File No. 711.5914/13
As to the present condition of public opinion here: there is a
growing party, particularly among the business men, in favor of sale
of the islands to the United States. I have been approached by
several of them on the subject. In spite of the discovery of the
possibilities of the Sea Island cotton, which discovery lessened
interest in the possible sale of the islands by increasing the hope
of profit from them, practical men of less conservative opinions
regard the retention of the islands by Denmark as a useless
sacrifice to the idea of national honor. The majority of the voters
is indifferent, as nothing but an increase of taxes would arouse
this majority, the farmers, to express a desire for the sale. The
country is rich, but the Government is poor. Still, the present
Government would not raise the question of the sale to replenish the
Treasury unless public opinion was very strongly expressed in favor
of it. Against the sale would be a large number of important
landowners, like Count Danneskjøld-Samse (1) and Count Frijs,
Frijsenborg (2) who would not consent even at the last resort to the
sale, unless on our part we would offer some salve to the pride of
the Danes, who feel that they have already lost too much land.
Greenland and Iceland do not count with the Danes as part of Denmark.
The first, which is a monopoly, they regard as practically waste
territory, and the second as the home of a very turbulent
population, which would secede from Denmark to-morrow, if it could.
As I have already indicated to the Department, there is another
group, not undistinguished which still clings to the hope that the
Danish Antilles may be made the basis of a bargain, Greenland, as a
means of barter, failing, for the restoration of Schleswig to
Denmark. Among these I may mention, confidentially, Vice-Admiral de
Richelieu (3).
The newspapers seldom touch on the subject, and, so far as has been
in my power, I have discouraged any mention of it. Some of the
Danish business men have suggested that a project of sale may be
proposed after the Panama Canal is completed, as the fine harbor of
St. Thomas will then become much more valuable both to the United
States and to Denmark, consequently the Danish Government might
demand a higher price. From my conversation with Count
Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (4), Minister of Foreign Affairs, it is plain that
no proposition will be made to us by the present Government unless
public sentiment is expressed very strongly. Fifteen millions of
dollars is the possible price sometimes mentioned to me, coupled
with the suggestion that something might be arranged in the contract
that would not give the transaction the air of a crude bargain. This
suggestion has not emanated from any member of the present
Government.
If it were worth while, sentiment might be worked up here in favor of
the sale, but the conservative, pro-military press, the organs under
court and Government influence, would be violently contra. How far the business interests would mitigate the
opposition, I am not prepared as yet to say. The main question, in
my mind: Is it worth while? And, if worth while, is it
opportune?
In the first place: Are the islands worth $15,000,000? They ought, it
is true, not be so expensive to manage, as they might be put under
the same government as Porto Rico. And this is a price suggested by
the optimists. In the second place: The sentiment in favor of the
sale of the islands here is founded on the idea that we are now
anxious to acquire them, in view of the prospective opening of the
Panama Canal. My attitude is, and has always been since my sojourn
in Denmark, that a reasonable proposition might be made to our
Government, but that it would have to be very reasonable to be
considered at all; that the harbor of St. Thomas would by no means
be so very useful to us either as a strategic point or as a coaling
station, and that there is no desire on the part of our Government
to “corner” the market in islands. If the expenses of maintaining
the army, the navy and the defences, coupled with those of the old
age pensions, etc., keep up, Danish public opinion, in time, will
probably force a proposition for the sale of these islands to the
United States.
Yesterday, I had a conversation with Count Holstein-Ledreborg (5),
who was Prime Minister in 1909, on this subject. He is one of the
cleverest, most independent, liberal and irascible politicians in
Denmark. “Your country will have the islands, in time,” he said,
“but, with the trouble we are having, in the Faroes, in Iceland, and
in the general conditions of politics, the time for opening the
question is emphatically not now.” I consider the words of Count
Holstein-Ledreborg, who is out of politics, and, though much of a
recluse, particularly friendly to me, as expressing the situation at
present.
