, 1874-03-25

O4Ohbb 4 DCiAONP oiO oLiOuS u LuO-
neyed men who would not be backward in
availing themselves of the experiment and it
is what | believe could be made a highly paw
ing enterprise, that | now desire to call atten-
ton to: | mean the erection of a first class
hotel a hotel adapted to the wants and con-
veniences of those northern tourists and travel
lers who, to avoid the hard winters of their
climate seek refuge in southern ATTITUDES.
Many such have already visited St. Croix, and
all, with one voice, have lauded the climate and
material beauties of our island but, alas
with a voice equally united, they deplore the
absence of adequate and suitable hotel accom-
modations and this very deficiency has pro-
duced an annual falling off in the numbers of
visitors, until now st. Croix has we'll nigh
ceased to be regarded as an available winter
resort for foreigners.
Most of the Americans who spent last win
ter here, are now scattered about in other parts
of the West Indies-Barbados, Martinique,
Bermuda &c. From several of these your
correspondent has recently heard they miss
the cool refreshing breeze and even tempera-
ture of St. Croix they long for a drive over
our delightful wales, or a quiet evening stroll
In our bright, silvery moonlight. These luxu-
ries they admit, are not to be enjoyed in such
perfection elsewhere than St. Croix; but vet,
in other islands travellers find that which they
have in vain looked for here, viz. good hotel
accommodations.
We have hotels here, yes; but they are
scarcely in a single particular suitable TO the
class of guests to which | allude. These hotels
or boarding houses are ample, and certainly
we'll adapted, to supply all local and i~ntercolo-
NAL requirements and travel; but certainly fer
nothing more. An establishment suitable to
uooat tbo diamonds Of f,ro;ro +rouolIore opJ
invalid visitors to the island, should, in my
opinion, be located in some pleasant portion of
the country, adjacent to town; there are several
such places, and no difficulty would be met in
selecting a suitable location, when other mat
ters were settled THE buildings should be of
dimensions capable of accommodating at least
200 guests, and conducted on the plan and
style most compatible with the customs and
tastes of its patrons. The cost of such a struc.
ture would amount to a comparatively small
sum of money say ten thousands dollars, for
the buiiding,-and believe that sum would
be ample,-and less than that amount would
suffice for the purchase Of all necessary furni-
ture and appointments TO make the establish
ment, not only comfortable, but even luxu-
riOus. An experiment similar to that to which |
am now calling attention, was tried at the
sand of Bermuda a few years ago but
there, instead OF private capitol being used
it was supplied by the government, and an cx-
perienced American hotel keeper was employ
ed as superintendent. By means of extensive
advertising throughout the United States it
was proclaimed to all those who felt disposed
to fee their own cline, TO avoid the sting of
Jack Frost" that they could fad a safe refuge
in Bermuda, and be accommodated with the lux
ury of a first class hotel The result was, that
during the first season that this establishment
was open, it was made the home of from 600
to 700 American guests aud the enterprislug
Yankee Superintendent realized the handsome
sum of 100000 clear profit.
Now il such an enterprise could be made so
successful in Bermuda what should we have
to fear in st. Croix, when everything most de-
.sirable on the part of those who seek health,
or travel for pleasure, is SO UNNECESSARILY in
our favor 1t is a fact, now so universally adj
mitted that it is no longer debatable, that St.
Croix is not only the garden spot Of the Antil-
les, but that her climate is uuexcelled in the
known world. I say this fact is we'll known,
but it is equally we'll known that we are I'M
prepared to take care of strangers when they
come; hence they are forced to give our lovely
island a wide birth. But let this deficiency
once be supplied and St. Croix will henceforth
be resorted to by hundreds and thousands who
now while away the winter season in far less
congenial and healthy localities in the West