Show THE DANISH WEST INDIES are unquestionably T N IN j I ably abl al on foot between the state departments of this country and Denmark for the purchase by the Unit United ed 01 States pt of f the Danish h West Indies Although Washington declines to deny denyL den L or 01 affirm the Ute rumors to tills this effect din dis dispatches patches from Denmark are alft ar persistent in jn reiterating that such a proposition propositions pro as is s under consideration Few people pe know much about the thep group p of islands know as the Danish West Indies although M some me n thirty years ars ego ago they were put on the market and lid this tb country bid 0 for them ena bat but the senate refused to ratify the agreement and nd tie the deal felt fell U through The group ioup of three small niall islands li St Crob St Thomas and ami andst t tJohn John with a a total area of something I more than t square miles mlle St Thom Thomas Tho I as 1 Ja within miles of Porto Porte PortoRico Rico In the days of slavery the islands Island were prosperous and contained large sugar plantations plantation Since slavery has been abu abolished ted they have rather run rundown rundown rundown down at the Ute heel and Ail a of in increasing creasing rea crea mg the population on h hN decreased Pd The rIle sugar su industry of St Croix the of the grout group has baa fallen off considerably and end on St Thomas Thomaa the sugar cane is cultivated scarcely at atall ataU atT T all aU 0 owing to drouth supposed to have been caused cau ed by the cutting do n of the insular forests In consequence the price of the Ute f anda hat has taken takes a slump stump and the figure fig Jig figure ure lire which is ill now BOW said td to be considered is 3 3 tI There TheN is ls another reason for fot a 8 in the value of these War Isler from an American A standpoint This country now now has bas Porto P Rico as 55 a naval base and and nd does not need the the Dan Danish n n ni Jib ish i tales isles for fot this purpose In fact con considering the way the chief industry of o othe c the Ehe group is 18 dying dyl out it is doubtful whether they Ute would now flOW be a profitable ble investment at any anT price About the only claim that can be urged in favor of f buying bu the islands is 18 International Comity Denmark it is anxious to dispose ur o the islands Germany is i said s to be beIling to purchase The United Stages a 4 baa aIwa always refused to con consent cona on teat sent a M to tn the sale Ie of these Islands island Is to any European power In consequence con nce the Danes Danen make the plea Iea that we should i purchase v ase in I order that they the may not n t be b forced lOfted to keep kp islands that they do donot not J want and that tha others thera are willing to take off their hands ds 4 |