I append a brief biographical sketch of the gentlemen mentioned in
this dispatch.8
[Inclosure]
the danish west india islands
There are three small islands of the Virgin group of the Antilles
in the possession of Denmark, St. Thomas, St. John and Santa
Cruz.
Thirty-eight miles distant from Porto Rico, this group of islands
lies between the 17th and the 18th degrees north latitude and 64
degrees west longitude. St. Thomas is in the track of all
vessels from Europe and the East Indies bound for the north
coast of South America.
Erik Smith took possession of St. Thomas on behalf of the Danish
Crown on the 30th day of March, 1666, and save for a few years
at the beginning of the 19th century it has since been in
continuous Danish possession. St. John was taken over in 1684,
Santa Cruz, first discovered by Columbus on November 14, 1493,
was successively in the hands of the Dutch and the English.
Later on these were driven out by the Spaniards who in turn made
way for the French. In 1651 the Knights of Malta became owners
of the island, by purchase, though [Page 568] by 1727 we see it once again in possession
of the French, but for a short period only. In 1753 King
Christian VI of Denmark bought Santa Cruz for 750,000 French
livres.
St. Thomas, which owing to its geographical location and
excellent harbor facilities commands a position of extreme
importance, is an island thirteen miles long with a width of
about four miles, maintaining a population of 12,000. The city
of Charlotte Amalie, situated on one of the finest natural
harbors in the world, has long been the rendevous-focus of the
commerce of the West Indies. The bay on which the town lies is
almost circular, the entrance of which can be so fortified as to
exclude all possibility of capture, because the island is
surrounded by craggy reefs and there is no other landing place.
Though of late years the traffic has fallen off somewhat, yet
all of the most important German, French and English mail
companies maintain coaling stations there.
St. John, with an area of 42 square miles, has only a trifling
population; its main export being bay rum.
Santa Cruz, the most important of the islands, is about 9 miles
east and west, by 1 to 5 miles north and south. The northern
part of the island is intersected by a range of hills while the
southern is low and level. The shores are surrounded by coral
reefs, except in the northwest where great water depth is to be
found close to the land.
The climate is tropical and subject to little variation, less
than three degrees difference between the warmest month, August,
and the coldest, February. The trade winds are constant, the
whole year, except during the hurricane months of the fall.
The population of this island is 9,683 souls, according to the
latest available census. Christiansted numbering 5,499, whilst
Fredriksted has 3,685, the remainder living in the rural
districts.
Sugar is the staple product, and of 51,980 acres available for
cultivation, 16,478 are in sugar, a small portion in cotton, and
the remainder chiefly pasture land.
The Civil War showed that one of the greatest handicaps to the
United States was the lack of a harbor of refuge and a naval
base in the West Indies. And, though since that time a foothold
has been secured, yet no harbor of any great strategic value is
now in the possession of the United States which can be compared
with St. Thomas.
In January 1865 Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, recognizing the
extreme importance and value of safeguarding the interest of the
United States, opened negotiations with General Raasløf, the
Danish Chargé in Washington. After several unofficial
conferences it became known that Denmark had no desire to sell
her colonies. For a time the negotiations were dropped and not
until December 1865 was the matter taken up again. For a new
Ministry, less opposed to the sale, had come into power in
Copenhagen.
Mr. Seward himself visited St. Thomas, and being convinced of the
necessity of the purchase, made an offer to take over two of the
three islands in behalf of the United States for the sum of five
millions, $5,000,000. General Raasløf did not push the matter
actively and things dragged on until January 1867 and nothing as
yet had been accomplished. Instructions were given to Mr.
Yeamans, at that time American Minister in Copenhagen to push
the sale. Not before May though was an answer obtained declining
the offer of the United States and making a new proposal of 15
millions for the three islands, or 10 millions for St. Thomas
and St. John, adding that the transfer must be sanctioned by a
vote of the population of the islands. The United States
answered this by an offer of $7,500,000 in gold, but objecting
to the vote of the islanders. Mr. Seward’s second offer was
refused, but a new proposition of $11,250,000 for three or
$7,500,000 for two islands and the vote of the people was
proposed.
