The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-12-26


ANYTHING, better harbor thar ST.
Thomas, and inaccessible to any e~emy
if properly fortified. No eneEy ssvesselS
can ENTER these harbors, for their entrap-
ces are SO narrow that they can be COM
pletely obstructed by heavy chains against
which no ship would venture to run. with
number of ID inch guns firing on her.
The harbor Of st. John, eight miles to
the east Of ST. Thomas. is a still better
fisetnas,- and has eesae-
advantages not possessed by the latter.
1t is capable of being thoroughly defend
ed with cannon and chain, and in all
these harbors forts of single guns can be
built up from height to height in such a
manner that the plunging shot would de-
stroy any vessel rash enough to approach
within range Sif -f''T' +fisi''t 1I9'ilH17
If it ever should be intended to make
a great naval depot in the West Indies,
St Thomas offers all the advantages and
facilities for making dry docks, coal sta
tons, and arsenals, all under complete
protection Great Krum Bay is natur-
al dock itself, with a depth of one and
half fathoms, and an entrance 800 feet
in width. 1t would only require filling
up across the mouth and to be pumped
out to make a fine basin for the largest
sized ships. The natural resources of
the Island Of St. Thomas are not great,
unless it may be In materials yet undis !
covered. Its chief value is as naval
station and a great commercial point.
Its small size is in its favor, because it
can't subsist an army of any kind, and an
enemy could not land anywhere without
the reach of guns the whole area of the
Island Is only forty five square miles, the
surface rugged and elevated, and almost
devoid Of trees, which, having been cut
down unsparingly, have laid the island
open to the sun, and caused scarcity in
the supply of water. This deficiency
is, however, supplied by tanks, which are
kept filed at all seasons by the rains.
No doubt water could be obtained by
sinking artesian wells, as at San Juan
there are several springs flowing out of
the rocks. The distinguishing character
istlcs of st. Ihymas are its advantages
as place Of trade-a fact evinced by the
great number and large extent of the
merchants stores, the immense piles of
merchandise they contain, and the num-
Der of vessels of all nations which are ~
ing in the harbor. It is the great centre 4
for all the steam lines that run through
the West Indies aud to Europe, and it is
the stopping place Of our United States
line to Brazil No stronger proof Of its
being central point than this circum-
stance is neelled. q A steamer comes i'll
daily and i'll St. Thomas, more than any
other place In the West Indies, can we
know what is going on in the world
fs Nothing can be more delightful than
the society of ST Thomas Hospitable
to fault, all strangers, particularly
Americans receive the greatest Kindness
and attention. These hos pitalities are
on scale commensurate with the wealth
and importance of the inhabitants There |
are few more beautiful prospects than the
splendid panoramic view from the high
est point Of the Island. where the whole
town and bay of ST Thomas is spread
out like a map at your feet, and whence
vessels at sea can be seen approaching at
a distance Of thirty miles This is in
fact the best look out In the West Indies
n arly all vessels run for the Angola
passage in making the West Indies, and
cannot pass without being seen from St.
Thomas The following named Islands
are in plain sight from ST. Thomas in all
weather; The verdant island of Santa
Cruz, and the large island Of Porto Rico;
also, the innumerable small islands of the
Virgin group, which make it an enchant-
ing place to cruise in. The trade-wind
blows throughout the year over the hills
and bay of st. Thomas, although it is
rather hot in the town In midsummer.
The summit is covered with handsome
cottages, where those of the inhabitants
who can afford it retire for comfort and
fresh air.
The following consider the advantag-
es of IA naval station in the West Indies.
The great difficulty we have of maintain
ing feet of any size in the West Indies
is the wantof a station of our own. Were
we to have a war with an European
Power, the rule adopted toward us du-
ring the rebellion would, 10 doubt, again
be enforced with the same rigor, and we
would have to contend on the most I'M
equal terms with a powerful antagonist
having his naval depot close at hand, and
who could also, IN case of damage in
fight, go into a port provided with means
OF repair, while lii similar case we
should be obliged to go North
The harbor OF ST. Thomas itself is well
supplied with all the conveniencies of
wharves, building aud coal depots that
would answer, temporarily. for naval pur-
poses. Every provision il made fer the
coallng OF large steamers, and in 10 part
OF the West Indies can vessel be coaled
SO rapidly as at St Thomas. If the
government do not desire to go tc any
great expense, and only wish the place as
a coal depot, there will be no necessity
Tor further outlay.
There Is some doubt about the health
Of St Thomas, from the fact that on two
occasions there have been fearful epidemics
on the island This, however, has been
entirely owing to the absence of all pre-
cautions against the introduction of dis
ease. Ships from all parts of the world
seek that port. Steamers come and go,
bringing invalids from infected ports, and
the sick are landed at the hotels in St.
Thomas without a question being asked
as to what Is the matter with them or
where they came from. The great guam
tity. of English coal landed there of late
years has also introduced sickness for the
want of coal sheds over it, and the evap-
Grafton of the same in that hot climate, 1t
is said, causes disease. This would not
happen with American coal. oOn the
whole, however, St Thomas is as healthy
as any OF the other islands, and with
proper quarantine regulations would be
considered quite a saIubrious place [
know that American and European inva-
lids seek 1t III winter, and there, or at the
little Island of Santa Cruz, are soon re
stored to health