Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-17

serving no other purpose than to de-
light an occasional wandcrcr with an
eye for the picturesque.
Fertile Land In 81. Croix.
ST. CroiX. on the other hand, Is =
rich island 1t contains eighty four
square miles OF territory, a large past
Of which is planted In sugar cane. One
side OF the island Is Hat. while n minia.
turc mountain range borders the other.
rising stceply out Of the bright. ten
der green OF the sugar fields, which
reach clear down to tho palm groves
along the white beaches. This island
has fine ROADS bordcrcd with rows OK
royal palms, and II boasts no less
| than twenty automobiles. Long ago 1t.
was Il favoritc winter resort for Ameri-'
cans and the islanders believe that II
is going TO become popular with tour
lists again Land has already been
bought for the erection OF large mod
"rn hotel.
81. John contains about twenty
square miles. II claims 900 inhabi-
tants. but they ar" hard to una; owing
to the density of tho jungle. the lack
OF roads and tho fact that there Is no
town on the island.
The other forty SEVEN islands which
mr.. included in our purchase vary from
such bits as Sail Rock. which Is bare
spirc OF granite that looks like a san
and affords Il home for few sea
birds. TO Buck Island. which Ia several
square miles In area. covered win
dcns" growth. and fun OF WHO pigeons
parrots and wild goats. Most OF these
small islands. or keys. arc hinhapiten.
and many Of them arc practically never
visited by men.
our purchase includes three principal
cities and :, few smaller villages. Tho
most important of The cities Is mar
intte Ar,aiic. on this Island or 81.
Thomas In tho islands. the town Ia
called St Thomas. its Danish name al
.nort never being heard. IL has about
-. 900 inhabitants. most OF whom nave
nc gro blood. but il is not 4 negro town
in the rcnSc that Fort ~ Prtnce H.
The typical 81. Thornan OF the better
class is West Indian Creole. and OF
:, distinctive type. lie has Just enough
r"gr" blood to make his skin da'k and
his hair slightly finky., lie ~ indolent
and pleasui GLOWING. but intelligent and
pretty we'll educated.
Creoics Are Prominent.
MANI OF the leading merchants OF
81. Thomas are crcolcs including the
only millionaire IN tho islands. These
wcil-to-do Crcol"s have their children
educated in Europe. mud minGl" with
thn Danish officials AK social equals.
Many Of the young Danes have taken
Creole brides back To Denmark.
In ST. Croix arc Christiansted. tho
capital. and Frcirikstad. each having.
"a population or between four and five
thousand. Frcdrikstad is a nat, white
dusty town. swept by tho wind from
its open roadStcad. and is neither pic
turcSquc nor interesting Christian.
stcd on the other hand. is a bcauti-
full tropical city. full OF flowers and
palms and picturesque cd houses. II
has Il pretty littlc hJrbor choked With
sand and mud. The bulk Of the pco-
pie in st. Croix are black negroes.
while the dominant class are mostly
lrishmen and Danes
Fto these facts. IL Will he seen that
we have not bought valuable piece OF
real estate. The purchase Was justi-
fed for reasons which Will be made
clear in the next letter But what
ever the value OF the islands TO us. our
potential value to ih"m is cnormous.
Tile people OF the Danish West Indies
are looking 10 US with faith and hope
for many things. and the whole Carib-
bean world Viii watch our course there
with keen and critical interest. Where
fore, Uncle Sans now islands are :,
more important part or his domain
than they appear on the map.