When the second offer of the United States was rejected the
American Minister in Copenhagen, who was conducting the
negotiations, was instructed that negotiations were to be
dropped. Yet in July a cable was sent by the State Department to
accept St. Thomas and St. John but opposing the vote, In October
of the same year the Secretary of State cabled as follows:
“Close, conceding the vote.” On October 24, 1867, the treaty was
finally signed by the Danish Minister and the American, on
behalf of the United States. The vote of the islanders still
remained; an earthquake at this time delayed matters until
January 1868, when a vote favoring the annexation was passed.
Then the Danish Rigsdag ratified the treaty and King affixed his
signature.
In America a political struggle was going on between President
Johnson and the Senate, the time limit for ratification passed
and was extended without any further action being taken. The
treaty was finally rejected after an unfavorable report by the
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
[Page 569]
In 1892, the Honorable John W. Foster, then Secretary of State,
reopened negotiations for the acquisition of the islands, which
met with favor in the eyes of the Danish Government. Matters
were taking a favorable turn, and at last the long pending
question seemed near settlement. But President Harrison’s
administration was drawing to a close, and the negotiations were
suspended.
In 1902 an investigation was conducted by a committee of the
House of Representatives of the United States to examine into
the truth of the allegations and charges of one Walter Christmas
in his secret confidential report to the Danish Government as to
the methods pursued by himself and assistants, and contracts
entered into by him for the purpose of bribing or attempting to
bribe members of the United States Congress to vote or to assist
in procuring the proposal, adoption or ratification of a treaty
for the sale of the Danish West Indies.
The investigation conducted by examination of persons charged
with being connected with the alleged bribery by Captain
Christmas, it was found that none of the charges could be
substantiated and the report was consequently discredited. A
complete record of the proceedings was published by the
committee under the title of: House of Representatives, Report
No. 2749, [57th Congress, 1st Session] Purchase of Danish
Islands.
important facts about the danish west
indies
The area and its uses.—The estimated area
of the Danish West Indies is 3,589 square kilometres (138 sq.
miles) of which St. Thomas and the adjacent small islands occupy
86.17 sq. km., St. John with surrounding smaller islands 54.40
sq. km., Santa Cruz, Buck Island, Green Cay and Protestant Cay
218.33 sq. km.
As to the use made of the land the below table shows the
following division:
| Districts |
Total area |
For sugar plantations |
For other culture |
Waste land of no use |
|
Acres
|
Acres
|
Acres
|
Acres
|
| St. Thomas |
16,082.25 |
4.00 |
2,364.65 |
13,714.23 |
| St. John |
13,211.25 |
7.50 |
622,75 |
12,581.00 |
| Santa Cruz |
51,426.82 |
15,067.91 |
31,614.66 |
4,744.25 |
| Total area for the Danish West Indies |
80,720.65 |
15,079.41 |
34,601.76 |
31,601.48 |
The above table indicates that the sugar culture practically is
confined to the island of Santa Cruz. The area under the heading
“For other culture” comprises principally the areas used as
pastures, but also those used for cotton and sisal plantations,
and for fruit and vegetable culture. Under this heading, as
regards St. Thomas and St. John, only the area actually used is
included, while under the heading “Waste land” is included
uncultivated, bush or forest covered land, regardless of its
suitability for cultivation. As to Santa Cruz, the heading “For
other culture” means all land suitable for cultivation, not
taxed as land suitable for sugar cane. “Waste land” as to this
island, means barren land unsuitable for tillage.
