, 1873-03-19

a place of resort for the many large steam
ers that traverse the Atlantic ; Government
must therefore especially direct its atten-
ton to it and must do all it can to improve
it in all directions, in order that it may
offer navigation every posi- BILE advantage
and security. A little has indeed already
been done st possesses a tolerable Light
house and an excellent Quarantine esta-
blishment, both wants long felt but now
finally remedied. There is a prospect
that St. Thomas in a short time will be
able to afford shipping an additional con-
VenienCe, which will tend to attract many
vessels to a port by nature so we'll provid-
ed l allude to the long wanted Floating
dock, which some years ago disappeared III
a very unceremOnious manner, by going
to the bottom but thanks to English en-
terprising spirit, it will soon be again in
working order. 1t is certainly owing to
the energetic and persevering Irisbman,
Mr.. Murphy, that success has attended the
raising of this enormous mass from the
bottom of the sea, to the honor both of
himself and his colleague Mr.. Blaxland,
and to the great satisfaction not only of
the many Shareholders but also of the
public at large.
AS st. Thomas thus offers to navigation
advantages such as few, and perhaps no
other ports in these seas can offer, it must
be apparent to every one that Denmark
possesses in it a Colony of no mean import
ance, and it would therefore be pleasing to
see this fact acknowledged and appreciated
hOvo ~ looCo not Onlu hy 4ORopc If a
greater interest in the relations out there,
but also by well-meant aid when such is
required.
It is a heartfelt desire with many that
the small but expensive Military-force in
the Island should be abolished and to have
a strong and efficient police-force establish
ed in it's stead. The idea may be good and
practicable and would be attended with
less expense, but many are however, Of
the opinion that the change will not answer
to expectations in other respects. st. Tho
mas occupies a certain position in the
West Indies, and, for the sake of a few
dollars, that position ought not to be re-
linquished. There is no doubt that the
" to-be-able-to show = your self a little"
plays an important part in the present time
and st. Thomas can not afford to appear
ignorant of this fact it has not sunk SO
low as not to be able to return the salutes
with which friendly powers greet our old
Dannebrog. 1t is sufficiently patent that
this little handful of soldiers is not calcu-
lated as a defence against the inhabitants
of the place, who are known to be too peace
able aud quiet a people to render such
necessary, but only for the sake Of special
occasions, for instance to afford AID to the
Police in cases of disturbances among the
crews of vessels lying in port, and to do
honours to strangers arriving.
1t is gratifying to see that the educa-
tional question stands high in the list of
reforms. 1t is a pity that this question
has not had greater attention in earlier
times, so that we could now have reaped
the benefit thereof. If a good, sound educa-
ton had beenm more general, prosperity'would
certainly have been greater. Let good
schools only be established, where creole
boys can learn the language of the Country
under whose flag they are living, and then
go and pass examination at the University
Of the Mother Country, and return to their
native Island to fill public situations, to
which they have a more natural right than
many who now fill prominent and lucra-
tive situations in the Danish West India
islands.