The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-03
DANISH VEST INDIES
WILL Be PURCHASED
DENMARK AND UNITED STATES
PRACTICALLY AGREE
UPON TERMS.
BY the Purchase, the United States
viii Acquire the Gibraltar of the
Atlansic-splendid Equipment for
Naval Purposes.

LONDON, Sept. ia special dis
patch from Copenhagen says the figure
agreed upon by the Danish Government
and United States Minister Swensen as
the price of the Danish West Indies is
l.. 600 600 kroner ($4.020. 0O0), instead
of 16.000.000, as originally cabled.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-The State
Department does not doubt that an agree
ment has been reached between the
American Minister at Copenhagen and
the Danish Foreign Office for the sale of
the Danish West Indies to the United
States, but it has nothing to confirm the
press reports
The latest figures for the sale are To-
100000 kroner. or about $4,000, 600.
This probably is a compromise, slightly
to the advantage of Denmark. inasmuch
as the idea was entertained here that
an agreement would be made for $500
600. Mr.. Adee, Acting Secretary of
State. said this afternoon, however.
that he had not been put in possession
of any details.
1t is not improbable that the State
Department viii await a full report from
Copenhagen before il gives out any in
formation.
1t is also probable that the Danish
Government will not sign its agreement
until Congress has acted. That Den
ton first was the idea in the State De
partment when authority was given TO
the American Minister to deal with the
Danish Foreign Office
Navy Department Pleased.
The news of the sale was received with
greet satisfaction at the Navy Depart
ment Rear Admiral Bradford. Chief
of the Bureau of Equipment and Repair,
the duty of which will be to do the first
work at the new possessions. said:
There is no question that the islands
should become the property of the Unit
ed States. They will give command of
the Eastern Atlantic. The possession
iof the islands means the ownership of
one of the finest harbors in the world,
and one capable of the highest and most
formidable equipments. The price is small
compared with the actual value of the
| islands.
Il presume that when possession pass
es to us the work OF equipping the har-
hors of ST. Thomas will begin, and that
| the Notifications will be made what they
should be for such an important station
| am familiar with the harbor and the
islands, and their value cannot be over
| estimated
The negotiations for the purchase of
the islands began under Seward as Sec
rotary of State. They fell through by
reason of the treaty being withdrawn
from the Senate The attempt was made
again when John W. Foster was Secre-
tary of State, and Clark E. Carr. Minis
ter at Copenhagen. These negotiations
also failed. as did those begun by Senator
Lodge in 1893. just previous to the wal
with Spain.
After the war private persons under.
took the sale, but Secretary Hay pre-
1 fnrra1 ~. hur ha OF duet
ed by Minister Swenson.
A Little Gibraltar.
"a little Gibraltar is what Clark E
Carr. United States Minister to Denmark
in 1892. called st. Thomas. in his report
on the value of the islands to the United
l Statess Mr.. Carr said.
The island of st. Thomas. thirteeI
miles long by an average of three mile:
wide. has been justly designated as {
small Gibraltar. 1t is asserted by tn,
highest authority that it can at small
expense be made inipregnable. Unlik'
the Mole ST. Nicholas. where a larg
amount would have to be expended (,
lereet suitable wharves and other neces
sary improvements and defend then
against dangers from a caprieious gov
eminent. St Thomas has already
through private enterprise. her grea
wharTes upon which thousands of ton
OF coal are deposited. an enormous float
ing dock. capable of receiving vessels o
5000 tons. marine slips for repairin
small vessels. immense cisterns for III
storage of water for the supply of YES
sells. factory where every kind of iron
work for the repair Of vessels can
turned out. including boilers, shafts. ett
The representatives of every industr
and trade relating to building and sup
iply and navigation Of ships-Silip hrok
! 1 rs. ship carpenters and caulkers, iro
. founders. coal dealers and others-eai
supply every demand Of commerce. Their
. lare wharves alongside of which ship
| lrawing % feet of water can be moore
! and cnaied- day or night as the rate 0
II 80 10 leo tons an hour
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