In 1909 about 3,000 acres were used for cotton plantations, the
main portion of which were located on Santa Cruz. Sisal
plantations occupy about 100 acres, partly on St. Thomas and
partly on Santa Cruz. The area used for fruit and vegetable
culture is but a small one, and no figures can be given as to
its extent, but it is hardly more than 150 to 200 acres. On St.
Thomas there are defined areas used as gardens and orchards. On
Santa Cruz vegetables are also raised, principally sweet
potatoes, yams and onions, generally on the “banks” between the
sugar canes, before these grow up, or on the fallow land, which
is counted in with the area used for sugar plantations. Small
areas, used for the cultivation of cocoanut-palms, are found on
all of the islands, likewise small cacao plantations, on the
northern side of Santa Cruz, but so far they have given
insignificant returns. Further there are small plantations of
oranges, lemons, bananas, pineapples and coffee, and in St.
John, baytrees. There have been times hen Santa Cruz cotton,
owing to its particular intrinsic value, has sold in the
Liverpool market for three times the price of New Orleans
cotton. Sisal culture has the advantage over that of cotton, as
the former can do without rain. The returns of fruit raising
have so far been of consequence to the local market only, with
the exception of the baytree culture, which supply the raw
material for bay rum manufacture, carried on chiefly in St.
Thomas and St. John.
[Page 570]
The forest and brush land produces but very little wood of
general utility, though some of it is used for fence posts. In
St. John only hardwood and baytrees are found in quantities
worthy of mention. In some places are found such fruit trees as
mango, guavaberry or guava, etc., which partly subsist from
culture in times gone by. From the bush land fuel is gathered,
generally in the shape of small branches; charcoal is also
produced in a primitive way.
Population.—The population of the islands
is very much mixed. Some have come voluntarily, others have been
brought as slaves, from Africa. Slavery was abolished July 4,
1848.
Three races of mankind meet here, representatives of many
nations, and several different languages are spoken in the
islands. Many social changes have taken place before we behold
the product of to-day, the present population.
The present population according to the latest census taken, that
of 1901, was 30,527, against about 38,000 in 1860. Classified
according to race, there are: the white, the black and the
mixture of both. According to a report issued by the Statistical
Bureau of Denmark, there are about 600 whites, or 3%, in the
island of Santa Cruz. In St. Thomas the percentage of whites is
a trifle larger, while in St. John there is but one white
family. The proportion of black to the mixed cannot be
ascertained, but on good authority it is stated, that the mixed
constitute about 25% of the entire population. Of the white
population 427 were born in Denmark.
Steamship connections with
Europe.—Steamers run every fortnight from Southhampton, via
Barbados, once a month from Havre or Bordeaux; four to five
times from Hamburg, but most of these steamers are common
freighters; freight steamers also ply between Liverpool and the
Danish West Indies. But the best and cheapest connection between
the mother country and the islands, for passenger traffic at
least, is the new Danish West India line of steamers, which,
touching at English ports, make the run in eleven or twelve
days, thereby distancing all other lines as to time. The
passenger rate from Copenhagen to St. Thomas is: first class
$96.00. Daily expenses of the traveler in the islands may be
estimated at from $2.50 to $5.00 per day, with extra for cab
hire, etc.
Topography and Climate.—While St. Thomas
and St. John, with adjacent smaller islands, undoubtedly belong
to the Virgin Islands, it is doubted by some whether Santa Cruz
belongs to that group. It should thus be noted that while the
straits between the Virgin Islands are somewhat shallow,
frequently not more than 20 fathoms, Santa Cruz is divided from
the other islands by a sea more than 12,000 ft. in depth. There
is a great difference, too, in other ways.
St. Thomas and St. John are very mountainous; the highest
mountain in St. Thomas soars more than 1,500 ft. above sea
level, and that of St. John nearly 1,300 ft. Santa Cruz is
rather mountainous, too, but there the more level land is rather
extensive. The highest point in this island is Mt. Eagle, about
1,150 ft. in height.
