The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-13
OUR WEST INDIA ACQUISITION. :

Commercially, Historically, Physically and
strategic siIy-Their Value rs Naval Sta
sion and OuiIying STRONGHOLD.
UxlrEp SrATEs NAVAL AcApKnY,v
ANNAPOLIS, Nov. Q, 1857.
st. Thomas. tho principal OF tho Virgin IslandA
holds the most prominent position In the West Indies
IS naval and commercial station. Is stuaAcd In iati.
tude IS deg. % min. north. longitude 05 deg 20 min.
west and lies right IN the track OF all vessels from
Europe Brazil East Indies and tho Pacific ocean bound
10 the West India islands or 10 the Unted statsa IL -
the point where all vessels touch for supplies when
needed coming from any Of the above stations Nh .
central point from which any all OF the West India
islands can be assalsd while IL Is mpervious attack
from landing parties and be fortified 70 any extent
Nothing can be more beautiful than tho town and bay Of
g. Thomas az seen from tho sea- from the great
NIT that overlooks them. The bay at the head Of which
lies ,he town or st. Thomas is almost circular. the
entrance being by neck guarded BY two heavy forts
which, although not capable At present OF resisting the
heavy ordnance In uso, can DO strengthened and
projected that NO foreign Power could ever hope TO-
ST. Thomas IL q small Gibraltar OF ITSELF and could
only be attacked by naval force. There would BE- NO
rounded BY reefs and breakers every point near
which vessel or boa, could approach % natural forth
ncatlon, and only requires guns with lutte labor 81:
VAS captured by the British In 1901 while under the
charge Of the Danish Governor Won schossen.
effort made to defend the place THIS is the only instance
where the island been In the hands OF foreign
enemy and the British would have held It TO this day
instead Of for years could they have done 20
There Is no hsrbor in the West Indies better ntsd
than 81, Thomas for q naval station Its harbor anc
that OF San Juan, and the harbors formed BY water
Island would contain all the vessels Of tne argest navy
from bad weather, and be secure against an enemy.
Gregorie channel. half mile 70 the west Of the bar
ST. Thomas and nacccss biz to any enemy II properly
fortified No enemy's vessels enter these harbors.
be completely obstructed by heavy chains against
which no ship would venture TO run WITH
The harbor OF 81. John eight niles to the east OF ST
Thomas, is a st better harb,r than 81. Thomas, ana
has mot ~ wh ana
CHAINS and all these nass forts oil single guns can
be built up from hegh. % = CHI 10 such manner n,s
tho pungng shot would ssoy any vessel rasn enough
TO approach within range
II il ever should DO intended TO make great naval
depot In the West indies 81 Thomas offers all the ad-
and facilities for makn2 dry docks coal sta
tious ana oil under compee protection. Great
Krum bay is natural dock ITSELF with depth OF four
ana half fathoms and entrance three hundred feet
10 width. II would only require hling up across the
mouth ana 70 % nps fne Of the
Island OF st. Thomas are not great unless NAV % ~
minerals yet undiscovered us enc, vAns y Is nasaa
Is in its favor because 1t can't subist an army ~ any
kind and enemy o)uld not land anywhere WI hou tno
reach OF guns rhe whole area vi the island Is oniy
forty Eve square miles, the surface rugged and sevatsd
and almost lid Of trees which, having been cut dowe
caused scarcity in the supply Of water This dicsncy
is however supplied by tanks which are kept paea -
ali seasons by the rams No doubt water c0ald b
Obtained by sinking artesan wes as San Juan there
are several springs flowing out OF tho rocks
The distinguishing 2. g Iaomas - ~
great number and large extent OF he merchants stores
the plies Of merchandise they contain and ihe
number OF vessels Of al nations which are lying VI tne
harbo II is the great for s'i The steam lines thae
run through West Ind and TO Europe, and b the
stopping place Of our United States line 70 Brazil Ne
stronger proof OF It's being central point than thu
circumstance u needed. steamer comes IN
plaza ia tho West Indes, can We know what
Is going on In The world Nothing can BIO more dekght-
fui than the soc,s o. .. rnomas rsnsva sn
greatest kindness and attention These hospialies are
on scale commensurate with tue wealth and I'M
portauce Of the inhabtans There few more bcai
,fu prospects than the splendid panoramic view from
tho highest point In the island where the whole town
and bav OF ST. Thomas 10 spread out like map at your
feet ana whence vessels he approaching
aasIancs Of thirty miles rms - n fact the nese
the Arc ada passage in makiog the West Indies and
cannot pass without being from - Thomas. me
Tnomas in all wea hsr:-Ihs verdant Island Of Santa
Cruz and the large island OF Prto Rco also Toe snnu-
an euchanug place 10 cruise n The trade wind blows
the bis and bay OF 81 Th0mas
although IL 10 rather hot In the town In midsummer
The summit covered WITH hands ,ms COTTAGES where
those OF the inhabitants WHO can all I'D retire for CON-
fort and fresh air rne tropical shrubs which sbound IN
this island especially beaatfu gigantic cactus and
aloe growing all the wild freedom Of unchecked na-
ture, and everything else luxurans 70 the most IAN.
