, 1916-12-16

His Excellency the Governor (KonoO)
Mr. Chairman!
I have the honour to Introduce the
present Draft Of Ordinance concerning faci-
lities to owners of properties, that have
been destroyed or damaged by the hurri-
cane the 9th and 10th ultino
On this occasion l should like to give the
honorable Council! some information about
the steps Government has taken In Oonss-
quence of the hurricane.
AS soon as I arrived in st. Croix from st.
Thomas, I had the honour to confer with
the Municipal Committee. In a meeting
Thursday the 18th October, it was decided
TO apply the necessary means for clearing
the streets of the towns, for establishing g
provisional hospital in Christiansted in lieu
of the one at Peters Farm, that had been
destroyed by the hurricane, for reestab
fishing the telephone connection in and
between the towns. For relieving the most
urgent need as to food, clothes and shelter
~-an amount. of Frcs 5000 was placed at
che disposal of each OF the two Poor Com
missions of the island. Those amounts
were considered sufficient under the cir
oumstances, as it was generally understood
that there was and had been for q long
time an abundance of work for the labour-
Ars and consequently no great sxtraordI-
nary demand to the public for providing
the neceessries of ife.-It goes without
saying, that such public buildings as were
conveniently situated and could be spared
for the purpose, were opened to give shell
ter for the people, who needed it and were
willing to move
In this connection I want to say. that I
find, that all the public institutions, whom
the hurricane has caused extraordinary
exertions, have lone their duty to my full
satisfaction and I Appreciate especially the
prompt action Of the Hospital Commission
in establishing a provisional hospital with
out delay and also the efficiency OF the
officials and fu~nctionaries of the hospital at
Peters Farm during the gale and and
under the difficult circumstances under
VIII CHI they are working at present.
1t was evident however, that the Munici-
patty could not bear the exp enses connect
cd with the wide spread disaster, that had
befallen the community.
The status Of the Colonial Treasury vas
not good even before the hurricane, the
expenses having been considerably aug
mented on account of high prices after the
war broke out and revenues having been
considerably curtailed on account of the
small crop and the low prices prevailing
before the war, and the difficulties in dis.
posing of the cotton crop since the war
broke out.
What the Colonial Treasury has done, as
above mentioned. is all what could possibly
be expected from the island itself, consid-
ering that it will incur a considerable ex-
penditure for repairing damage to public
property. damaged that cannot be calcu-
lated fully as yet and for the repairing OF
which Money Bills will be laid before the
bon. Council in it's next meeting, together
with Bills for granting the expenditure
above mentioned.
In my Geographic report to the Ministry
OF Finances about the hurricane l, there
fore. asked for help from the State Trea-
sury and | had the great pleasure to re-
ceive from the Ministry authority to give
such help.
The help thus promised will be applied
for providing the poor population with
clothes and bedding. furniture and house,
hold wares; where such articles have been
spoiled by the hurricane the same applies