New-York tribune., 1902-01-25
DANISH ISLANDS CEDED.
TREATY SIGNED AT STA TIE
DEPARTMENT.
THE UNITED STATES TO PAY ABOUT
s45000O0 FOR THE KEY OF THE
CARIBBEAN TO
BE CONSULTED.
BE CONSULTED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l ]

BE
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
Washington, Jan. 24.-The treaty ceding the
Danish West Indies TO the United States was
signed at 10:30 o'clock this morning by Secre-
fary Hay and Constantin Brun the Danish Min
ister and Will be transmitted to the Senate next
Monday. This consummation of protracted ne
gotiations which will put the United States in
possession of the strategic key of the Caribbean
and relieve Denmark of a steady drain on her
resources came Unexpectedly after hope he'd al
most been abandoned. The convention was fully
agreed upon over month ago in Washington,
as announced in The Tribune at the time but
popular opposition developed in Denmark and
until Mr.. Brun received authority TO sign by
cable yesterday fears had become fairly well
grounded that the Danish Government would
fail 10 carry out the compact The convention
follows closely the terms of the Treaty Of Paris
of 1898 between the United States and Spain as
regards the status of the inhabitants of the
islands. their property and citizenship. and it is
understood that the compensation to Denmark
amounts to S4,500,000. The ratification Of the
treaty must be delayed until Il has had the ap-
proval Of the United States Senate and the Dan
tsh Rigsdag, and until appropriation OF the
rurchase money is made by Congress. 1t is be-
lieved that these formaiities will be completed in
the course Of few months and that the trans
fer Of sovereignty can be quickly accomplished
Congress will be asked to legislate for the ISL
ands along the lines of the Foraker act, and 1t
Is contemplated that eventually the islands and
Porto Rico will have common territorial gov
eminent.
II is regarded as a strong point by the franz
ers Of the treaty that the people Of the islands
are 10 have a voice in the question of cesSion.
The treaty itself contains reference to a
plebiscite but the Danish Government has given
notice that before it ratihes the treaty 1t will
-Iaa inn af 8 n
the islands. Not much objection is expected
here from these people. as the treaty is so
framed that they not called on to surrender
their Danish allegiance, and they may remain
Danes in fact and in name while enjoying what
ever advantages in a commercial way may re-
suit from transfer Of the islands TO the United
States The plebiscite will not be controlled in
any sense by the United States. 1t is said dis
tincty that the Danish Government will take
steps TO ascertain the ihcnations of the people
Of the islands before the final steps in the
transfer are taken.
ST. THOMAS ST. CROIX AND ST. JOHN.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS cEDED BY
DENMARK.
TIE Danish West Indies comprise three islands.
st Thomas, St John and ST. Croix all within sight
Of each other. They cover about iN square miles,
and the population is estimated at about oooO.
Denmark has been the possessor OF the islands
since I61, but they have never been great source
of revenue. ana for many years II has cost Den
mark much money in excess OF the revenue to
maintain them. Charlotte Arnalie is the largest
place on the island of St Thomas. There are
paratively few whites the islands, not
than Is per cent Of the population. The blacks
Of superior class, and, have the same rights and
privileges as the whites. There is such thing
color line there Education is compulsory. and
ali the children. white and black go to school be-
tween the ages Of seven and thirteen. In the
churches there is also an absence of all distinction
&c 10 color. and there is line drawn in business
lntermarTiage between natives and whites is moth
ing unusual and clergymen Of the various denom-
nations never refuse to perform the marriage
nony between white and black and women.
There seems 20 be Misunderstanding the
language used by the people in the Danish West
Indies. The fact is that everybody speaks English,
and. although the official language is Danish, Eng
hsh is used in the schools well as in the court
OF justice.
ST. Thomas has little agricultural Importance
few onions and other vegetables raised there,
but not enough TO supply the ten thousand inhab-
tants, and nearly everything that is used az the
table is sent from this country. Charlotte A,nalie
has fine harbor, large coal wha-ves and a dry
ooch' and among its larger buildings the gov
ernrnent house and hotel The stores and shops
as well the houses Of the inhabitants are nearly
all one story buildings. The old structures are built
oi stone. but the modern houses are of wood and
ell are OF the old Spanish style The roofs are tiled
ana nat and so arranged that they shed the rain
INTO cserns where it is kept for drinking purposes
there being no other available
On the island Of ST. Croix, Fredericksted and
thristiansted the chief towns These places
nave q population of about one thousand each
1hey have stores and shops like those of ST
ihonas. and the population made up of the
same clements. There are Episcopal MorayIan
Natholc. Dutch Reformed and Methodist churches
ana synagogue, and there two Masonic lodges
IN the island, one French and one English In
esch OF these there are as many black as white
members One OF the deacons in the Dutch Re-
formed Church is fullblood negro
Denmark has maintained an army on tbe isIsnds
q about two hundred and fifty men. These are
volunteers recruited from the veteran corns in tho
nome country, and sent to the islands for a term
Of six years
mere are thirty-two sugar estates on the island
OF st Croix. the product of which goes to one com
0eIn IN New-York. But in order to protect grow
es who are not in this combination the Danish
growers bring their for sale. 1t is ground in
inils, which were built and operated by the Danish
VoFernment, and the producer receives pay based
On the NewYork prices.
A sail of half hour from the east end of St
ahomas takes to st. John, which has a popula
eoh OF about seven hundred. There is much grazing
AdhG on this island, and with q small investment
prohtable stock farms might be established there
me Inhabitants Of this island nearly all blacks
me chief judge Of the island fills several other
important offices. He is the chief of police the
postmaster, the head of the school which is
situated on the island and wharf master and Gus
ten house officer. The police department over
which he presides has two members.
COMMERCE OF THE ISLANDS
report to the State Department includes the
following brief description OF the islands:
n Thomas is one of the so-called Virgin Islands
~ lautrde IS 80" north, longitude 65 west. The
equation is twelve thousand, nine-tenths whom