The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-24

AnAirs In st. Thomas.
: A0P0sED EsTABLIsBMENT OF A MARINE H0sPI-
rAL-LETTER OF THE UNITED STATES CONSUL
4 ON THE sUBJEcT.
From the st. Thomas Times, March 81
CoMnRGAL AGENCY OF THE United STATES,
ISLAND on ST. Thomas, March 9, 1856. ID
The undersigned, prompted by feelings of humanity
tenton of lis Excellency the of the Island Of
st. Thomas 10 snbeot which he deems Of great import
AnSs to OIL nations whose shipping visits this island
Of which Is ownsd or controlled by the government
and Is appropriated exeu to the Of the
1852 by private subscription ard then intended as
Marine Hospital into which all invalid seamsn could
h,ss access , upon the payment of sum per disa
establishment These benevolent designs for the
am alteration Of the condition of suffering searnsn
at this island were however, interrupted by the many
difficulties encountered the organization Of the n.i
tuition and the building been rented to associa
by ship visit their sick seamen order them 70
their own hofptal now private monopoly designed to
d tss an ss Of st.
hem convalescent for which the charge Is
dlsIs day EACH exclusive Of the bill for medicine
which is unprecedented and often becomes oppressive
in the extreme single American vessei while repair
ing at this port paid to this establishment five hundred
amos nts nearly as great The undersigned does not
recognise the right in these gentlemen to order
hoss SnS Keep hsa there s hs
wptn under the law, are subjacv to heavy dnes
FIR keeping lick sesmen Doard af er ply stefan
given it IS his opinion that they should be taken
shore and there being other hospital in tbs sland to
which they are admitted. II is, however, due to the
medical gentlemen interested in this hot pits TO remark
II at The udersned does not wish to be under as
ntmarg that seor,en ordered to this hospital
or kept there, when not scA yet those who pay what
seems to be such charges apt to make In
vicious remarks and may often make this oppressive
excuse for keeping board when they aid
n ana N fact he unse.gued verify believes that
these charges sick seamn are frequently taken
to sea, and their lives put in imminent peril The ojs,.
OF the undersigned Is not to make upon this hcspi
tai Tor be believes 1t is well kept and that the seamen
who ere placed there receive proper attention. aud gen
teTen In every bus!ness or profession have right t.
make morey in any legal and honorable manne aud it
may be that the expenses of this establishment e
neavv ana therefore the annual dividend SMALL but
to devise the ways and means for the erection and
rapport of inc hos pitsl, into which this hepes
and dependent class, who contribute much to the
apc properly cared for without charge and only advert
ed to the nature snd character Of the hospitals Of the
ssrd to hcw the necessity of such an institution.
BY table prepared for the undersigned at the Hsrbor
Masters office It appears that in 1858 two thousand two
hundred and twelve aiig vesres averaging 1898 tons
rived at this port taking that ear as the data and
duty of five cents each ton, making averaged of
SO 49,, each vessel would produce Sill 4sS So Ally
add TO this fair proportional tonnage duty the
monthly and semi. monthly steamers, and the amount
would be increased to eighteen twenty thousand
Of such hospital is required could be collected with
out being seriously felt by those who would pay it.
$780, largely one-third of the total and all the
ship masters and others interested with whom the under
tire willingness to pay this duty.
The undersigned would respectfully suggest part OF
his scheme, that all the consuls sgens
reticent at this island, associated with gentleman
rejected by the Danh government and the agent Of
Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, be constituted
board OF ors, with power 70 build or purchase a
suitable hospta tor the purposes above and hereinafter
Specified to be under their exclusive management and
control; upon when he would further suggest should
NUrr m n IY ~Auay thA ~
hospital tonnage Dues and to change the same from time
70 time 10 meet the expenses Of the institution pro-
than two nor more than eight cents each ton
registered measurement of each vessel, to DO col
amount 70 co ec,ea to be held by him It I'll times suO
ect the order Of the board of directors and to be by
them appropriated 10 the erection and support land for
sick or difaoed teamen Of all nations land NO other
pertors shall be admitted free Of charge the order
Ut sDy one OF the directors aforesaid.
The undersigned, durirg the past three years. has
witnessed go much suffering and disease and has been
called upon to record, in his official capacity, many
deaths, that his mind has been unAvoidably attra
ed to the solution Of the question: how the con-
dition Of this dependent class be beneftted9 The
!eIcy the President, the undersigned confidently
heves will afford sac and rain asylum for the dis
but make up nearly the sum total Of the prosueriy
Of the island Of st. Thomas It Is An over-esn.
male to say thousand seamen Annually visit
this Nr and the history of the past four demon
strate. the melancholy fact that the island year
becomir more unhealthy 1t s therefore, the duty of
hofe who by their respective governments, consi
tinted the guardians Of this class of their fellow citizens
who're habits Of life tend to difquafy them any par
tcpation in their own protection to provide proper
ehei err comforts and medical attention for them when
stricken by iseaee in foreign land separated by
brca0 from al who bound BY ties of consau-
euni'y to minister to their relief; humanty-and wise
comn eycial policy dictates such course-the under
fgnsd VIII therefore ask with great confidence the
operation o all his colleagues in urging the Importance
and benefits Of this scheme upon attention Of his Elk
ceeDcy the President Of St. Thomas and with that view
viii ufnish each with copy Of this communication
The undersigned would further respectfully suggest
tnat this plan for free hospital Goes not impose any
tax or buIthen upon the shipping Of Denmark which
not equally borne by all ether nations in proport N TO
their commerce with this island. All M ions Interested
will be represented In the board of directors and hence
fear be entertained that the will EVER become
Furthermore it will be the official duty of each di.
rector to that tie expenditures In the support the
sttu'ion are a. light the demands Of mercy and
mspity will admit
In conclusion, the undersigned viii express tho hope
that bis ExceeDcy will at his earliest convenience take
such action in The premises will result the consum
nation of the earnest desire Of undersigned above
and begs to his Exceency Of his great
respect snd personal regard. CH J. HELM.
To his Excelency H. H. BERG President Of the Island
Of st. Themas &c.
Gallant Conduct OF Q LabOrin0 Man.