VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES 645
Annual Reports, Governor of Porto Rico.
Monthly Summary of Finance and Commerce of the United States. Washington.
Dinwid'die (W.), Puerto Rico. London, 1899.
Fiske (A. K.), History of fie Islands of the West Indian Archipelago. New York, 1809.
Hill (R T), Cuba and Porto Rico. London, 1898.
Leslie's Official History of the Spanish-American War. Washington, 1S99.
Morri$ (R.), Our Island Empire. Philadelphia, 1899.
Ober (F. A.), Puerto Rico and its Resources. New York, 18W.
VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Government. — The Virgin Islands of the United States, formerly known as the Danish West Indies, were purchased by the United States from Denmark, for 25,000,000 dollars, in a treaty ratified by Denmark December 22, 1916, ratified by the President of the United States January 16. 1917, and proclaimed January 25, 1917. Under an Act of Congress, approved March 3, 1917, known as the Organic Act, all military, civil, aud judicial powers necessary to govern the islands were vested in a Governor, appoints! by the President of the United States, by and with the advice of the Senate ; and all laws, in so far as compatible with the changed sovereignty, as set forth in the Danish code of laws dated April 6, 1906, were continued in force and effect until Congress shall provide otherwise. Tax and Customs laws were likewise to remain in effect. Danish citizens residing in the islands at the time the treaty was entered into were permitted to retain their Danish citizenship by making declaration before a court of record to preserve such citizenship, in default of which they were held to have renounced it, and to have accepted citizenship in the United States. The islands comprise two municipalities, viz.: the Municipality of St. Thomas and St. John, and the -Municipality of St. Croix. The legislative functions are vested in the Colonial Council of each Municipality, that of St. Croix being composed of 13 members elected by popular elections and of 5 members appointed by the Governor; and that of Sr. Thomas and St. John consisting of 11 elected members and 4 apjxrinted by the Governor. The members serve for 4 years. The right of franchise is vested in every man of unblemished character who has resided in the islands for 5 years, who has attained the age of 25 years and has an income of a'; least 1,500 francs a year.
There are six heads of Departments, who,- with naval aides, form the Governor's cabinet. These comprise the Government Secretary's Office, the Departments of Health, Judiciary, Public Works, Education, Supply, Police and Fire, located in St. Thomas. The Despatching Secretary is the Government's representative in St. Croix. There is one judge in each municipality, as well as a Government Attorney.
Governor. — Rear- Admiral Joseph W. Oman, U.S. Navy.
Government Secretary. — Lieutenant C. C. Timmons, Supply Corps, U.S. Navy.
Area, Population and Instruction.— The Virgin Islands group com- prises in the main the Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John. The total area is 132 square miles and the population, accordiug to the census of November 1, 1917, 26,051. The acreage of the islands, respectively, is 18,080, 53,913, and 12,780. They lie about 60 miles due east of Porto Rico, between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The populations, respectively,
