New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-13
THE. PURCHASE OF ST. THOMAS.

SOME DESCRIPTION or THE ISLAND BY ADMIRAL
PORTER-ITs ADVANTAGES FOR A NAVAL
srATIoS-Irs SOCIETY, NATURAL RESOURCES
HEALTHFULNEss, HURRICANES, ETC.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-The following letter
was written by yice-Admiral Porter;
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
ANNAPOLIS, Nd, Nov. 6, 1867. J.
SIR: ST. Thomas, the principal OF me virgin lsaaas,
holds The most prominent position IN the west lVdes rs
naval and commercial station 10 Is situated M mttHae
Is5 g2 H. longitude $50 2G W. and lies right IN the track
Pscac Ocean bound 10 the india Islands 10 the
United States II Is TIC point where all vessels toen 10Y
stations tits - central point from which any all
n a si1 imperyous to attack from landing parties,
and can be fortified to any extent Nothing
can be more beautiful than tho town and bay Of ST.
rhomas ms seen from the sea, from the great sum
t that OverOOks them. The bay at the mead or Whlch
lies tho town OF st. Thomas, is almost circular the en-
trance being by q neck guarded 10y two heavy forts
which, although not capable &C present OF resisting he
heavy ordnance now IN use be strengthened and
tcctr that mo foreign power could hope 10 take
IT, St Thomas is small Gibralter OF ITSELF ana couN
only be attacked by naval force. There would DC no
nossbiv of landing troops there, the island Is sur
rounded by reefs aud breakers, ana every poht near
which vessel boat could approach IS natural lOri
cation and only requires guns with little labor expended
ON fortified works 1t is true that this island was
captured by the British in 1897, ,wlule under
the charge OF the Danish Governor Van sehotten,
but there was not shOt nred, or IN. my
effort made defend the place This Is tie only instance
whcie the island has been In The bands OF foreign
enemy and the British would have held 70 this day. IN
stead years, could they nave dOnc 80 Ntn
out difficulties There Is hRrDOr In the West indies
better fitted than St. Thomas for naval station Its mar
Dor and that OF San Juan, aud the harOOrs FORMED py
Water Island would contain all tile vessels O We iaiSeS
navy the world where they would be protected AT a
times from bad weather and be secure against an enemy
reQrie Channel half mile 10 the west Of the arb0r OF
81 Thomas is, II anything, better harhor than So
Thomas and inaccessible To any enemy II properly fort
ed No enemys vessels enter these hsbOf for their
entrances narrow they can be completely Oh,
strcted 10y heavy chains against which no ship would
venture to run with number OF ljinch guns hFing on
her. -. a, . A.. 49,. ., c.
Thomas IL st better harbor than 81 Thomas, and has
some advantages not possessed by the latter lseapa,
bis OF being thoroughly defended Win cannon ana
chain and i'm all these harbOrs forts OF single guns can be
but np from hight 10 hight in such manner that the
puugg shot would destroy any vessel rash enough To
n il ever should be intended to make great naval de-
not i'm the Wost Indies ST. Thomas offers All the adyan
tages aud facilities for making drydOcks, coal stations
and arsenals all undere0mplee protection Great krnn
BAY ia a natural dock itself, with depth OF y fahoms
ana an entrance 500 feet In width II would only require
nling up the mouth ana 10 Oe puulptu OUT 10
make ne basin for the largest sized ships The natural
resources OF the Island OF St. Thomas are not great
unless il may be in materials yet undlseov'
cred. Its chief value Is as ha'M o S't ai1e
In ia favor because lt can't subslst an army oi any
kind and enemy could not land any where Without te
reach of guns the whole of the island - only 80
square miles, the surface rugged ana elevated ana III
most devoid of trees which, having been cut uYS os u
u scarcity In the supply OF waller inns denvehSy III
however supplied by tanks which arc oSts NJ
by sinking artesian wells rs at san Juan tere are sea
eral SPRINGS o~teg % T5 ~ are as place
M trade nct eyinced by great number and large
extent Of the merchants stores, the Immense phoS 20
merchandise they contain, and the number OF No'y
all nations which are lying In the harDof u ~ WI
center for all the steam lines that run ~ onr
Indies and 10 Europe, and is the stopping Isk ~ -,
United States line TO Brazil M stronger ,aer
acentr point than this CIRCUMSTANCE u n other
Comes In daily, aud in st. Thomas, uoFN .i" 80, ~,
place in rho West Indies, can we know "n'' 10 e''"e
In the world. . -, .,oD tho society Of st.
Thomas H0spable to a fault, an sLinh.in, r atfen
lallv Americans receive the greatest ,ate
ton These hOspltaltlcs are on - tho Inhautanfs
vim tbe wealth aud Importance OF nv ~ snIenlid
Tgr are Few more beautiful prospects thah the spJnd
panoramic view from the hghese Tbonias is spread
where the whole town ana Day % vessels al sea
Out Inv nj ,o3ching at distance OF 80 n,les nj
H. m f,c he best look out in the Nesi Ir, Tie Wcst
vessels ran for the Anegada p, bnp,r seen from ST.
indies, anu 'aIIii@ named islands are in pam elSh
frnn, N Thomas In all wea' % - porto Rico also the
stnta cruz and the large l' IT, Vrgn eroup which
,,,',,crnhls small Islands OF VIC VI ~ ,5l,ise I'm
n s a. m enchanting place 10 Sa.uSe ve ar
irhn trade wind blows ~ ~ SThomos although
oyer tbs hills and bay, Vi town IN M,dsummcr.
u IS rn.e - covered with handsome cottages where
those OF inc inhabitants wllo e shrhs which abound IN
fort aud fresh air the TSantifn gigantic cactus and
n ms ryiny i'm ali the Wild freedom OF &
,J evsrytijng else luSuIlatl III In. mi heauty
or1nnons, forming seem y, cre stranger enjoys
10 y ~ -, than Mt st. Thomas, ana II lne lsllu W.
III ranerfy Of the United Stateslt Wouo @ - I'M,
Mar r. .0r The inhabitants nave traue' m are renm
a t ,bir habits assimiate with ours ihey are Iepo
at ,r insttutlons and would not have 10 chAhkS
mean ctnal form of government Ia coming INTO the Si"
uuhoTgb M fact belonging TO MONARCHY lhsIl ~
n,biean All the officers Of the island, except the
o,rnor and one two others, are appOhleu p o
u,ne Coyernment 10 may be well 10 moh'loh tn'' VIC
inbabtapts are mostly colOred but tDey are eAu'n.H