The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-24
DANISH WEST INDIAN TRADE.
Report to the state Department
From Consul Nnn Horne.

Trade in the Danish West Indies is the
subject of a report from Mahlon Van
Horne, United States Consul at st. Thomas,
to the State Department. In the course
of his report Mr.. Van Horne says:
Business continues depressed, though
there was an increase of s40,0 600 in the
value OF the imports received in this port
from the United States in 1899. Imports
from the United States into Christiansted
and Fredericksted. st. Croix, were about
the average of late years
The year 1899 was great crop season
for st. Croix, the yield being many per
cent more than ordinary. Most of the
sugar was exported to the United States,
the natural buying and selling market for
the Danish West Indies. The provision
trade is almost wholly with the United
States, but the dry goods trade is with
Europe. European houses have sought the
trade and probably will continue to keep
it until American houses study the wants;
of tropical countries.
There are many cabinetmakers here
who manufacture furniture of the beauti-
full hard woods that grow so readily in
these parts-cedar, mahogany. etc. 1 have
seen at least fifty different kinds of hard
wood that could be polished with most
satisfactory effect.
not last in this climate They are de-
stroyed by an insect called the wood
louise This seems not to be understood
by foreign manufacturers of furniture,
such as pianos, for instance. l have seen
an instrument honeycombed BY these little
creatures and rendered useless.
The wood most commonly used for
building purposes and for furniture is the
hard pine of the southern part of the
United States. Many cargoes OF this lum-
Der are brought here.
Est. Thomas is prominently coaling
station This fact is being emphasized
more and more each year. Steam navi-
CATION Of the ocean, with cable facilities.
has caused this port to lose the position
of commercial provider for the West In
dies; but as a coaling station 1t is with
out peer, all things considered. A hun
dred thousand tons of coal were handled
here twice during the past year. the Ham
| burg American Liner alone using more
| than 5000 tons per month. Inc present
superintendent OF the company,s wharf.
still "a young man, says he remembers
| when 5000 tons was a large quantity Of
coal to handle during twelve months. At
the present rate of use, tie quantity
needed will be $1,000 tons for the next
| twelve months and it Is to be remembered
that every pound OF this coal is American.
THE Gle Trans-Atlantique steamship
Company is also a large consumer OF
steaming COAL which is stored here and
| used for its own steamer exclusively.
The average per month is 1000 tons.
THE only steamship companies not using
American coal are the La Veloce Nava-
gazone Italiana and the, Royal Mail OF
London, which employ Welsh coal in small
quantities. :;'-
"Bronsted Co. keep the only sale de-
pot, and have o variety Of customers
During the past year, the managers have
supplied American. English. French. Ger
man. italian, Dutch, Austrian, Dominican.
and Russian men-of-war with United
States coal. as we'll as a number Of ships
which had used up their supply at sea-
st. Thomas, lying as it does in the
track of commerce and Offering comno-
dious and safe harbor, must in the near
future-especially when the isthmian canal
is finished-become the relief station and
coal supply depot Of the Middle Atlantic"