As one of the steps in the process of reducing the expenditure, the military establishment in Frederiksted has been now completely withdrawn. We learn that on the 31st March the Fort in that town was handed over to the civil authorities to he used as a police office, and, for other purposes.
The Fort was built in 1760, or about 25 years after the purchase of the island by Denmark from the King of France, and has no doubt served the end for which it was designed. Its abandonment will perhaps be regretted by some; but we think no one can doubt the wisdom of tho measure in the present low state of our finances. That such a protection is needed we can scarcely believe, as, not withstanding the hard times, our population is contented and good natured, and the experience of the past few years of trouble has shown that there is sufficient good sense among them to ensure respect to laws.
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If a small colony like St. Croix is a dull place to live in when contrasted with the capitals and large commercial cities of Europe and America, them is at the same time some compensation in the security which we here enjoy, the immunity from the attacks and sharp practices ot street thieves, and from those skilful and dating burglaries of which we so often read. There is no pleasure which has not its accompanying drawbacks, and the visitor to London or New York from a remote colony, has often found much of his pleasure marred by the constant necessity of observing vigilance against sharpers, pickpockets, find other depredators; a vigilance which is generally lound quite unnecessary in these small West Indian colonies. It has often been said, that we in St. Croix can leave our houses open at all times, even at night, without any fear or surprise or of loss. We regret to say that the grounds of this boast seem to be gradually slipping from under our feet. In the last few years it has become evident that we can no longer be indifferent to the usual precautions adopted in most other places; and if the unpleasant experience of the past few weeks continues, we shall be compelled to become as sharp in our protective measures as the inhabitants ot more highly civilized slates. The rumours of robberies of greater or less extent, both in the towns and in the country districts, have followed one another so fast that we might almost believe those theorists who imagine that waves of excitement, criminal, political, or religious, may pass through a community, just like epidemics of small-pox or cholera. We believe however in a much more prosaic explanation of this unpleasant fact. It s easy to see that one thief, if successful, makes many; not only by the example of apparently safe crime, but by the shelter which the widespread story of his doings gives to other dishonestly inclined persons.
Although we may be unwilling to believe that persons trusted about our houses would rob us under cover of the popular rumour of "thieves going about"; it is folly to shut our eyes to the weakness of human nature, and while we leave the Policeauthorities to do their part, which they no doubt will, and we hope successfully, we, as citizens, must not overlook our plain duties. Having in the first places cared our dwellings and outbuildings, as far as possible, against outsideis, we must take care that no temptations are left in the way of those inside. Drawers and presses should not be left open, nor keys left in exposed places. Money and small portable artides of value should be well secured, and, in the case of bank notes being put aside, it would be well to make a memorandum of their numbers. We suppose, by the way, that no one would commit the erorrs of carefully putting such a memorandum away along with the notes.
We cannot believe that the present prevalende of robbery is otherwise than exceptional; but sooner we all take the proper precautions, the sooner will these unpleasant sumptoms die out.
(St. Croix Avis 7. april 1877).
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