The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-12
THE DANISH west INDIES
Interesting Facts Regarding the
Island of st. John.
Rich i'm Varied Resources. Tropical
woods, Minerals, and Fertile
Fieids-Water for Cattle-Harbors
Adapted to Construction of Docks

Woods, Minerals, and FertiI
Fie1ds-Wafer for CattIe-Harbor
Adapted to Construction of Docks
The filing of suit in the Supreme Cour
of New York by Carl Fischer Hansen, al
attorney of that city, against newspa
per published in New York City, 70 re
cover 100000 claimed as damages for libel
recalls the circumstances of the visit o.
Capt w. V. Christmas Dirknicl-Holm
field to this country in the spring of 1891
and his efforts to negotiate sale OF
Danish West Indian Islands to this Gov.
eminent.
According to reports published at the
time Captain Christmas wanted the
United States to pay $500, 600 for the isl
ands. To assist him in making arrange
ments for the purchase of the islands by
the United States Captain Christmas, it is
said, engaged Richard p. Evans, an attor-
| ney OF this city, to aid him in having
Congress pass the necessary appropria-
| ton For his services Mr.. Evans was to
receive a fee of $4,000
Carl Fischer Hansen, mentioned above
as the plaintiff in the suit for damages,
it is stated. was surety for the payment
| of the fee to Mr.. Evans when the sale of
| the Danish islands was Accomplished
In speaking of the suit for damages filed
by Hansen against the New York paper.
! Mr.. Evans said that he has no connection
/ with 1t and does not regard it as of much
| Importance. The contract between him
| self, Captain Christmas, and Hansen he
stated, is a perfectly legitimate one, and
| all the stories about lobby which was to
copper most of the purchase price
which 1t was expected would have been
| paid for the Danish West Indian Islands
| are purely imaginative. In this connec-
| ton Mr.. Evans said that a fee of $4,000
was paid to attorneys for services in the
| Alaskan purchase.
The Danish West Indian Islands con-
sist of a grouT of three, the largest of
| which is st. John, or st. Jan, and is sit
uated few miles east of st. Thomas.
In speaking of the Island of st. John and
Its natural resources Mr.. Evans said:
Its area is about twenty-five square
miles, about 1000 acres less than the area
OF st. Thomas. st. John is fertile. and has
ample supply of water, which is not the
case in the Isle of St Thomas part of
the island est. john is covered with woods
which produce a very valuable timber like
mahogany. and the island is also rich in
minerals, especially in iron. On the east
coast of the island is situated large mar
Dor, one OF the best in the West Indies,
being larger, deeper ard cleaner than
that of st. Thomas. and easier to defend.
THE Island of st. John is mountainous,
bu. the mountains are not high, the most
elevated point being about 1.200 feet above
the level of the sea, and their steepness
does not prevent the cultivation of the
soil. The coast is an uninterrupted sue
cession of bays, which are very deep, Civ
ing easy access to steamers The sur
rounSings of the bays are fertile low
lapds, highly adapted for the cultivation
of every kind of tropical fruits
I'm earlier times the island was covered
with sugar, coffee, cotton and tobacco
plantations; the export was, considering
the size of the island. remarkably great
and the quality of the tobacco and coffee
excellent Now the greatest part of the
plantations are abandoned and the popu-
latlon is diminished by two-thirds.
Coral Bay Harbor is one of the best
natural harbors in the West indies 1t
ooneiete Of several adjoining bavs-Coral
VI - - "a
Bay, Princess Bay hurricane Hole ana
other harbors. The harbof is commanded
by the so-called Battery Hill. a conical
,ooi,s,,l,- rim where aro found r,,i,e %
-. re - - y,
Old fortihcations. NOW the harpor is
nearly forgotten. Compared to the har-
-. - 9. ,rl,o,,a, C,,aI D., &, 1,,a,.
wv VI - - -
deeper, cleaner, ana better projected AT
several places the largest steamers exist
ing will be able to go close to shore At
-. t, - ~ ta,1,or :. go, . o1o
.--e e"a' SiNS VI .ti' ma D' q q""s -'o'0
;eet long might De constructed cheaply
and without any difficulty, at which the
largest modern rnen-of-war ana trade
-, Itch. col
''. .., ---e
several places are exceedingly wen
adapted for the construction of docks.
The harbor is large enough to contain
the antira Aroar;car aaa, and nc ,,ac,,I,.r
-. 1,.-,li. - - - - f
siiape anu SITUATION MAKES IL easy TO pro-
tect by constructing batteries on each side
of the harbor entrance and on Buck ISL
and which cororoands tho a,,ro,,e.
49, -, .,
CHuef 'he american nag the harpor
might be the most important naval sta
the West Indian waters. Resides n would 1
.,'.a,Io,. ,oaIi,,r 80
DE an eAcehehL Soaiiis statioh LOT steam
ers going from Europe to the West Indies |
or from the United States TO South Amer |
lea.
In case of the construction of a Mica |
ragua Canal, the harbor of St. John would |
have the best imaginable situation for |
steamers, east or westward bound. call |
ing for orders or to coal. A particular |
circumstance increases the value of the |
st. John Harbor, that it has never been |
touched by a hurricane. AS long as the |
island has been known, it has never been |
stated that any ship in Coral Bay has |
been damaged by a hurricane, while at |
the same time neighboring islands have
been devasted and a great number OF |
ships wrecked.
About 1900 acres of the surface Of the |