New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-03-03
ST. THOMAS.
TIE ISLAND OF ST THOMAS. ITS CHARAC-
TER AND CONDITION

TIE fSLAND OF 81. HUN 40, lie t1AhhN
TER AND CONDITION.
Insn Orr Ger CoIrsspordent
ST. THOMAS, W. l., Tuesday, Feb. Z, 1854
OF AL the experiments of lie made anywhere under
the heavens none could well seem more hopeless thar
for civilized nan to undertake TO nhab these Virgin
Ises. They consist only Of 50 many irregular and
jsrred masses Of mountains wild and uncutvated and
incapable Of cultivation, rising to elevation varying
rem 500 70 1900 feet abruptly from the sea swelling
VI graDdly FROM the limited plains lying along the sea
shores or from narrow ortuous valleys running through
them in various directions gentleman was describ-
ing to me the physical appearance of some of the Wind
ward Isands as reminding of those charts by which
eeoeraphers represent in one groupedvew the relative
hight Of the principal mountains the earths surface
The outlines Of this group more graceful but they
are equally mountainous. The form, the rocks, the
soil, and the frequent occurrence OF earthqnakes-
scarcely month passing that more shocks are
not felt and often very protracted aud severe-the
summer months being an exception, when hurricanes,
either actual or anticipated terrorze the minds of the
inhabitants-a these marks indicate cOnclusiyely that
these islands Of volcanic origin. The soil is thin
stony end did II possess any richness native or pro-
dGced If could not long retain it against the action OF
the heavy rains which descend in these ATTITUDES and
sweep down in torrents through the valleys to
the Anything like aluyial plains, other than Of
themost limited extent are not seen. Those portions
under age the lower slopes of the mountains and
hills The mountains and indeed the islands generally
are thchly covered with almost nnumerabe variety
Of tropical shrubs Anything worthy the name of tree
ia scarcely found here few specimens of the cotton
tree, the PALM the c0cOa-nut the mountain cabbage,
the date and the tamarnd being the only ones noticed
Shrubs wholly strange yet resembling often familiar
varieties; Towering plants and vines in great sbund-
ance and beauty Of which we may name every species
Of cactus and vine very Ike if indeed il is not, the
Dornng-glOry; and the Gunea-grass, therefore form
the rich yerdant covering spread over these islands,
from the waters edge TO the highest point OF elevation
may well admit that the views expressed of these
islands q whole are based on observations made on
this number OF TIE group, which, however, am told
il O fair representative OF all. Santa Cruz, though
being usually associated with them, is yet so remote
and isolated 70 be not strictly reckODed OF the Virgin
Islands But at all events they are just when applied
t. st Thomas, Of whose productions, labor, &c &c,
we propose 10 speak.
Until the recent appearance Of cholera the island Of
". Thomas had q population Of between 1900 and
Ia COO while ts production would be Inadequate to
sustain onefourth that number. There twenty-sx
estates or the island Formerly, when the peculiar
institution wac in successful operation In the Dan
sh West Indies each Of these estates consisted of
tensve tracts under high degree of cultivation and
prOductveness this volcanic structure of SOIL stony
and poor, is susceptible But long since the wild
vegetation Of the mountain encroached the planta-
tons sno the extinction of slavery few years since
to have quite dishearened these mbecile Danes,
and terminated their struggle with IL must be confessed
stogy and unpropltieue nature Tillage of the soil
has been almost wholly abandoned; the estates have
been suffered to 20 10 waste, and now present only
few scattered patches of Indifferent sugar cane, vans
potatoes, Pgeonpeas, and other unimportant vegeta
bee The residences OF the propretors are dlaPdated
and weather.wern. Plantation life on st Thomas is q
bitter mOckery OF that grandeur Of social and state
nm ma N which the the adyo-
Gates OF slave labor One is reminded rather Of the
aneedote OF the man who boasted that certain large
and sterile tract lying his possessions did not be-
long to him.
The settlements Of the negro labcrers, attached to
the estates by system of free labor squald and
uhthrifty in the extreme These consist Of fifteen
twenty hufs huddled closely together, sometimes oil
wood covered with shingles instead of clapb0ards and
raised posts two feet from the ground as protec-
ton from moisture and the overrunnng vermn of these
islands Usually, however, they constructed OF Q
sort Of hurdlework OF sticks filed in with mud and
matched with the leaves Of the and the long grass
The tenants OF these were formerly slaves on the
estates but now they are paid for their labor accord
ing to scale OF prices established for the Danish Isl
aDds BY the Government The entire relation Of EN-
poyer and atsrer 70 the most irng minutie is regu-
lated by the Government The average of wages the
estates is Nteen cents In addition 20 this Is the rent
Of their huts which they obliged keep in repair
and thirty feet square of ground for the use of each
family. These rates, however do not obtain in town.
Here labor is largely and considering the amount &C.
oomphshsd ex,raysgsntly paid for Porters Of which
there is large class employed in dschsrgng cargces
by lighters from vessels in the harbor and mechanics
of every class receive dollar and often more per
day. Servants in hmihes-to accommodate whose
azness there al extensive and strict division of Ia
iabor--there being 10 every family of any pretentor
ceok house servant housecleaner washer and Ironel
aud parse-Al paid from five 10 ten dollars month
Small as the remuneration of labor on the estates
nsy SEEM il is no; unjust II Keeps the negroes anc
their families alive spd their labor does but little more
for the owner while il 10 depreciating year By year
the value CT hisesta.e more inefficient, Sinking
nsabornaie and spskia Get oflaborers the sun does
rot shine upon.
The ground cultivated an estate and TO which men
women and children Of Of families contribute
!. not more than man and his boy of ten years Oh in
New England would keep in style Of garden culhya
.,.n But both laborers and employers are imeecile
essy and satisfied 10 90 extent which would FUR
nst constant source Of surprise and amusement tc
,sr, alternating. driving Yankee farmer Their modes
and indictments Of labor are unconth and iaderous
snS ia some MEASURE explain why 50 little Is accom-
ohshod Characteristic example OF the facilities oi
labor ia the instrument employed Tor cutting WOOD o
market This, instead OF the AZ; or hatehet "nich
h presunasle these people never heard o. Aig'
coarse knife with which they hack and hagge anon.
the wild sLrukhery, managing 81 here and there =
branch which they trim oct ssd tie upn bundles VIII
sfriuCs or yithes