While the islands can not be said to be volcanic, they are,
nevertheless, not free from earthquakes, which, generally,
however, are of such a mild character that they cause little
damage.
The islands being located between 17° and 19° north latitude, the
climate is consequently wholly tropical, the heat being tempered
by the refreshing northeast trade-wind, which during the larger
part of the year brings the islands relief and coolness. The
mean temperature of the year is 26.5 degrees C., evenly divided
through the year. The coldest months are December, January and
February. The difference between the hottest month, September,
with a mean temperature of 25.6 degrees C., is thus only a
little more than 3 degrees over that of the coldest months. The
same evenness as to temperature applies also to that of day and
night, which hardly ever varies more than 5 degrees.
The islands have no definite rainy season, as absolute drought
may sometimes prevail for an uncertain, lengthy time. According
to observations, taken during a long series of years, the first
months of the years are the driest, with February as the climax.
October is generally the month of heaviest rainfall. Dry periods
are not infrequent, and during these the sugar plantations
sustain much injury.
The Sugar Plantations.—About one-third of
the area of Santa Cruz, about 15,000 acres, is used for sugar
cane cultivation. Of the other two-thirds a small part is used
for pastures, while a larger portion is not made use of at all.
The sugar cane land runs from the city of Christiansted to the
city of Frederiksted, extending through a broad belt, bordered
by the sea to the south and by the sea and the Northwest
Mountains to the north. Several varieties of sugar cane are
cultivated. As by-products of the sugar industry may be
mentioned syrup (malas) and rum. Some years ago a central sugar
boiling plant was established in Santa Cruz. This factory has
become an important factor in keeping sugar [Page 571] culture in many places where it
would otherwise have become extinct. The institution has thus
created a class of small planters, negroes and mulattos, who
cultivate a small piece of land and sell their sugar canes to
the central factory. Formerly sugar cultivation could not be
carried on without also owning a refinery.
In former years the sugar cane would grow well year after year,
but the soil is now, after many years of reckless use, so poor,
that it at intervals of a few years, has to be left fallow and
carefully manured. This manner of overstraining the land was
brought about by the high price of sugar, once prevalent; now
the competition of beet sugar has rendered cane sugar culture
far less profitable than in those days. It should not be
understood that cane sugar cultivation in the Danish West Indies
is unprofitable, on the contrary, it has in several instances
been demonstrated, that by proper and rational methods of
cultivation, especially the use of suitable artificial
fertilizers, (chiefly salt of potassium), and by a more
up-to-date treatment of the soil, by which the working expenses
are considerably reduced, very good returns may be obtained;
this being the case with some of the west coast plantations. Men
who know, advise that cane sugar culture ought to be encouraged
in the islands, but the methods of cultivation should be
improved according to modern principles. The cultivation of
other products, such as cotton, tobacco and cocoanuts could
also, according to the opinion of some authorities, be carried
on with profitable results in the islands. Sandy land, otherwise
of small, if any value, might be used for the culture of
cocoanuts. In years gone by tobacco-raising was one of the most
important pursuits.
The negroes around the city of St. Thomas raise fruit and
vegetables, which are nearly all sold in the town market.
Labor and Wages.—The emancipation of the
negroes, July 4, 1848, was a hard blow to the plantation owners.
From that time on they had to pay the labor they formerly
commanded for nothing. The mere support of the negroes had cost
them but a trifle, and the indemnification paid them by the
Government was but a poor offset for the loss of the ownership
of the slaves. Since that year the importance of Santa Cruz has
declined, and as the increased beet sugar production in Europe
caused a fall in prices of sugar, the profit from sugar culture
was so small that many of the planters gave it up and used their
land as pastures for cattle. The much needed rest that was thus
given the soil improved it and rendered it capable of better
yield, whether used as cane sugar plantations or for other
culture.
