Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-06
known harbor that might DO rnado'
available for ships and groves OF coffes.

known harbor that might DO n1ad0s
available for ships and groves OF coffee
bananas and spices. y
Not many years ago this island OF st.
Thomas was the seat of large ard
widespread commences. and the town
was so rich that Mexican silver dollars
were taken through the streets every
hour Of the day by the CARLOAD. Char
lotte Amalia has always been q free
port.
Having lived In various parts of the
United States. I can understand the as
constituent OF your people when 7 tell
them that all sorts Of goods here are
less than half what they are with
them. If a person have little money
ahead or fairly good income, he can
come out here and Give like a prince
on much less than in any part or tho
United States.
But. of course. while we have tele-
phones, telegrapks and cable lines and
are in way in touch with the world
beyond the sea. there are many things
that might be missed by one accustom-
ed TO all the latest iuxuries of civiiiza-
ton. Here in st. Thomas 1t Is about
the same routine day after day. we
rise early in the morning, because De
the heat later on. take cup OF cores
or drink of cocoanut water and
biscuit or two and then go to the place
of business. At noon all stores ana
public offices ara closed up tight. to stay
so till about o'clock. when. after hav-
ing had breakfast and a siesta, we be-
gin the rounds again. AT or we dine
and in the cool of the evening we take
q stroll along the wharfs or out TO th6
fields to see Q cricket match between
the boys or else take a sail on the bay.
Sometimes a man-ofwar comes In.
and then we have ball. given by the
governor, who lives in a very handsome
house and draws n salary OF $4,000 a
year. He is a pretty good governor,
and. on the whole, the Danish rule IL
wise and tolerant; still there are few
grinding monopolies, against which tne
people have for years protested IN vains
One is the drug monopoly, which is en<
tireiy controlled by one man, who, like
his father before him. has grown rich
by eXactons from the poor. Then,
again. there is but one paper published
here. which, as its influence would BID
gone should the Americans take the is-i
lands, is an uncompromising opponent
of annexation. AS this is the only pa
per allowed within the colony. it VIII
be understood that whatever 1t prints
I is taken abread-aS the expresston OK
the people. while it may not represent
! public opinion at all, but only imperial
monopoly.
These are about the worst of our
| grievances. the greatest of our evils be-
ing poverty. which is almost universal
now that the steam lines have sought
other routes and commerce has aban~
doned our port. A steamer from the
| United States calls here once or twice q
month. but at present there is no other
! direct communication with your coun-.
try.
Now and then we hear that the guess
ton of annexation is again agitated in
the States. and the papers tell us that
/ quite recently your secretary OF war,
Mr.. Root. and one of your senator's, Mr..
Lodge. have made speeches in which
they advocated the purchase of our is
| lands as coaling and commercial sta
tons If this be true, 1 want them to
know that "Barkis is wilin." SO far
as the common people so. and that our
merchants, who constitute the most in
| fluential portion of the community, are
anxious Tor the time when American
ships shall come here again ard cause
commerce to revive. for that annexation
to the United States means a revival
of prosperity few here doubt.
So if you Americans want the islands
l rather guess" you can get them, and
for less than half the price formerly
agreed upon. or about SO. 000. 600 for the
whole group.
| They are we'll worth that, with their
tropical climate. their diversified pro-
ductions and their facilities for unsur-
passed winter resorts. with beautiful
scenery and opportunities for outdoor
! pleasures.
While 1 do not believe that anything
can be done unless King Christian sees
that SS,00o.000 virtually in his possess
sion. remembering what happened on a
former occasion. there is no real reason
why the purchase cannot be made.
KARI, H. SVENSON \