tasc conform atoms forming scene Oh mucn noveny
There Is no place where a stranger enjoys himself
more than al ST. Thomas and he Island tho pro-
perry Of the United States 1t would become popuiax
resort The Inhabitants have t'adod with us 80 long
that their habits assirniaie with They are repub.
lean in their institutions ADD haveIto chicago
their actual form or spvernnsat IN coming into sno
Union Although, IL fact. belonging 20 monaIcnys
their system republican All Tho .cers OF the Island,
except the Governor and one or tao Others, are aps
poiuied BY the homo govern cent.
II may well 70 mention tnst tho Inhabitants are
mostly colorsd, but they extremely we'll edncased
Nearly all the clerks 10 the torres are colored-
The following | cousidsr tho advanfa 'cs OF \ nav1
station in tho West indies: Ill greai 1cuy VIC have,
OF manait ing feet of ~ the We : Indies 10
,a s wans arosan Power Inc role adopted Tow ards
during the rebellion would no d,ubt, again De en-
forced WITH the same rgor aud We would have 70 CON
tend on the NEST unequal terms with powerful niago
INST harng depot close Ut hand. and who could
also Of damage 10 nah' &, into port provded
with OF repair. white IN similar case We should
DO obliged to 80 North. ANY one cae see the
disadvantage = government would tabor under THAI
had to withdraw Q. fleet from before place fcrs
hardly any place In the Yves. Indies where
vessel In tins OF cord 10 In the open scA
ana transfer stores 70 another vessel 10 carrying on
warks operations depot " necessary, and mere we
have the PICK Of ali the wess India isisnds me ex-
would be tremendous iem 10 say nothing OF losing
tbs Of vessel al time when she would, very
81 ihomss. although no. tho best harbor the wsss
Indies, Il certainly the most inpsr,sss me pro- e
pairs ana stores and 10 for The majority OF vessels
he moss easily There arc 60 many good points
In the har5or OF 81. rhomss, san Juan ana ocnnS
water Island that Il would Gifct 10 10 decide which
void be bust place az VII CHI 20 establish depot
rbe harbor Of St. ihomss itself u we'll provided Win
ali the couvcnenccs Of wharves. buildings and sosa
depots that would temporarily Tor naval pur-
poses Every provision II made tho coalug Of nrge
steamera and in psr OF tue West Indies can vess
Be coaied 20 rapidly az At 81 Thomas
IL the government do nos desire 20 70 70 any great 81
peuss and wish the pacs GOAL depot shefe VIII
BE- no necessity further outlay We ~ TACT scqare
station sircsdy established 10 time Of Wsr y wo..d
mot DO easy bloc gAde 81 Thomas by any force Nc
vessels wcud b. abls lie within gunshot, could
they anchor IN front Of the port close enough
prevent steamer or any numbr OF them from going
In and out IT night Thsre intricate ohsnneio
through which vessel OF would have 20 WORK her
way dak night. but she could run right direct ios
her port with nothing 70 sop her. inn DOT inc 49,
with most Of the harbors 10 The West inda minnos-
Cuba, Porto Rico and ons or Two Of the knxsn smuas