Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

Though the islands are quite close together
conditions found them are quite dlssim1lar
The most important of the three commercially
is the Island of st. Thomas, which has splenS
did harbor and on which the capital is located
The business of this island is essentially COM
mercial and maritime. The business OF the
Island of ST. Croix, the largest of the group.
is almost entirely agricultural. The people OF
St John, the third island have made then
living principally in the production OF bay
oil, used in the manufacture of bay rum; the
raising of a limited number of cattle and
small amount of fruit, and in the manufacture
of charcoal. The crop of st. Croix is sugar
cane, which in converted into raw sugar in
the two towns of the island, ChriS1anSted and
Frederiksted, Is miles apart
The islands were once very prosperous, the
harbor of st. Thomas being the center of West
Indian trade and the largest island Of the
group, forming one Of the worlds chief sources
of supply and q considerable amount OF
sugar. The economic depression, which set In
about the time the islands were purchased by
the United States and which has reduced the
islanders to poverty, has been attributed 70
series of calamities beginning with the aban-
donment of St. Thomas the Western head
quarters for the Hamburg American Steamship
Co, which moved to the Dutch port of Curacao,
in Dutch Guiana.
THOUGH their economic situation has be-
come progressively worse over a period of
10 years, the islanders have reaped many bless
ings from American citizenship. The United
States Government improved the sanitation Of
all the island communities and established
schools and hospitals, ranking with the best
in the entire West Indies. When the income
Of the islanders decreased that they could
not support these institutions Congress made
up the deficiency, contributing approximately
100000 the first year and increasing Tho
Federal contribution to q present total Of more
than a half million dollars a year.
Realizing that the only hope for reducing
the Federal contribution viii be to increase the
general prosperity of the islanders to an extent
which will justify taxation, Congress wisely
planned to rehabilitate the industries Of the
islands under the new civil government.
In the IA years Of American occupation the
Federal Treasury has spent in the Virgin
Islands, between 100000 and 100000 q
sum in excess Of Danish expenditures during
200 years Of rule. All the American expendi-
lures for the fiscal year 1891, including com
pensation Of the Navy personnel, will aggregate
about 100000, Of 80 for each man, woman
and child in the islands
One OF the steps recommended by Mr. Brown
which is expected to prove of interest to hun.
dreds Of American citizens, will be the buildinaB
up OF tourist trade to these 1ittle-known islanfk
which 1t Is hoped may become popular resoin
centerS during the Winter months ranking III
this respect with foreign possessions in the WeaE
Indies. In line with this policy, the Federal
Government win remodel the hotel at St
Thomas at cost Of $4,000. The new Gov
ernor is to undertake q modernization Of the
public highways Of the islands, $3.50 having
been appropriated for this work.
Improvement Of thu water supply and repair
Of public buildings also win be undertaken. The
cHatinre6 81 BiGhteesth Pa0s Sass