New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
DANISH WEST INDIES.
THREE ISLANDS WHICH THIS COUNTRY MIGHT
PURCHASE Ii 1T WoT-ID

i"i'EE ISLANDS WHICH THIS COUNTRY MIGHT
PURCHASE If 1T WOULD
-. Thomas. w. L. Nov 6.-The result OF the Pres
uen' election in the United States mas been eacerl,,
io"hcd lor by the population OF the Danish Island.
'h 'hc West Indies since the Republican Convention
"a 81 Louis last summer, which made the purchase
from Denmark O! these islands paragraph in irs
P!aNoim The population Is not discontentei with
the present Government which is as free as possibe
"ut II IS known fact that Denmark would not object
10 Soi me isanis. which account of the distance
rom the mother country and the difference in
cHinate, nave no such value for the Danish Crown
mat their maintenance is of any importance The
time has passed when Denmark was one Of the
greatest naval Powers and /. Is not necessary now
considering the neutral position OF Denmark in the
European concert. to maintain any especially Danish
naval station in the West Indian waters Once in
a while the people OF the islands have been alarmed
ny rumors that Denmark about 10 sell the ISL
and5 10 Germany. a transaction that would cause
general dissatisfaction, and they therefore will nail
the day when they can change "Od Dame berg
for odd Glory" knowing that the question Of owner
ship Will then he settled forever and the Islands
peong to that country 10 which they naturally ought
to belong
a little description Of the Islands might perhaps
at The present have interest There are three isl-
ands. ST. Crox. ST. Thomas and s.. Juan. with
total OF 100 square miles and population OF 900
St Crox Is the biggest with sixty square miles and
gives an excellent crop OF all tropical products
especially sugar. The island was discovered by
Columbus in 1883 but taken In possession by the
Spanards From 1920 10 1850 1t A matter of dis
pute between Holland and England in 1851
conquered by France, but in 1925 deserted by
the settlers. A Danish company bough; the island
from France in 1888. There TWO cities. Freder-
kssted and Chrst.anssted ST. Thomas has only
twenty square miles. with population Of $4,000
but, being free port and having one OF the fines;
harbors in the world il Is place OF grea importance
for mercantile traffic. The island owned by
the Dutch from 1920 to 1864. when the aforesaid
Danish company took possession Of Il. Dutcn
Bran1enburg.sA company also settled al $. Thomas
from 1855 70 l7l5 and trade developed considerably
The port OF =. Thomas was opened - vessels OF ali
nations 1864, and the city Of -. Thomas twnos'
proper name Is Charlotte Amilie. population 1900
thus for long time ;he central point of opera
lions OF trade in the West Indies. During the North
island was steadily increasing and in 1872 number
Of Frenchmen from Hayi. and On 1870 many
Spanards from S0Gin America took refuge there
- Juan was taken possession OF by the Danes In
1864 but was settled until l1l6. II has about
twenty square miles, Is rocky. ana mas population
Of only loo.
The Islands ha We been under the Danish Crown since
I-55 hut have now their Government. consist
ing OF Governor (apponted by the King OF Denmark
and TWO Colonial Councils lone for St Crolx and
for 81 Thomas AMI s.. Juan). whose members for
me greater part elected by the people. The
slave trade was prohibited BY the kinc Of Denmark