, 1874-08-29

AS I think that something should APP
pear in reply to Mr.. Hagemann's deroga-
tory assertions in the Dagblad, [ would
request you to insert the following
simple %remonstrance in your valuable
paper.
must admit that Mr.. Hagemann seems
to take a lively interest in the affairs Of
our Island, but he appears to have a very
imperfect knowledge of several matters
to which he alludes indeed it is much TO
be regretted that he is not more correct
ly informed on q subject which he has
endeavoured to expound so deliberately.
The credit of being plain spoken he GER
tainly deserves, together with not being
very complimentary to some parties here
who have for many years spared neither
trouble nor expense in importing new
machinery and making other improve
ments for the promotion and progress of
this Island etc, etc.,-and I think it very
hard for people who have really used
every e~xertion possible to be stigmatized
with such epithets as being negligent
and without energy therefore | will try
to show some of the errors which Mr..
Hageman has INDUCED in, lest his repre-
sensations should create bad impressions
in the Mother Country, where perhaps the
real state Of matters and things concern
ing st. Croix is not we'll understood !;
however, / will refrain from commenting
on Mr.. Hagemann's remarks relative to the
interest or responsibility of Denmark in
the welfare of st. Croix.-He SAYS that
- 5000. 80, I'D e.. oo-rovo1 L., ~.
rule) before they are ground-Now, in
reality, our canes are ground the same day
they are cut he also makes the same re-
marks about our plant tops AS a general
rule the tops are Topped off the canes and
planted Immediately. He further says that
our mills are the same as in old times, ex-
cept being driven by steam instead of
wind. I wish to inform him that our mills
are, in general, of the newest and most I'M
proved construction and equal, if not SUI
perior, to the mills used for similar pur-
poses in any other West India Island. 1t is
no rare occurrence to see our Wharfs
crowded with new machinery imported
from the best engineering Establishments
in Great Britain and America. No other
Island in the West Indies has proportion
ately kept pace with St. Croix in import
ing Machinery for sugar making pur-
poses.
Referring to his comparison Of the rain
fall in st. Croix and Barbados, | think
all will agree with me in stating that If
st. Croix got as much rain as Barbados
there would be very few complaints seen
in the newspapers or letters from here to
Copenhagen the crop Of 1871 should be a
recent and sufficient testimony to show
that there is great Improvement IN the
cultivation of this island of late years, and
that it is only rain that is required to
insure prosperity to St. Croix, and I fur
Their add that without a suficiency of rain,
neither rotation of crops nor any other
cultivation or system will succeed. Is not
the present state of all the West India
Islands sufficient proof, as they are all
equally as depressed as st. Croix and from
the same cause, viz. the protracted dry
weather during the last three years, and
not from any imperfection in cultivation
nor want OF energy or application ( Paul
may plant and Apollos may water, but 1t
80. ~ Id -h0 o;1oAL 4ba 1narnaCp\-If W0nl6