Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-25
Uncle Sam IN the Caribbean
9--Wild Life and Natural Resources
Bg Frederic j. Haskin

The Danish scientists have carefully
studied the plant resources OF the
islands and have ascertained that
there are many plants OF commercial
value which might be proftably prop
agated, but no one seems to have
done anything about it. Thus there
are several tannin-producing plants
and fiber plants, which grow wild in
abundance. These plants are OF con-
siderable interest, because St. Thomas
is almost entirely uncultivated at pres
ent. 1t is impossible to raise sugar
here because of drouths and the
mountainous character Of the country,
but it seems quite possible that some
of the tannin or fiber plants might
be made profitable crop. If this
could be done the island could be
made self-supporting and the condi-
ton OF the people greatly improved.
The divi-divi tree, which produces a
bean rich in tannin, grows abundantly
in st. Thomas. Samples sent abroad
for analysis have been declared of
high value, and it is said that cultiva-
ton of the tree would be profitable if
a factory were erected on the island
for making the extract. This plant is
81 to IS per cent tannin. There are
native acacias on the island which
produce from 9 to 20 per cent tannin.
The agave, which grows wild upon
the island, is its best fiber plant. Its
leaves are often eight feet long and
weigh fifty pounds. The fiber is said
to be as good as manila hemp and to
last better under water. The guiana
tail, originally introduced from Africa,
is now naturalized and growing wild.
The leaves yield fine, silky fiber. 1t
is merely necessary to scrape them
and dry them in the sun. Samples
sent to London are declared to have
higher commercial value than ma
Mia hemp.
The wild horse .radish, the castor
oil plant and the aloe, all valuable
for medicinal purposes, grow wild on
the island and could easily be cult
waited. The sisaf, upon the Yucatan
production OF which the United
States depends for its binder Irvine,
grows here and has been cultivated
experimentally in St. Croix.
Pineapples grow easily on all three
Of the islands. Pineapple raising al
most certainly has future on the hill
lands OF st. Croix and there is no
apparent reason why St. Thomas
should not also produce this fruit.
The cocoanut palm grows upon all
the beaches and it is probable that
systematic cultivation would greatly
increase the production of these nuts,
which are just now very profitable
crop. The nuts are worth about 5
cents apiece in New York and each
tree will net its owner about $3.50 a
year. After they have once reached
bearing age the groves require prac-
tically no care except to gather the
nuts. Owning a cocoanut farm Is an
ideal sort OF agriculture for a tropi-
cal climate.
Although these islands have been
occupied by civilized man for over
four centuries, practically no inves-
tigation seems to have been made OF
their mineral resources. This con-
clusion is corroborated by the report
Of three investigators who were re-
Gently sent to the islands by the
United States Department Of Com
merce. They reported rumors of cop
per and iron deposits, but said that
no one seemed ever to have done sys-
tematic prospecting. On cliff on the
east side OF the St. Croix harbor
there is large unmistakable copper
stain which certainly appears to in
dictate the outcrop OF a vein. This is
familiar to the native boatmen,
one Of whom pointed il out.
They said that no one had ever had
the curiosity to make landing there
and investigate the matter.
Our new islands are too small to
be important industrially, but they
are nonetheless land of interesting
possibilities.