The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-04-12
HARB0R IS BEST
FEATURE OF new
DANISH INDIES
Foreign Trade Of Islands,
However Can Be Enlarged,

Commercially. the most important
feature Of the rccently-acquired Dan
i'h West Indies is the fine harbor Al
Charlotte Amale on the island OF St
Thomas, according to a commercial
survey OF the islands, just completed
by agent, OF the bureau OF foreign and
domestic commerce OF the department
on commerce This survey emphasizes
the convenience OF the harbor as a
distributing center for all OF the Lesser
Antilles. II lies on the direct line ot
communication between Europcan
ports aud the entrance OF the Panama
canal as well as in direct line for
vessels. plying between the Atlantic
ports oi the two Americas or between
the Atlantic and Pacific ports OF these
continents, It is 400 miles from New
York. 1920 miles from the Atlantic
entrance OF the Panama canal and 4S)
miles from La Guaira, the chief port
OF Venezuela It's location commands
the Virgin passage 10 the I Caribbean
sea thu eastern gateway to that body
OF water.
ST. Croix Largest Island.
81 CrOiN IS the largest, wealthicSt
and most thckly-popula,cd OF the three
iSland, It is about forty miles south
east Of S. Thomas and has large
areas Of very fertile soil The town o'
ChrlstianSted, on this island was the
sea, Of the Danish colonial govern
mcnt, but Frcdcrlkstcd, with much
better harbor, IS more important com
mcrclaly doing approximately ~ per
cent oi the impor, and export bust
ness OF the island Sugar is the prin-
clpa -product Of ST Croix. although
some excellent Sca-island cotton is
grown The scenery IS unryalcd IN
the Antilles, though not so typically
tropical as some of the other islands.
On the island of 8, John is grown
the bay tree. from which is obtained
the oil used in the manufacture OF bay
rum The major part OF the bay rum
Of commerce comes from the Danish
West Indies
The fo'eign trade OF the islands has
not been OF great importance. Imports
at S, Thomas for the fiscal year end
ed March a. 1910, were valued at
SJ4,bs0, and this represents about 20
percent OF the imports of the three
islands OF this total the United
States furnished Jp. 40 worth, the
Wcs, Indies S9l.74s worth. Great Brit
ain S,4ll worth. Denmark sS0.77S
worth France $lJ,2S6 worth, Holland
! Sl260l worth. and Germany 81 70;
worth OF goods from the islands II
1915
Few Shoes Sold.
The report issued by the bureau o
foreign and domestic commerce is tn
work OF three special agents VIII
stopped over on their way to Soutl
I America One is STUDYING the Latin
| American markets for boots and shoes
another the markets for electrica
goods, and the third the markets 10
textiles. Each has chapter on mar
ke,s as he found them IN the DaniS'
West Indies. Boots and shoes, appar
entity, are seldom used by the averag,
native although O6h has a pair fo
! special occasions Natives OF all age
are usually seen bateioo,,d The mar
kct for electrical goods 1. also limited
although it issurged that electric tan
can be sold Il properly pushed Tex
tiles, however, are IN good demand
and I, is in this line that prospect. ap
pear brightest for the American man
uiao,urer Heretofore England an
other European countries have had IN
cream oi the trade Lack OF interes
on the par, of the American manutac
turer is blamed for this condition.
"Thc Danish West Indies. their Re
sources and Commercial Importance
is the title OF the siSty-eigh, page book
le, on the new American possessions
There are chapters on education. pub
lie works. transportation. agricullur
and allied industries, mineral re
sources, manufacturing in duNrie,
business conditions, foreign trade. an
the three special chapters on shoe,
electrical goods, and textiles. 1lrt
Is also map and number OF pic
lures Copies may he obtained at H.
nominal price OF IS cents from the su
perinienden, Of documents or from m
nearest district office Of the bureau q
foreign and domestic commerce.
Mrs Joseph n Blake, who wa
formerly Mrs Clarence II Mackay
doing a valuable work in the Frenc
soldiers hospitals at Neuilly. wher
she Is actively associated with her hu,
band, Doctor Blake the inventor Of III
Blake splint now in use in all the 60,