, 1913-01-01

The Gendarme Band, small in numbers
but efficient in p~erformtS~s, m@uE5'a very
good concert on the Wharf from 4 to 5
O'Clock on Sunday afternoon. We hope that
this IS a revival Of a good old custom long
discontinued
On Monday morning the sad news was
circulated in town that Mr.. Biloel, who had
been serving for some time as an oyereeer
on the estate Sion Farm, ha6 ended his life
with a revolver shot. The funeral took place
81 Sion Farm the same afternoon.
This morning our first duty towards the
readerS Of this paper is to wish them a
HAPPY NEW YEAR. We hope, too, that
the New Year will be for them a PROSPEROUS
one, which is not exactly the same thing.
Our happiness depends mainly on ourselves;
our prosperity likewise largely on ourselves
but also to q great extent on things over
which we have no control.
In looking back over the past wear we NAV
perhaps say lhnt the most Important events
for the world at large We're the wars in the
south of Europe, first the war between italy
and Turkey afterwards The war between Tur-
key and the Balkan allies, The first ended in
" 800 " IC"NN ~ "Lltu LuLhC1 gave HD
a large province in Africa, the second is likely
to end by leaving Turkey in Europe as a mere
strip Of territory along the coast west of and
including ConstantinopIe. Another import
ant event was the triumph of the demecratic
party at the Presidential election in the
United States, n triumph which has q direct
interest for lis in st. Croix, though perhaps
not so great q one as some OF us suppose.
Turning to our wv matters we recall thati in
the earlier part of tho year we lost our great
ly esteemed Governor by death, and a new
Governor was appointed, whose measures up
to the present time have given much salts
faction. A little later we had to mourn the
death of King Frederk the eighth and to hail
the accession of our present Sovereign, King
Christian the tenth.
In matters of business we NAV note that
the principal event during the past year
hasbeen the tIansference OF the large group Of
estates formerly held by Messrs Ban tram Bros.
OF New York to the Vestindiske Sukkerfabrik,
the owners Of the works and estates COM
monty spoken of us the Bethlehem proper
tres. Thus St. Croix follows more important
places IN the enlargement of the land
stretches owned and worked by one concern.
HoWever much we must in some respects
regret tins tendency, it appears to be com
mon all he world over and to be the ONLY
way in which wide spread industries like
ours can be maintained. We must there
fore be glad of the change above mentioned
and hope that i'll the future it will add
greatly to the prosperity both of the Yes
tlndlske Sukkerfabrik and Of the island in
general.
The past year has also been marked by the
Introduction Of better means of communica-
ton, namely the introduction of motor ears
Tor private use and for tbe carriage of the
mails between the two towns. This latter
has been going on throughout the year, and
gust MS the year was closing we note the
arrival OF the new motor schooner Dannebrog.
which is to put as in more reliable communl-
cation with st. Thomas.
With regard to weather, the conditions in
the latter part of the year were 80 much
better than in this earlier part that they have
given us the hope Of a better result than
had been expected, so hat we may look
forward hopefully to the labours and rewards
OF the year now commencing.