Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-26
THE ST. THOMAS PROJECT.


Possibility That the Island May Be Leased
for Coaling Station-The Project Fa-
vored by Many Prominent People Fa-
miliar With the Situation.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25-A quarter of a CEN
tury has passed since the famous attempt
was made, under President Johnson's ad-
ministration to purchase Denmnrk's little
group of islands in the Virgin archipelago,
with view to securing thereby q coaling
and repair station for our war ships in Carib-
bean waters. Now we find this project re-
newed, as result of the failure to ACQUIRE
other points in that region suitable for this
purpose.
The original project dates from the year
after the close of the Civil War, when the
return of tranquility to the country set Mr..
Stewards thoughts afleld in the direction of
annexation. He had designs alike on the
frigid and the torrid zone. OF Russia he
bought about $4,000 square miles for 81 ,2GO,-
ooo and simultaneously he offered $500 900
for couple of little Danish islands, st.
Thomas and st. John, aggregating about "a
square miles. The big corner lot looked
cheap,, IN comparison per square mile, but
IL was un1mproyed property, hard to get at;
whereas the other was well tenanted, and
right in commercial thoroughsare. A
third island of the Danish group, Santa
cruz, could not be alienated under existing
treaties. After some hesitation. with futile
efforts to get higher price, Denmark, in
1857, agreed to sell the islands on Mr..
should consent to the transfer.
The Treaty Was Rejected.
This condition was easily fulfilled, since a
plebiscite was ordered among those entitled
to suffrage, and out Of q total of ], 26S votes
1,2A were in favor of annexation to the Uni.
ted States. To the chagrin both of Denmark
and our Administration, and obviously to
the disappoin intment of the islanders, the
Senate of the United States, in 1868, rejected
the treaty. But it is a fair suppositipn that
with such vote at that time, the islanders
could again be counted upon to favor pro-
1ect of annexation,
difference which has been suggested be-
tween Denmark's own relation to the sub
Ject now and that of 1867 arises out of the
allegation that she would be glad to reac-
quire portion of the Schleswig- H olstein
territory taken from her by Prussia in ex-
change for her group in the Lesser Antilles
This. however, seems too remote a possi-
bility to interfere with a bargain with the
United States. There might possibly have
been more chance of success in such a trade
or more of the Danish islands with England
for Helgoland, which would then be offered
TO Germany in return for part of the ter
rltories taken away after the war of 1864.
a
OF Germany, this plan, if it ever existed,
exists no longer; while the very eagerness
with which Germany gave up claims to vast
areas IN Africa for that little rock off her
coast Is anything but promising for a project
t obtain valuable territory from her on the
Danish peninsula in exchange for q group in
the West Indies.
st. Thomas Might Be Leased.
Butwould our own country find St. Thomas
suited to its purposes? The primary object,
OF course, is to secure a naval and coaling
station; and that might be done under a
lease, as was proposed in the case of Mole
st. Nicolas, in Haiti, and Santa Barbara on
Bay. Annexation outright would
yerV likely be regarded by Congress as a
1rawDack now, as 1t was in 1868. Not, indeed,
That the ordinary argument against colonial
possessions could apply to this case, since
the system of islands in the Gulf of Mexico
belongs to North America, and
St. Thomas is only about twice as far sepa-
rated as Sltka from the main BODY of the
United States. Still, the leading ground on
Whlcn the earlier project was defeated was
mat 1t called for annexation instead of a |
ease: and it has yet to be ascertained |
whether Denmark would consent to any |
1ther arrangement than annexation now.
st Thomas is about 3S miles east of Puerto |
niGo ana mas an area of about 33 square |
niles. Its population recently was il. .3S9. |
st. John. which contains about 81 square |
niles, has at the same time about 9A inhab-
tants. Santa Cruz is larger in area than the |
Wo combined, containing more than 81
quare miles and q population of is, 439 But |
u. Ihomas IS twice as populous in proportion
o its area, and in fact more than three
ourths OF the people are to be found at |
n ,nu lminedlateiy around its port, which is
charlotte Amalie. This town has a sDacious
larbor with adequate anchorage, and has
'een the seat of considerable commerce. It
Possesses paved streets, and its houses are
urnlsneH urn with gas; Steam lines go in va
1ous directions, and it is connected by tele-
raph with the main land. There are banks I
no hospitals in the town, newspapers are
stabllshed there, and its connection with
oreign ports keeps It up to modern progress
'ut the island outside of the town is of little
alue., 1t is hilly, and the soil is mostly
andy and unproductive.
Earthquakes Are Not Frequent There,
As to its value as roadstead, 1t has a GER
ain strategic Importance in relation to the
'icaragua Canal, although perhaps less than
ther points in the gulf and the Caribbean
ca. 1t is well supplied with wharves, and
4 course dry dock could easily be con-
tructed there. Large steamers have for
ears coaled there, and have found that
hey could do so with desirable rapidfty,
'ur vessels in those waters. beginning their
ruises to windward, would find St. Thomas
convenient place for coaling. Yet it is
inject to earthquakes, cyclones, and
roughts. The earthquakes are not frequent,
ut in 1867 one occurred, together with q
earful hurricane and the hurricane
estroyed an enormous amount of prop
rty. So great in fact was the loss
hat the principal station for the mail pack
is between Southampton and the West In
les, which had been established there, was
emOved TO Jamaica. The French also were
Orced to take q like step, and the trade of
t. Thomas naturally suffered from that
ime. 1t was just after the terrible hurri-
ane of 1867 that Denmark concluded to part
18th the island: but the fact of its liability
D such disasters was, of course, urged
gainst its pdrchase with great effect, few
lonths later when the treaty came up in
he Senate for ratification. The same point
rould doubtless be made against it now
esides the enormously devastating hurri-
anes which are comparatively rare, there |
re, of course, violent tropical storms, while
roughts pretty constantly prevail, there |
eing no running water on the island and |
My one small spring.
1t is possible that Denmark might arrange
Dr. the lease of coaling station to our Gov |
rnment in the Antilles. since if she were
to part outright with two of her
Glands she could hardly be as sensitive on
ne point Of yielding us foothold as the
aitians are said to be. But the exact form |
which the current project will come be- |
,re Congress, If it should reach that BODY at
u, cannot yet be positively stated.