The larger number of the negroes may be said to find their
employment on the sugar plantations. When a negro is being
employed by a planter a bargain is generally closed for several
years, two negroes and one white man act as witnesses. The negro
being employed receives at once a sum of money from his
employer, and is given quarters in the negro village that
belongs to each plantation. Married negroes are allowed 3 rooms,
unmarried 1. They are permitted to keep pigs and poultry, and
they are given the use of a small piece of land where they may
raise fruit and vegetables. On the plantations they have
opportunity to purchase cornmeal, dried codfish, etc.
The wages, per day, range, in general, for a negro from 20 to 30
cents, the laborer to furnish his own board. Boys and men of
poorer qualifications for work receive less. They all have free
medical attendance.
The hours are, in general, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
At six o’clock each negro receives a small quantity of rum.
During the harvesting season, however, the work begins at 4 and
lasts until 10 p.m. Saturday they are free from work on the
plantation and may use the day for cultivating their small
gardens. In many cases, however, the negro does not make good
use of his free day, instead spending the wages for the past
Week, which he receives early Saturday morning, for liquors,
etc.
The Trade.—The islands import annually
goods worth about $1,500,000, of which the United States furnish
more than one-half, the United Kingdom about one-fourth; while
the imports from the mother country amount to only about
$140,000. The exports are valued at about $750,000, of which
more than 80 per cent go to the United States. Principal items
of import are: Breadstuffs and provisions, manufactures of iron
and steel, boots and shoes, from the United States, electrical
goods, cotton goods, machinery, iron and steel, soap, spirits
and woolens, from the United Kingdom. The principal items of
exports from the Danish West Indies are: Sugar (nearly 50 per
cent of the total export), bay rum, beeswax, hides, skins and
cotton.
While many vessels call at St. Thomas and purchase supplies,
there is still a large amount of work to be done before the city
will be able to regain its position as one of the great
commercial centers of the archipelago that it once held, and [Page 572] which to a large
extent has been transferred to the city of Barbados. In this
respect great expectations are linked to the opening of the
Panama Canal, for the reason that St. Thomas both has a better
harbor, which is undergoing great improvements, than Barbados or
any other place in the neighborhood, and also possesses a
salubrious and pleasant climate, and should thus make a most
suitable coaling and general supply station for vessels.
Roads.—Very good country roads are found
in the cultivated parts of Santa Cruz. Also in St. Thomas, in
the eastern and in the western parts, there are passable roads,
but much less extensive than those in Santa Cruz. St. John has
hardly any roads worthy of the name, the only exception being
some stretches of cart roads, the rest are bridle paths.
The Islands and the Mother
Country.—Besides the official administration, the colonial
home office, and the Governor and his subordinate officers,
there is a society, The Society of the Danish Islands of the
Atlantic, and a commercial company, The Danish West Indies
Plantation Company, that take special interest in the
development of the islands.
The Society of the Danish Islands of the
Atlantic.—This society, social-economic in character,
was organized in 1902. It was the question of the sale of the
Danish West Indies to the United States that was the prime cause
of the formation of the society, a measure (the sale of the
islands), which the new-formed society worked against to the
full extent of its power.
The program of the society, as set forth in its public organ Atlanten, is: To further the development
of the Danish colonies, especially in an economic sense, and to
strengthen the national spirit among the different inhabitants
of the Kingdom.
These aims the society tries to attain, chiefly, by the following
means:
- 1.
- To gather information of economic value to the
colonies.
- 2.
- To spread information in regard to the colonies, as to
their economic and other conditions, among the
inhabitants of the Kingdom, and thereby arouse their
interest for the aims of the society.
- 3.
- To give free of charge voluntary guidance to anybody,
who applies to the society for information in regard to
the colonies, or such information as will be of benefit
to the population of the colonies.
- 4.
- To work for the accomplishment of improvements in
existing conditions by influencing public opinion,
eventually by approaching the Government and the
Congress.
The society had about 1,000 members in 1904. This number has
since increased. The membership fee is Kr. 5.00 per annum, or
Kr. 200.00 for a life membership.
