Evening star., 1902-01-24

prise three islands, St. Thomas, st. John
and st. Croix, all within sight of each
other ST. John is but little cultivated. St.
Croix, the largest, is fertile and we'll culti-
waited, raising large quantities OF sugar and
rum, most of which goes to the United
States; but unfortunately it has no safe
best harbors in the West Indies with fine
dry dock, a marine railway and all facili-
ties for repairing ships, which conditions
bring most of the trade to this port, and in
winter 1t is a naval rendezvous for all ma
tions, including yachts, etc"
Consul Van Horne's Account.
In a more recent report, Mr.. M. Van
Horne, the present United States consul at
st. Thomas, gives the following account of
the Danish West Indian group:
the principal industry of the islands is
coaling steamers. An average of thirty
steamers call here every month for coal.
Ninety thousand eight hundred and eigh-
teen tons of coal were imported last year,
of which S651 tons came from the United
States and the remainder from the east
THE bay berry. or pimenta acris, yields
a leaf and berry out of which superior
bay rum is manufactured and exported all
over the world. AS now understood, no
other place in the world yields so fine
berry and leaf for this business as the bay
tree on the Island of St. Jan of the Danish
West Indies. The provisions supply is al
most wholly from the United States The
=
cost of S4s,24, being received from the
United States, and ~ barrels at an expense
of S153, from all other countries. Sugar
presents the next largest figure, the West
Indies having supplied 1.O00,103 pounds at
an expense of $26,424 and all other coun-
tries 40,22S pounds at an expense of 81 ,416.
Coal and provisions are therefore the lead
ing articles imported from the United
States. The increase of imports this year
Q9OD has been $51,23s from the United
States.
American shoes have become imperative
in the supply of this trade, no other. shoes
giving the same satisfaction The value of
the trade to the United States this year
03OD is S20.925, out of the total value Of
S2S,176, leaving $7,641 to all other coun-
tries.
The Climate.
''The climate is purely tropical, the tenn
perature in summer varying from 80 to 81
degrees and in winter from 90 to 80 degrees.
There are periods when the temperature
will not vary more than degrees in thirty
days. Though there sudden and heavy
rainfalls severe thunder and lightning are
seldom experienced.
The trade winds constantly produce re-
fire shing breezes, relieving in a great meas
ure the debilitating effects of the heat.
Home life and high estimate of the
family relation with the influence of the
seven churches in the city and two in the
country have crystallized in bringing about
the same social conditions as exist in ordi-
nary Christian communities.
There are thirteen native and two nat
uralized Americans residing on the island
of ST. Thomas.
Cost of Living.
THE cost of living would, upon the
whole, be about what it costs in the states,
that Is, in New England. Many things are
cheaper, and many on the other hand much
Of I,
beef can be bought for IS cents per pound
while flour would cost 40 per cent more per
barrel. There is an ample supply of canned
provisions which sell at a small average
higher than In the states.
Port of Refuge.
1.-THE facilities to perform the service of
relief as a port of refuge are good. First
Is the large supply of provisions kept by
merchants In the best condition, and sold
at reasonable prices. Such extortionate
prices as have been reported as charged in
some of the islands have never obtained
here.
Several distressed American vessels came
here last winter with their stores all un-
suitable for use by the sea water. They
had fled from northern billiards.. Their
first relief was the gulf stream. Their
second relief was a land-locked harbor
With the gentle breeze of June, where by a
little delay they were enabled to rest their
crews, rerig mast, restore their larder and
regain the l 400 miles they had lost by hav-
ing been driven off their course. There are
good ship carpenters here, and the fioatina
dock and marine slip for small vessels, as
well as the excellent machine shop of the
Royal Mail Steamship Company. AS I
am writing four Of the Royal Mail steam
ers are having their machinery and hulls
repaired at this shop, After proper sur
veys and repairs each ship returned to
destination without further miShap."