Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1921-05-20

Prepared by the National Geographic So
ctety, Washington. ID. CO
The Virgin islands, bought by the
United States from Denmark In 1917,
to which American marines recently
started to fly from Washington are
Interesting and worthy of considera
tion not only because Of their eventful
history but also because they have
figured In many diplomatic negotia-
tons and because of their strategic
Importance to the United States In
relation to the Panama canal.
That this group of about fifty
islands, only three of which are big
enough to have a name on any but
photographic charts and local maps,
and the biggest of which one could
walk around In nine hours seems i'm
portant to our government may be
judged by the price it paid for them.
We gave less than two cents an acre
for Alaska, less than three cents an
acre for California, Nevada, Colorado
and Utah, less than IA cents an acre
for Florida, and under 81 cents en-
acre for the Philippines. Even for
the Canal Zone we paid but 1888
per acre. Yet the $25,000O00 for the
group we paid Denmark figures out
more than $295 per acre for her hold
ings.
Authorities have disagreed as to
the area of the islands. Even as to
the three main islands-St. Thomas,
ST. John and st. Croix-there is no
agreement upon the question Of area.
In order to get a definite statement
as to their size, planimeter measure
ments of them were made on hydro
graphic charts in the offices of the
National Geographic society, and they
show that st. Thomas is 1925 square
miles In area, st. Croix S4,25 square
miles, and st. John 1897 square miles,
making total of 132.47 square miles
for the three islands. Some authorities
give the area as 1873 square miles and
others as 142 square miles.
Finest of Harbors.
From the standpoint Of the United
States. ST. Thomas is the most Inn
portant of the group of islands. This
Importance arises from the fact that
the harbor on the south side Of the
island, on whose borders the town of
Charlotte Amalie Is located, is one
of the finest in all tropical America.
From the days of the buccaneers its
Strategic advantage has been realized,
for when the Spanish Main was the
happy hunting ground Of the gentle
men of the Black Flag this harbo-
was their headquarters.
The harbor is completely sheltered.
Outside is roadstead partly pro
tected by an outlying island, which
provides anchorage for great number
Of ships. At Its mouth the harbor
is 900 feet wide, and one passes
through this narrow neck into a
beautiful basin, three-quarters of q
mile in diameter, whose waters are
seldom disturbed however much the
sea beyond may rage. A trade wind
blows during the whole year, with the
exception of the hurricane months
August. September and October-wher
. 1t becomes irregular and sometimes
ceases to blow altogether. Tit
greatest heat Is experienced in August
September and October; but even ther
1t rarely rises above 81 degree,
Fahrenheit, while at times It falls al
low as GA degrees.
On three sides Of the harbor thu
mountains and their outlying foot
(. hills rise. sharply from the water
leaving but very narrow beach: 81
that the major portion Of the tow
had to find room for expansion b.
climbing up the side Of the mountain
Just outside of and above the tow
are the two old towers, commonl'
known as Bluebeard's Castle AM
. Blackbeard's Castle. Legend has
that here these daring old buccaneer
= had their headquarters and playe
, their romantic roles as the hornet
of the Spanish Main" but histor
J. disputes legend, for 1t says that the
). were built by the Danish government
= MS a measure of defense In 1889.
Views From the Heights.
BY climbing the mountain to Amt
= pole, within easy walking distance .
y Charlotte Amalie, one can. on clea
idAy, get d view of Porto Rico. s
= Croix, and Bequies. A little farther 0
!, one reaches heights where views. vi
y surpassed in all the Caribbean regiol
may be had Of Porto Rico to the wei
!, and the Lesser Antilles to the soutl
= The West Indian Panama Telegrap
fcompany has cable Office at Chariot
Z Amalie, and. 1t was from this plas
that the world got 80 much Of Il