The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-03-02
UNCLE SAM NOW THE OWN.
Err OF FIFTY MORE
POSSESSIONS

INTERESTING INFORMATION CON.
CORNING THE DANISH WEST IN.
DIES WHICH COST THE UNITED
STATES $25 0O,000-COLOR LINE
NOT SHARPLY DRAWN IN ANY
OF THE ISLANDS INHABITED
MAINLY BY MULATTOES.
By Charles R. FNandreau.
Introducing our newly-acuuired
friends-the Danish West Indies.
They are some fifty in number. and
cost 100000 each. Make their &C
Quaintance, because at this price they
are valuable friends.
About forty miles eastward of Por.
to Rico lies group of islands that
have recently been the subject of
much discussion in the American
press. In all, they number fifty, al.
though there are only three of them
which are well-known. Those three
are st. Croix, st. Thomas and st.
John.
Each of these three islands is I'm
ique in its distinguishing character
istic, st. Thomas is noted for its fine
harbor, and it is also an authority on
rum although the variety of rum
which it produces is of a very temper
ate variety being nothing more nor
less than bay rum. st. John boasts
the production of the finest bay
leaves in the world, and thus aids
materially in the worldwide reputa-
ton of its sister island, st. Thomas.
st. Croix, or Santa Cruz, as the Span
ish has it, also contributes to the RAM
ifications of the liquor industry. This
time however, it is the genuine article
in the form of Santa Cruz rum.
The general appearance of the is
land of st. Thomas is that of the sum-
NIT of submerged island. The is
land is thirteen miles in length and
averages approximately two miles in
width. The surface of the island is
given almost entirely to a continuous
chain of hills, which make agriculture
along modern lines almost impossibel.
For this reason practically the entire
population is obliged to depend upon
the harbor to furnish them a means
of subsistence.
The harbor of Charlotte Amalie,
ST. Thomas, is indeed a most excel
| lent haven of refuge for all classes of
sea-going vessels. 1t sprotected by
nature from the violent ocean storms
by means of an outer fringe of small
islands. and is also we'll lighted and
buoyed. This harbor is in direct line
/ of communication between European
ports and the entrance of the Panama
/ Canal. and is also in direct line of the
course between the Atlantic ports Of
North and South America.
st. John is the smallest of the three
islands, while St CroiX is the largest,
wealthiest and most thicllly populated.
The executive power of the islands
was, previous to their purchase by
the United States, in the hands Of a
colonial governor appointed by the
Danish crown. 1t is q matter of his
tory that since March 30. 1866, Den
mark has exercised absolute control
of the islands except for few months
in 1901.
There are two distinct colonial
councils in the islands which are vest.
ed with legislative power. One of
these is situated at Christianstead
st. CroiX. and the other at Charlotte
Amalie, st. Thomas Two of the cardi
nal points of the franchise require
ments are unique in the originality
They are: First the applicant must
, own real estate which Yields a month
" income of So; or second, his person
| al income must be at least $500 pei
, annum. Another requirement, which
IS undoubtedly purely of West Indidr
oriqin. is that the voter must he of un
hlcmished character. Without. cast
ing pnv reflections on American poll
: tics it is timely to say that this quail
: fcation might work we'll in the Amer
Y lean system.
. One of the landmarks of antiquit,
= One Of the landmarks of antiquit,
e which still exists in the Danish Yves
E Indies is the whipping post. Althousl
i the Danish crown appointed loca
: Judges from the kingdom of Denmark
g ancient methods of punishment ar
e still to be found throughout the Is
e land. It is quite possible that tn
o United States NAV see fit to give tn
erring sinners of the islands an OF
k Sportunity to compare the modern il
strument of torture with their ~
c customed ones.
II The school system of the island
v in excellent shape and under the sui
v ervision of the present school dire
3 tor many new buildings have bee
erected and the system has bee
brought up to modern standards
General Education in the islands
compulsory betweenthe ages of 7 an
Iy 10. The courses of instruction d
If however, vary somewhat from thoS
he in vogue in the states. as it has bee
N the aim Of the Danish government
e. instruct the inhabitants of the DAMS
q. West Indies in practical subject
Il. such as agricultural pursuits, ct
s. The present enrolment in the pub
lie schools is $500 pupils. Two session
re Hre he'd every weekday and are long
then the school sessions in the Unite
We States, lasting from to II in I'll
D. morning, and ! to A in the sfternoo
lie Tive teachers are for the most pa
O. natives of the island who have r
al ce'ved srecia' courses of instructiC
~ at Copenhaben. The salary paid II
We innumbents o. these nosition is p
VI large enough at present to entice d
Of pensers of education from other par
)y of the world to any great exter
Grammar school teachers receive $
til per month and high school teache
tn receive $50 per month for twel'
81 ,nonths in tho wear