The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-10-06

owners Of Santa Cruz, though by 1871
we see it once again in possession of
the French for a short period. In 1853
King Christian VI. of Denmark bought
Santa Cruz for 100000 French livres.
st. Thomas. which, owing to its geo.
graphical situation and excellent har-
Dor facilities. is in a position Of eX-
IRENE Importance, is an island thirteen
miles long. with Il width Of about four
miles. and a population of some 10000.
The city of Charlotte Amalie. situated
on one of the finest natural harbors in
the world, has long been the rendeZ-
vous and focus Of the commerce of the
West Indies. The bay on which the
town lies is almost circular. being nar-
row and deep. The entrance a be
SO fortified as to exclude all possibility
of capture, as the island is surrounded
by craggy reefs, and there is no other
landing place. OF late years the traf-
tc has fallen off somewhat, vet all the
most important German. French and
English steamship companies maintain
cOaling stations there.
, ooL1l, WILL III alta VI AOliN-lNO
square miles, has only a small popu-
lation, its main export being sugar.
Santa Cruz. the most important Of the
islands, is about nine miles east and
west by II to five north and south.
The northern part Of the island is in
tersected by a range of hills. while the
southern is low and level. The shores
are surrounded by coral reefs, except
in the northwest, where great depth of
water is to be found close to the land.
The climate of the islands is trop-
ical and subject to little variation
less than 8 degrees between the warm
est month, August, and the coolest,
stant the whole year except during the
hurricane months Of the fall.
Our civil war showed that one Of
the greatest handicaps to the United
States was the lack Of a harbor of
refuge and q naval base In the West
Indies. And, though since that time a
foothold has been secured, yet no har-
Dor of any great strategic value is
now in the possession of the United
States which can for a moment be
compared with st. Thomas.
First Negotiations In 1865.
In January, 1865, Mr.. Seward, then
secretary of state, recognizing the eX-
IRENE Importance and value of safe
guarding the interests of the United
States, opened negotiations with Cen
eral Raassloff. the Danish charge DAT
flares. After several unofficial con-
ferences it became known that Den
mark had no desire to sell her colonies.
Not until December, 1868, was the
matter taken up again, when Il lew
ministry, less opposed to the sale, had
come into power in Copenhagen.
Mr.. Seward himself visited St. Thorn
as and being convinced OF the ncces-
slty Of the purchase made an offer to
a X over the three islands for the sum
OF $o,OoO,OU. General Raassloff did
not push the matter actively and things
dragged IN until January, 1867, and
nothing was accomplished. Instruc-
tons were given to Mr.. Yeamans. at
that time American minister In CoDen-
hagen, to push the sale. In Nav, 1867.
an answer was received declining the
offer of the United States and making
a new proposal of $15, 100000 for he
three islands or $4,000, 600 for St
Thomas and st. John. adding that the
transfer must be sanctioned by a vote