2700, and as a result of their determined and united stand in favour of a betterment of the labourer’s condi- tion, the West Indian Company, Ltd., which enjoys the best share of the St. Thomas coaling business at present, finally entered into an agreement with the St. Thomas Labour Union concerning the loading and discharging of coal to and from steamers in the harbour which reads as follows: ‘‘AGREEMENT between the West Indian Company, Ltd., St. Thomas, and St. Thomas Labour Union concerning loading and discharging of coal to and from steamers in St. Thomas harbour. ‘1, The price for the coal carriers loading a steamer in % F Mr. D. Hamilton Jackson Photo by J. Mena ‘ Hosted by Google Labour Conditions 139 is to be 2 (two) cents per basket, each basket to contain not less than 85 (eighty-five) pounds of coal. Only the Company’s baskets are to be used, and the baskets must not be removed from the working place. “The Union bind themselves to supply sufficient labourers for all ships coming for coal, day and night, week days, Sundays, Holy and Holidays, in all kind of weather, only very heavy rain excepted. A minimum of 60 to 80 tons of coal must be loaded per hour. ‘Trimming is paid by the Company at the rate of 10 (ten) cents per ton, the shovellers to be paid by the coal carriers themselves as usual. “2. The prices for discharging are: Shovellers and tippers 1214 cts. an hour or $1.25 a day. Chutemen 10 cents an hour or $1 a day. Winchmentio “ “ “ “ $1 a day. Carriers 8 “ “ “ “ 80 cts. a day. ‘‘Each workman to give an honest day’s work. Six working days a week, time from 6 A.M. to 5 P.M., with I hour for dinner and half an hour for breakfast, giving 9% working hours. “The carriers’ baskets to be 34 (three quarter) full at least. As usual a minimum of about 800 tons must be discharged per day. “For night work and work on Holidays, the so-called half holidays excepted, the double of the above men- tioned prices are to be paid when coal is discharged. ‘““The number of men to be employed on board of the discharging vessel is to be the same as usual, and the number of carriers to be according to the distance the coal is to be carried. The work to be carried out without waste of labour or money. The Company promises to supply the necessary drinking water, water boys, and light when night work is done. 140 The Virgin Islands “3, The Union bind themselves always to send an officer to overlook the loading and the discharging of coal. This officer shall attend to any complaint brought forward by the employees of the West Indian Company. , ‘“‘a. For loading and discharging coal the Company binds itself to employ labourers from the Labour Union only. “5. The Labour Union is responsible that sufficient labourers at all hours are supplied, but the Company promises when night work is wanted, to give the Union or one of its officers notice. “6, Any differences arising under this contract to be adjusted by arbitration. Whenever a question arises, six disinterested men must be elected as arbitrators, three by the Union and three by the Company; it is understood that these men are to be elected from outside the Union and the Company. The six arbitra- tors elect an umpire. In case they cannot agree upon the umpire, the Government shall be asked to elect him. ‘““7. Decisions of the arbitrators shall be passed by simple majority of votes, and the umpire has the casting vote. The arbitrators keep a protocol in which shall be entered the nature of complaint laid before them, the names of the arbitrators and of the umpire, and how the umpire was elected (by the arbitrators or by Government), the decisions of the arbitrators and how the different arbitrators have voted. No accounts of the proceedings shall otherwise be entered in the pro- tocol, as the decision is not to be contested when once passed. ‘Within one day after the decision has been passed the arbitrators furnish each of the parties with a copy of the protocol signed by all arbitrators and the umpire. Labour Conditions 141 “8. The object of the arbitrators is to decide whether a complaint is just or not, and to decide what damage the one party has to pay the other. Such damage is to be paid within three days from the date of the decision. ‘““The Company and the Union do not wish to give rules for the decisions of the arbitrators, but the Union agrees with the Company that it is of the highest importance that the steamers are not kept back by faults or unwillingness from the labourers’ side, and that meaningless stopping of the work caused by the labourers as well as strikes caused by any other thing than breaking of this contract from the Company’s side shall always be considered as a grave offence. ‘‘Under special circumstances the arbitrators can grant either of the parties a higher damage than $1000 (one thousand dollars). “9g. The arbitrators must keep in mind that they do not appear as representatives of any of the contending parties, but are expected to mete out damage impar-. tially according to the merits of the case before them. “to. The Union and the Company shall each deposit in the National Bank of the Danish West Indies $500 (five hundred) when this contract is signed, and $500 (five hundred) within a week after. “Neither of the parties can withdraw its deposit without the consent of the other party. When a party by the decision of the arbitrators is sentenced to pay damage to the other party, the bank shall, when pre- sented with the decision, pay out to the winning party from the deposit of the loser the amount granted by the arbitrators. “The party out of whose deposit payments have taken place shall within a week bring up the deposit to its original amount of $1000 (one thousand dollars). 