Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-12
Conditions On thc NIrsin I.lnnd,.


gin Islands lie east Of Porto Rico in
the Caribbean Sea. The American
Erorp OF these islands are named ST.
population, according 10 the first Unit
ted States census taken on the islands
IN IN Sovember. 1877. totaled 2s,oSl: div
Thomas. lo!9l. and St John. 95a. The
United States purchased the islands
t ,g9m noo P zen & in ,ai7 at a cos, OF
ditions in the islands have improved.
Public health has been improved by
sanitary surveys End reorganization OF
been reorganized 10 CONSTRUCTION
work has been carried on. There has
always been considerable poverty in
the islands ana their chief source OF
income. the coalinE and tourist trade.
was deprived them during the war,
and consequently increased this CON
dltion. The people appear TO be sat
istied with the transfer OF the islands
TO the United States. and in spite of
oversubscribed their quota in tho last
Liberty Loan drive. The principal in
dustry in ST. Croix is cane sugar. Corn.
cotton. ground vegetables and fruit
raising is the principal industry in
st; Thomas and St John Islands The
irrigation would increase the produc-
tivity so per cent.
There are thirty seven schools. pub
lie and private. on the islands, and the
attendance at the ond OF the school
year. lol7-ls. w@s 1919 pupils. The
islands were under the Danish nag
people is English. These islands are
part Of group which commands
the Caribbean Sea- and for that reason
are of strategic value to the United
States.
Origin of Parks.
Mrs. J. NJ r., Clifton ForEe.--ln Eu-
rope the word park is variously APP
piled to any garden or space used for
out of-door recreation. but in the
United States the word Is used to de-
public use and enjoyment. The parks
Of the anctents were more architec-
tural than HORTICULTURAL. and forestry
mented their parks with colonnades
and sculpture. The parks OF Greece
were small and in the Middle Ages
Renaissance developed the park idea
and many beautiful public gardens
were developed. The public park sys-
York and Phiiadelphia, have been ex-
tended to all the large cities and many
small towns. There are fourteen ma
tional parks or reservations in the
Federal government Hot Springs
Reservation was reserved by an act OF
April 20, 1882. 1t was dedicated as a
Yellowstone National Park was estab-
lished by the act of March /. 1872
Yosemite National Park was estab
ed by act Of October |, 1890. Sequoia
National Park was established by acts
OF September % and October !. 1890.
General Grant National Park was es-
tablished by presidential proclamation
Of June %. S9S issued under author
ity Of the act of March 2. 1889, Mount
Rainier National Park was established
by the act of March ., 1899. Crater
Lake National Park was established
by act OF May 81. 1902. Plat National
Park, first known as Sulphur Springs
Reservation. was established by the
acts of July I. 1902, and April 81. 1905.
Wind Cave National Park was estab-
ltshed by the act of January o. 1903.
Sullys Hill Park was established by
presidential proclamation Of June g
1900. issued under authority of the act
OF April q. 1904. Mesa Verde Nation
al Park was established by the act of
June 90. 1905. Glacier National Park
was established by the act OF May II,
1910. Rocky Mountain National Park
was established by the act OF January
%, 1915.