BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-06-03
sArIJuAN, JUNO 3
The Danish West Indies.
Some Interesting Facts About the
Three Little Islands Which
May Soon Become United
States Territory.

States Territory.
The Danish West Indies have come
into public notice on account OF the
negotiations now actively being carried
on between the United States and the
Danish Government by which the three
islands-St Thomas, St. John and St
Croix-are likely to become the pos
sessions of the United States at lower
price than this country was willing to
pay for them many years ago.
The islands cover about 127 square
miles, and the population is estimated
at about thirty thousand. Denmark
has been the possessor of the islands
since 1871, but they have never been a
great source of revenue, and for many
years it has cost Denmark much money
in excess of the revenue to MAINTAIN
them. A former resident of Charlotte
Amalie, the largest place on the island
of ST. Thomas, in speaking of the SEN
timent of the people as to annexation,
said:
The white population and nearly all
the sugar producers are in favor OF
annexation. but the blacks are opposed
to the scheme. There are comparatively
few whites on the islands, not more
than IS per cent of the population. The
blacks are of a superior class, and, hav-
ing the same rights and privileges as
the whites they naturally fear that
their condition would suffer if they
became American citizens. There IS
no such thing as a color line there.
Education is compulsory, and all the
children, white and black, go to school
between the ages of seven and thirteen.
In the churches there is also and
absence of all distinction as to color, and
there is certainly no line drawn IN
business. The Dane recognizes man
for his worth, and never thinks Of ex-
Guiding his neighbor from social, bu-
siness or religious functions because of
his color. In the Colonial Council at
St. Croix there are two black men, and
they fill the places with credit to them
selves and to the satisfaction of tneir
associates. Intermarriage between nat
ives and whites is nothing unusual, and
clergymen Of The various denominations
never refuse to perform the marriage
ceremony between white and black men
and women.
There seems to be mis- understand
ing in the United States as to the Ian
guage used by the people in the Danish
West Indies. The fact is that every
body speaks English, and although the
>fficial language is Danish English is
used in the schools as well as in the
court of justice.
St Thomas has no agricultural i'm
portance. A few onions and other
vegetables are raised there, but not
enough to supply the 10000 inhabitants,
and nearly everything that is used at
the table is sent from the United States.
The place has a fine harbor, large coal
wharves and drydock, and among its
larger buildings are the government
house and a hotel. The stores and
shops as well as the houses of the in
habitants are nearly all one story build
ings The old structures are built of
stone, but the modern houses are of
wood, and all are of the old Spanish
style. The roofs are tiled and fat and
SO arranged that they shed the rain
into cisterns, where it is kept for drink
ing purposes, there being no other
water available.
On the island of St. Croix Frederick
sted and Christiansted are the chief
towns. These places have a population
of about one thousand each. They
have stores and shops like those of
st Thomas, and the population is made
up of the same elements, There are
Episcopal, Moravian, Catholic Dutch
Reformed and Methodist churches end
synagogue, and there are two Masonic
lodges in the island, one French and
one English In each of these there
are as many black as white members
One of the deacons in the Dutch Re
ormed church is fu1lblood negro.
One of the peculiarities of the houses
in the Danish West Indies in that they
have no chimneys. The kitchens afe
all detached, and as FIRE is used fcI
cooking only, houses require no iE-
ces or chimneys. The stores, if tie
stand directly On street, have dor.
front and back, and those that stanc
away from the regular thorolgh fa.s
have openings On all four sides. Il
order TO protect the merchandise from
the sand, many glass cases are used.
st. Thomas has cab system which
is usually surprise to the visitor. The
horses and cabs are not of the shot
kind, but the price is IN keeping wiz
the outfit, 10 cents mile being lie K.
silat rate. People who travel 10 the