Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-02-19
NEW ISLANDS OF j.
s. CARRY A GREAT
FIELD COMMERCE

commercially, the UlOSL IupOI Tail
feature of the recently acquired Dan
Ish West Indies is the fine harbor al
Charlotte Amalie on the island of st
Thomas, according to a commercial
survey of the islands, just completed
by agents of the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce of the De-
partment of Commerce. This survey
emphasizes the convenience of the
harbor as distributing center for all
OF the Lesser Antilles. 1t lies on the
direct line of communication between
European ports and the entrance OF
the Panama canal. as we'll as in direct
line for vessels plying between the
Atlantic ports of the two Americas or
between the Atlantic and Pacific ports
of these continents. 1t is l 400 miles
from New York. 1,O20 miles from the
Atlantic entrance of the Panama Can
al, and 4S0 miles from La Guaira, the
chief port of Venezuela. It's location
commands the Virgin Passage to the
Caribbean Sea. the easternmost gate
way to that body of water 4.
st. Croix is the largest, wealthiest,
and most thickly populated of the
three islands. 1t is about 40 miles
southeast of st. Thomas and has large
areas of very fertile soil. The town of
Christiansted, on the island, was the
seat of the Danish colonial govern
ment, but Frederikstead, with a much
better harbor, is more important COM
mercially, doing approximately 81
per cent of the import and export bus
mess of the island. Sugar is the prin-
cipal product of St. Croix, although
some excellent sea-island cotton is
grown. The scenery is unrivaled in
the Antilles, though not so typically
tropical as some of the other islands.
On the island of St. John is grown
the bay tree, from which is obtained
the oil used in the manufacture OF
bay rum. The Bureaus report states
that the major part of the bay rum OF
commerce comes from the Danish
West Indies.
Not Much Foreign Trade.
The foreign trade of the islands has
not been of great Importance. I'M
sorts at St. Thomas for the fiscal year
ended March 81, 1916, were valued at
$734.6SO, and this represents about 70
per cent of the imports of the three
islands. Of this total, the United
States furnished $332,2S6 worth, the
West Indies $91,74S worth, Great
Britain 1854 worth, Denmark $780,
?7s worth, France $1S,2S6 worth, Hol-
land $12,6O1 worth, and Germany ST.
1875 worth. The United States purch-
ased S273,625 worth of goods from
the islands in 1915
The report issued by the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce is
the work of three special agents who
stopped over on their way to South
America. One is studying the Latin
American markets for textiles. Each
has a chapter on markets as he found
them in the Danish West Indies. Boots
and shoes. apparently, are seldom
used by the average native, although
each has a pair for special occasions
atiyes of all ages are usually seen
barefooted The market for electrical
goods is also limited, although it is
urged that electric fans can be sold II
properly pushed. Textiles, however,
are in good demand, and it is in this
line that prospects appear brightest
for the American manufacturer. Here
tofore England and other European
countries have had the cream OF the
trade. Lack of interest on the part OF
the American manufacturer is blamed
for this condition.
"The Danish West Indies, their Re-
sources and Commercial Importance.
is the title of the 68-page booklet on
the new American possessions. There
are chapters, on education, public
works. transportation, agriculture and
allied industries, mineral resources
manufacturing industries, business
conditions, foreign trade. and the
three spcial chapters on shoes, cleo
trical goods and textiles. There is al
so a map and a number of pictures
Copies may be obtained at the nominal
price of Is cents from the Superin-
tendent of Documents or from the
nearest district Office of the Bureau OF
Foreign and Domestic Commerce.