Danish West Indies,
A group of islands lying east by southeast of
Porto Rico, and consisting of St. Croix,
St. Thomas, and
St. John.
St. Croix is the largest, being about 20 miles long and 5 miles wide, with an area of 110 square miles.
It is generally flat, well watered, and fertile.
Two-fifths of the surface is in sugar plantations, and the principal crops are sugar, cotton, coffee, indigo, and rum. The climate is unhealthful at all seasons, and hurricanes and earthquakes occur frequently.
The population is about 18,000.
St. Thomas is about 17 miles long by 4 miles wide.
Its surface is rugged and elevated, reaching its greatest height towards the centre.
The soil is sandy, and mostly uncultivated.
Charlotte Amalie, which is the principal town and the seat of government for the
Danish West Indies, has an excellent harbor and large trade.
The population of the island is about 14,000.
St. John has an area of 42 square miles.
The chief exports are cattle and
bay-rum, and the population is about 1,000.
Negotiations with
Denmark for the cession of the islands to the
United States began in 1898, after the close of the war with
Spain; but owing to political changes in the
Danish government, no definite results were then attained.
In December, 1900, Congress became favorable to the
[
10]
bill of
Senator Lodge, advising the purchase of the islands, and negotiations to that end were reopened.
On Dec. 29, 1900, the
United States minister to
Denmark officially informed that government that the
United States would pay $3,240,000 for the islands.