142 The Virgin Islands “1. Ifa party refuses, when a difference has arisen and the other party wants arbitrators to be appointed, to elect arbitrators, the party who refuses shall have forfeited its whole deposit to the other party. “12. This contract expires on the 31st December, 1917, if the islands remain Danish, but it is understood that the contract is valid for another year if two months, notice has not been given by either party. “In case transfer of the islands to the United States takes place, both parties are entitled to cancel this contract on the 30th June, 1917, provided that two months’ notice has been given. “St. Thomas this 13th day of December, 1916. “For the Labour Union: ““G, A. MoorEHEaD (sgd.) A. A. RODWELE “¢ I. B. GEORGES “ce “For the West Indian Company, Ltd.: H. P. BERG “ A. H. LocKHART “ SCHACK-EYBER”’ ss JO|ARL “A asejQ Aq oyoyg SBWOYL, 3G ‘suooseT oy] = Sow “yr Hosted by Google CHAPTER XVI SANITATION AND PUBLIC WORKS Drainage and water supply—Rain water in general use—Formation of St. Thomas favors establishment of huge reservoir—Public wells— Communal physicians and hospitals—Lunatic and leper asylums —Registered births and deaths during 1915—Causes of deaths— City fire departments—Volunteer service—Prison labour for clean- ing streets and repairing roads. THERE are no public sanitary works of any descrip- tion in any of the three cities in what formerly con- stituted the Danish West Indies. In afew of the houses located near the water front private drains have been in- stalled and modern conveniences are in use; but aside from them nothing of this sort can be found. The two hotels of the place and two or three private houses only are equipped with up-to-date lavatory arrangements and are provided with fairly good tub and shower baths. Drainage water is left to flow in the gutters or seep into the ground. Fortunately, the sun is so powerful and shines such a large proportion of the time that there is never any water remaining for very long, even after a heavy rain. No doubt the fact that most every private house and public building catches the rain water for domestic purposes is responsible for keeping a surprisingly large amount of water from reaching the streets. The formation of St. Thomas, with its steep hills, 143 144 The Virgin Islands makes possible the establishment, in two or three val- leys admirably adapted for the purpose, of a reservoir for the impounding of water to furnish the city with its requirements. This is an improvement which has been spoken of at times but apparently has never been given real serious consideration. In St. Croix the situation in this respect is even better, as there the mountains slope gradually to the plains and there are several small streams that might be made the nucleus of a water supply system. In addition to the private arrangements for storing water, the cities have provided public wells from which any one may draw without restriction. This water, as well as all the water in public use, is boiled before drinking. Most of the water from municipal wells, however, is used for laundry purposes. In St. Thomas there are two Communal Physicians, one for the western and one for the eastern district, and an official formerly styled as a King’s Physician who acts also as Quarantine Physician and Physician to the Communal Hospital. St. Thomas has one hospital, ‘‘The Communal Hospital,” which can accommodate eighty-five patients in fourteen common wards. Connected with the hospital there is a department with one private room and two common wards, each of which can accommodate six patients. Besides, there is a lunatic asylum. There is a Communal Physician in St. John but no hospital. In the island of St. Croix there are two Communal Physicians, one in Christiansted and one in Frederiksted, and formerly there was the so-called King’s Physician. There are two Communal Hospitals, ‘‘Peter’s Farm Hospital” in Christiansted and ‘‘Frederiksted Hospital” i ry aes eee. 8 \y ane \e i I (wait Ve ral \ K —_!;, \. A, . aN wh % om al we i —— a: et a - wv Hosted by Google Sanitation and Public Works 145 in Frederiksted. ‘‘Peter’s Farm Hospital” has ac- commodations for thirty-two men in five common wards, thirty-five women in five wards, and twelve children in one ward. Connected with the Communal Hospital is a department with three private rooms, and three private wards which can accommodate twenty-two patients. ‘‘Frederiksted Hospital’? has likewise de- partments for men, women, and children, which can accommodate, respectively, forty-four patients in three wards, twenty-nine patients in four wards, and six patients in one ward, and a department with one private room and two common wards for the accommodation of nine patients. The Lunatic Asylum, situated at Richmond just outside of Christiansted, has twenty-six private rooms and four common wards, each of which can accommodate eight patients. A Leper Asylum, also in Richmond, contains twenty-four common wards and can accommo- date seventy-two patients, besides a hospital depart- ment with two common wards for the accommodation of sixteen patients. During the calendar year ending December 31, 1915, the total number of births registered by the King’s Physician in St. Thomas amounted to 335, of which 154 were males, 155 females, and 26 still-born. In St. Croix 460 children were born, of which 239 were boys and 221 girls. In addition, there were 36 children still-born. A total of 297 deaths was reported in St. Thomas in 1915, and estimating the population at 10,000 souls the death rate amounts to just 29.70 to the thousand. The ages of these persons whose deaths are recorded are as follows: children under one year, 66; between one and five years, 22; between five and fifteen years, 8; men Io QCricket Rk. Cockroach n Narrons ounce Cap onged Le SaitCay Mingo 6s seg? West omass> ea) 7 (AAN OunLorn® Ca Ware ‘ ‘i hn “ANEEL BAY 3 tf ep Coki Pt. eEL AY, Purkey Cay r Gusta y! WiNraene sTurtleBack sp patigce re ALI A are Phaly2 TheTwoBrotherg ° < WY sAty ESTATE ya: FWY % - sefarer 2 3 ONY amide nee EN CabesPt. SUNDET po! 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