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

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United States answered this by an of
fer Of S. 900 in gold. but objecting
to the vote. This second offer was re-
fused. but a new proposition of SILL
100000 for three, or $7,5OO.OOO for two
Islands, and the vote OF the people
was proposed.
When the second offer of the United
states was rejected the American min
lister in Copenhagen was instructed
that negotiations We're to be dropped.
Yet in July, 1867, a cable was sent by
the state department ordering the ac-
ceptance of st. Thomas and st. John,
but opposing the vote. and in October
OF the same year the secretary OF state
cabled. "Close. conceding the vote.''
On Oct. "a, 1861, a treaty was finally
signed by the Danish government and
the American minister on behalf Of the
United States. The vote of the island
ers had not yet been taken, as an
earthquake ut this time delayed mat
terS until January. 1SGS, when a vote
favoring the annexation was secured.
Then the Danish rigsdag ratified the
treaty and the king affixed his sigma
ture.
In America a political struggle was
going on between President Johnson
and the senate. the time limit for ratiti-
cation expired and was extended with
out any further action being taken.
The treaty was finally rejected after
an unfavorable report by the United
States committee on foreign affairs.
Negotiations Resumed In 1892.
In 1892 John Foster. secretary of
state. reopened negotiations for the ac-
QUESTION of the islands. Matters We're
taking a favorable turn, and at last the
long pending question seemed neal a
settlement. But President Harrison's
administration was ORA wing to a close.
and, feeling that he could not conclude
the matter before his term of office
had expired, though fully approaching
the value and Importance of these is
lands to the United States. he caused
the negotiations to be suspended.
The question was brought before the
public in 1896 by a newspaper article.
claiming that Denmark was willing to
cede the islands. but this rumor proved
to be false.
In 1906 an investigation was conduct
ed by a committee Of the house of rep
resentatives of the United States to ex-
anime the truth of the allegations and
charges of Walter Christmas made in
a confidential report to the Danish
government as to the methods pursued
by himself and assistants. and as to
the contracts entered into by him for
the purpose Of bribing or attempting
to bride members Of the United States
congress to vote or to assist in procur-
ing the proposal, adoption Or ratitica-
ton Of a treaty for the sale of the
Danish West Indies. The investiga-
ton was conducted by examination Of
persons charged with being connected
with the alleged bribery in the report
of Captain Christmas-it was found
that nOn of the charges could be sub
stantiated, and the report was conse-
quently discredited. \ complete record
of the proceedings was published by
the committee under title Of "House of
Representatives. Report No. 2749. Pur-
chase of Danish Islands,
Some Facts About the Islands.
The estimated area of the Danish
West Indies is 1888 square kilometers
OBS square miles,, Of which st. Thorn
as and the adjacent small islands oc-
cupy S6.17 square Kilometres; st. John,
with surrounding smaller islands, $40
square Kilometres; Santa Cruz, Buck
island, Green cay and Protestant cay,
21s.33 square kilometers.
The following table shows the divi-
sion of the land:
st. st. Santa
Thomas. John. Cruz.
Total area In acres. 1G, Os2. % 13, 2l1.25 81, 426. 81
For sug. plantat'ns. 400 $50 l5,oG7.9l
For other culture... 2,3G4.G5 CO.. 10 / ,G14.G6
Waste I'd of no use. 13, ia. % 1851 90 4,744. Is
The Population.
The populations according to the cen
sus of 1901. was 3O,527 against $4,000
in 1860. Classified according to race,
there are the white, the black and the
mixed races.
The islands import annually goods
worth about 81 100000. OF this the
United States furnishes more than
one-half and the United Kingdom
about one-fourth, while the imports
from Denmark are only $4,000. The
exports are valued ut about $75O,OOO,
of which more than 80 per cent are
destined for the United States.
The Panama canal inparts great i'm
portance to these islands for the rea-
son that st. Thomas has q better har-
Dor than Barbados