Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-01-24
IN TODAY'S SPOTLICH.
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

side of our prohibition handicaps the
Virgin Island interests The drough.
for the last four years particularly
crippled the sugar cane crop, so that
at least one whole crop had to go for
the paintings and none for that years
sugar making. The practice IN cane
growing is to cut off the tops of the
stalks and plant them; they take root
and produce the next crop. Not only
was one crop thus used in its en-
tirety. but additional paintings were
imported from other islands
The depression of business is not
wholly due to these recent disastrous
conditions. but dates back to the
changes in maritime commerce de
veloping through the entire century.
Time was when st, Thomas Island
was distributing point and supply
station for transatlantic trade. 1t
was great coRling station and
scoren of ships were often anchored
at one time in its magnificent harbor
Vessels would put into st. Thomas to
get into cable communication with
their headquarters. Now ships travel
with oil fuel and 10 not need such
frequent refueling; they get their
orders by radio broadcasting in cipher
and are independent of cable stations
So the Importance of the Virgin Is
Ianos from maritime andpotnt has
seriously waned.
While under Danish rule a tariff
was charged upon imports from the
United States: now. being q part of
the United States no tariff is so
charged-cutting of a revenue of
100000 a year; but the United States
Treasury has contributed an average
of 100000 year to the support of
the islands since 1917.
The greatest handicap to the island
prosperity Is the insufficieucy of the
water supply The rainfall exceeds
80 inches, but, owing to the rock
formation, most Of the water flows
off too rapidly for agricultural needs.
A United States naval engineer, after
a careful study, reported that an ade-
quate system Of conservation of
water would cost $45o, ooe. Last week
Congress authorized a part of the
plan, which will cost 1922, 1000 The
House voted an appropriation of S45,-
600, and the Senate $125.000 to begin
the work. What the actual appro-
priation will be now depends upon
the conference.
1t is the intent of the leaders in
Congress to put the islands upon a
self-supporting basis. and to- that end
a commission will visit the islands
Immediately after adjournment of the
present session-as was done two
years ago.
One of the chief complaints of the
masses Is the unfairness of the sys-
tenn of taxation. The land IS largely
in great estates, and unused land
escapes all taxation. Wages for first
class labor have been 2 francs a
r,-A
franc and a half-from 20 to SO cents
a day. Through the efforts of the
| American Federation of Labor, wages
have. recently been raised to 81 a
! day, but owing to general stagna-
| ton employment Is precarious, and
| actual starvation Is reported as not
| far away from many unless relief
and revival Of industry come soon.
! y X
The Virgin Islands are located east
| of-Perto Rico. They include SO small
islands. of which only three-St.
| Thomas. St. John and st. Croix-are
large enough to be of any Importance;
| some of the others are too small to
! be inhabited. The, combined area is
about equal to that of the District
! of Columbia, and their present pop
! uiation is estimated to be 10000
negroe of African
slaves-2,000 whites and a few hun
dred mixed bloods-Caribs, Spaniards
| and Danes.
| The islands were purchased after
| so years or negotiations, because Of
their supposed strategic value, as an
outpost of the Panama Canal and our
| Gulf coast. Secretary Stewards offer
! of $7,5o0.0o0 was accepted by Den
| mark but not confirmed by the United
States Senate. Secretary Lansings
offer of s25.o00,oo0 at our entrance
into the war was confirmed and the
purchased completed. but no steps
have been taken to fortify the islands
1 or to equip a supply station there
on, or te--formulate a real organic
basis of government. The power
rests entirely in the hands of the
+ President. The people have ne
american franchise.
fcopyrishs. 1875. b. Paul Y. coslisal