The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-01-20
DANISH WEST INDIES.

0"HN
the Publications OF their respective
governments. thus completing the
transfer. This IL the fifth time in the
history Of the islands hat they have
changed owners. The United States
h 10 pay Is million dollar for these
islands. which Is a pretty good profit
for Denmark. which paid only $4,000
for them in iTs2. Taken possession 81
by spain by right OF discovery, the ISL
ands have been la unrp English, Dutch
and Spanish again. as went she toe
tues Of war. and the Danish and now
American bg purchase.
The group consists OF the three
small lsiSnds Of ~. croix. -. Thomas
and ST. John. a~eeregatins i5s square
miles and possessing a population Of
27.oS6 persons. nisials free negroes
ensaeed In the cultivation Of sugar
cane. The islands, however. are "
strategic importance. particularly In
relation to the Panama canal
The harbors OF ~. Thomas and 81.
croix are OF first importance to thu
American navy. and -. Thomas i,sc'f
lies in the lane Of shipping from Er-
rope to the Panama canal 81. Thomas.
which lies only forty miles cas-, o,
Porto Rico. AID is less thar twelya
miles from she entrance 10 the Panama
canal. was at one time chief disirirut-
ing center OF the West Indian trade.
The CHIEF port. Charlotte Ainniie. with
q population % less than ten thousand.
mainly negroes. Is still an important
eoaIing station for steamer in tho
West Indian trade. With a depth Of
from twenty-seven to thirty-six feet
OF water. the roadstead can accom-
moaaie tbs largest merchant ships
which sail these seas.
81. John. least important 81 The is
lands. lying four miles 10 the last IL
st. Thomas. has an area OF ;wer.y-cSr
square miles. Il is scarcely moro than
a io.mlle mountain ridge, with n oae
disiinsulshing feature. Coral Pay. thc
best harbor OF refuge In the Antilles.
crois BAY a village of one thousand in
~habltants. on the norther shore, Is tho
center OF population.
Secretary Seward negotiated the
purchase Of the islands in 1867 for ~
million dollars. but the treaty failed 81
ratification by the mate G:.many
nee sought to buy the islands n the
United States warned Denmark against
making the sale. In 1899 Secretars
Hay negotiated the purchase for 3 mil
Hon dollars. hut the treaty was reject.
cd by the Danish parliament. as the
result OF German Influence.
Within the last few years a German
corporation built immense docks and a
eoaiing pier at 81. Thomas. md II war
reported that Germany was inter' on
gaining a foothold In the eroup. That
a one consideration that impellod
the purchase by the United States.
with the purchase OF he DANISH
islands there passes another Eu-cpcar
nation as an American colonial power
il one excerpts Greenland. Portuga
Wa first 10 go, when Brazil gsinod ~
independency. Russia v~oluntarill
withdrew when ii sold Alaska 10 IN,
United states. ana SPANS once vas
American empire was ~exiinguishe,
forever In 1898 when Cuba was frees
and Porto Rico bought" nv right o
conquest.
Holland, France and Great BrilaiI
still remain. u is not improbable tina
the Dutch would part with heir hold.
inrS for "a price. They hold a third %
Guiana and islands off the south Am
erioan coast a~gereFa,ing 4os square
miles. These colonies are an expense
20 h Dutch government ard rav,
little prospect OF much greater de.
velopment for many years
Frapc~ owns another third Of Gui
sna, two groups ~ West Indian island,
divided into the Guadalupe and MAJ
Unique administration, and 80. Pierr'
and Miquelon. small islets which fo.u
a fishing station for the Grand Bank
Of Newfoundland These colonie- As'T'
on a fair commerce. but neveTethelesi
are a drain on the French treasury
The French West Indies have an area
~ about 1859 squafs miles and
population of about -four hundred
thousand.
Great Britain Is. Of curse, the great
American colonial power. Beside can.
ada and Newfoundland there are BRIT
ish Honduras and a third ~ Guiana az
the continents; Jamaica md the Der