New-York tribune., 1891-09-25
FOR A COALING STATION.
THE ADVANTAGES OF ST. THOMAS IN THE
WEST INDIES

WEST INDIES.
ADMIRAL PoarER's RECoMMENDAT1oNs-Poss
BILITY OF THE REoPENING OF NEGoTIA-
TIoNs WITH DENMARK FOR THE
cEssIoN OF THE ISLAND.
rsr rEIEsaArx TO rEE IAIBUSEr
washington. Sept 24.-The opinion which has peen
held for many years by leading American statesmen
as well a. by high officials Of the Navy, that the oh
States ought 20 possess and maintain naval stsuon
in the West Indies has been greatly streng'heheu "
the action Of Congress in authorizing the buuihe VI
modern warshps armed with modern guns as wen a.
by the prospect of more intimate and extensive con"
mercia relations with Central and south Aieroa anu
of the completion OF interoceanic canal wthh .io
present century With a modern Navy OF fast shps
and growing commerce, the necessity OF na'ai O"'e
stations at convenient places is apparent 10 every "
teIligent man. and there can be no DOUBT tniU - a.
earnestly appreciated by President HarrisOh , <>""
istration as by the officers of the Navy, ana by tle Ell
terprisng shlpbuilders and MERCHANTS OF ule On"u
States who are striving to introduce the pr0uuo'S VI
American FARMS factories and mines into new iofeis"
markets and to develop and increase the demand III
markets where a foothold hos been already g@neu
Much has been written and much more said aoou'
the advantages OF Mole So Nicholas as coaiihg s'o
for vessels Of the United states Navy-so mucit ~
desd tba. n might seem as II no other place suitable
Cor that purpose could be found In the west lhoes
II NAV be remembered however, that the aequlsi'on
of AT least two other harbors has been thorouen9 '
vassed since the end of the War OF the heDelion' oil"
that steps in that direction were taken by phe Ae
tive Department Of the Government In loo'' u'c
sams year that his negotiations for the purchase OF
Alaska were successfully closed, Secretary Seward VII"
the approval of President Johnson, began negouaou
with Denmark for the cession OF the lslShu Vi 9
Thomas to the United States, and Denmark sgTecu "
cede the same upon the payment OF S''ooo'oV0
draft Of the treaty of cesson was supmi''eu W ' ~
ete which refused to ratfy IT,
Several years later effort was made by fresue"'
Grant and his Administration to obtain samaha Day
San Domingo, and that also faied' lheh' "iU1i
Lapse of some years, followed the negotiations "no
have not yet been abandoned, looking TO the acqU9
ton of naval station at Mole ST. NlcnolaS'
During all the time sirSe the failure of the treaty
with Denmark nearly quarter OF a century ago. ON
GERS of the Navy, who have naturally felt spec,ai
interest IN the subject and have carefully stuoea ''
comparative advantages Of the three hsreors SoV'o
mentioned have been strongly inclined 10 lean In favor
of ST. Thomas 1t lies in the track Of vessels rom 'c
ports of Europe and the United states engaged In COM
merce with South America, the East Indies ana f"c'
ports and possesses safe harbor laI &c enough 10 ee
ter and accommodate all the vessels whch IL nsh' oo
found necessary to concentrate at that place together
with suitable sites for dry docks, magazines coaine
docks ETC. which could be easily defended and III
fact made impregnabe. Tile entrance to the harDor
s about 10000 yards wide
The island contains twenty three square miles, ana
has population of about 10000 Of which ABOUT
IA 600 is In the CITY or town Of Charlotte Amala. which
is the present seat of the Danish Colonial Government
The harbor is port of refuge for vessels during 'ne
season of hurricanes. St. Thomas like the other Dan
ish West India Islands, has been visited from nme u
time by epdemics which is not surprising, owing 10
the fact that the commercial depot OF many OF TIE
West India islands.
rrho mad subject
Secretaries Weles and Seward in 1867 in whlch ne
strongly recommended and urged the purchase OF 81
Thomas, expressed the opinion that its apparent "i
healthfulness due more to the total absence ol
quarantine laws and regulations and neelecC III
sanitary precautions. He even believed that the
island might be made health resort for mVahds
Respecting the people about twO-thirds Of whom be
long 10 the negro race he said Nothing can be more
delightful than the society Of ST. Thomas, hoSpdDo
to fault; all strangers, particularly Americans ro
ceive the greatest kindness and attention. In MS
report Admiral Porter used arguments wmch nave
lost none of their force through lapse OF time ii IL
sbould be desired to the island as naval coanng
station alone there would need to be no delay alle
its purchase because such station actually e.s aV
the present time 1t would be difficult 70 BLOCKADE te
port and there intricate channels through wmch
a vessel desiring leave enter the hsrbor woud
ha comnelled 10 work her way, in which respect ST.
Thomas differs from most Of the other hRrbors IN the
West India Islands St John, st. Thomas ana Dehmd
Water Island" wrote Admiral Porter, >" may also DC
considered one haIbOr for they not much hrther
apart than Jersey City and East River ana are all
very much safer'
The form of government is republican in a CON
siderable degree although the Governor and his stan
and five members of the Rurgher, or Colonial Council
are appointed by the King of Denmark Most OF the
inhabitants can read and write. and English is the
prevailing language.
Dispatches which have been sent from Washington
10 certain newspapers saying that negotiations win
Denmark looking 10 the cesson OF st. Thomas TO me
Inited States are III progress, Incorrect NO suc
NEGOTIATIONS been initiated OF course, the ad
yantages of st. Thomas have not been lost lgnt OF
or left unconsidered, and it is not wildly lmproDape
that i'm the event Of the ultimate failure OF sOui
lions with Hayti serious attention may be directed
In that quarter. The secretary Of the Navy, AZ wei
as fine higher and influential officers OF the Navy
are understood favor the establishment OF stauon
al It Thomas, and their Judgment In the matter Is
entitled TO great weight. The present disposition oi
Denmark in regard TO the cessiOn is not known, but
II is presumed that negotiations might be reOpened
with a rea asonable prospect of success.