Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-09-27
DENMARK.

The treaty providing for the pur-
chace from Denmark of the Danish
West Indies for S25,000O00 was rati-
fed by the United States senate Sep
TENDER z. There was no roll call and
less than half a dozen senator's voted
against it. The vote followed sew
erai hours Of debate In executive ses-
siol. An amendment by Senator Nor
rls to reduce the purchase price from
$25,O00.0O0 to $10000,OO0 was defeat
ed by an overwhelming vote and the
treaty was approved just as it was
signed by Secretary Lansing and Min
lister Brun on August 4. On the previ-
Gus day the proposal of the cOnserva-
tive party for the appointment of a
parliamentary committee of 80 men,
bers to consider the negotiations for
the sale was agreed to by the repre-
sentatives of various parties In the
rigsdag after a lengthy meeting. A
cable dated September 10 says
that the government will make an
other attempt to have the treaty for
the sale agreed to and intends TO
submit a bill upon the proposal made
by the conservative party. The con-
servatives suggested that with the
formation of coalition cabinet par
liamentary committee be appointed to
examine into the negotiations for the
sale Of the islands and to make a re-
port thereon within a limited time. II
was proposed that after the making
of the report plebiscite be held,
probgely about the middle of Octo-
Der. The attitude of the left and con-
sentative parties toward the govern
ment's bin Is uncertain and It is not
known If the general elections can be
avoided. Negotiations for the pur.
chase of the islands have been in
progress internationally for half a cen
fury. Under the terms of the treaty
Denmark would sell to the United
States the islands of ST. Thomas. st.
John and st. Croix together with ad.
jacent islands and rocks and including
'the right of property in all public,
government or crown lands, public
buildings. wharves, ports, harbors
Notifications, barracks, public funds
rights, franchises and privileges and
all other public property of every kind
OF description now belonging to Den.
mark. together with all the appurte-
nances thereto" ST. Thomas and st.
John are a part Of the Virgin islands
so named by Christopher Columbus.
81
of Porto Rico with st. John immedi-
ate4y to the eastward st. Crolx the
largest Of the tnree, IS situated about
80 miles soIth of st. Thomas in the
Caribbean sea. st. Thomas, an i'm
portaut cpaling station end depot Of
trade with an excellent ha-hor. is IL
miles long, east and west, and from
one To three miles broad. The only
article Of export Is bay rum. st.
John is eight miles long, east and
west, and Of irregular breadth. Its
area Is about 40 square miles It oc-
cupies an excellent position near St
Thomas and it's port Of Coral bay on
the east side is said to be the best har
Dor of refuge from cyclones in the
Antilles. St Croix. also named by Co
lumbus, is 10 miles long, of irregu-
lar breadth and contains 81 500 acres,
of which over 10000 acres are de-
voted to the cultivation Of sugar.
Christianstad. commonly called the
Basin, is the capital city of the Dan.
lsh West Indies. and is situated at the
head of an inlet on the north side Of
st. Croix. There are harbors at the
capital and l'rederikssted is the sec
ond largest town. The islands are In,
hablted mostly by free negroes.