There is a special division for each of the following colonies:
Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Danish West
Indies.
At present the society is bringing all the influence it commands
to bear on the completion of the harbor improvements at St.
Thomas, before the Panama Canal is finished.
The society has no commercial interests and does not offer any
pecuniary assistance to people who want to emigrate to the
colonies.
The Danish West Indies Plantation Company,
Ltd.—This company (entirely commercial) was organized
in 1902 with a stock capital of $352,400, for the purpose of
furthering agriculture in the Danish West Indies, where it owns
plantations.
Of white labor the company only employs unmarried men, whose
chief occupation has been farm work. They agree to stay for a
period of about two years, at least, on the plantations.
In case they decide to leave the plantation after a short stay
only, they have to refund the company for the passage money paid
for them, (about $100). For those who remain on the plantation
during the time agreed upon, the company furnishes free passage
to the place where they are to work.
So far the company has sent sixteen men over. They act as
foremen, or inspectors on the plantations, also as caretakers of
the company’s domestic animals. The actual work in the fields is
done by negroes exclusively. The company has no land for sale,
and advises nobody to go there who is not previously employed by
owners of plantations, or else have capital enough to buy a
plantation for themselves.
This company owns 4,431 acres of land in the islands of which 100
acres are used for sugar plantations, 713 acres for cotton
culture. They employ some 415 persons of which 219 are men and
196 women. They keep some 100 horses and colts, 63 mules, 156
draught-oxen, 148 cows, 171 calves and about 100 head of [Page 573] sheep. The total
number of animals kept by the company is 852. The valuation of
the company’s holdings of land, factories, stock animals,
buildings, etc. as given in one of their latest annual reports,
was about $200,000, and the profit from their property during
the year was about $5,900. In the same report it is, however,
indicated that previous years have brought the company loss
instead of profit.
Santa Cruz Sugar Factory.—The last annual
report for this plant shows better results. During the year
there were delivered to the factory 56,750,000 pounds of sugar
cane, against 38,000,000 pounds the previous year, and the sugar
has been ⅓% higher. The expenses have also been lowered. For
sugar cane was paid 44.88 øre ($0.12) per Cwt. (1 Cwt. equals
110.22 lbs.), against 36.5 øre ($0,109) the previous year. The
production price was thus 0.5 øre ($0.00134) less per pound of
sugar and the sale price 2.5 øre ($0.0069) higher. The total
surplus was Kr. 270,000 ($72,494.00). After the stipulated
reserve and gratuities were deduced, Kr. 16,818 ($4,485.00) were
placed on the account for new buildings, and a 9% dividend was
paid. Kr. 50,000 ($13,333.00) were placed on the account of
extra pay to the suppliers of the cane, and Kr. 8,300
($2,215.00) carried forward to new account.
When, above the statutory 6%, there is given a 3% extra dividend,
it is partly due to the fact that the shareholders, during the
two foregoing poor years, received no dividend, and partly to
the fact that the surplus was so large that Kr. 50,000 ($13,333)
could be placed on account for the suppliers.
The Constabulary Corps.— This corps of
armed police numbers 4 officers, 9 petty officers and 110
enlisted men, with 33 horses. The enlisted men, at the time of
enlistment, must be less than 30 years of age, must have had
previous military training and be unmarried. Such enlisted men
must bind themselves to serve three years in the Danish West
Indies, at the end of which they may reenlist if they so
desire.
The pay is about $0.64 per day, and free station and uniform.
They may be advanced to subcorporals and corporals and as such
receive an additional pay of $19.30 and $38.60 respectively per
annum. Upon honorable discharge from the corps they are allowed,
if they have served continually for 3 years, $57.90 for each
full 3 years of satisfactory service.
After three years of service, a man is paid $386.00 a year; if
married, he is permitted to live outside the barracks, and given
a special allowance for quarters.
