Nyheder fra St. Croix. (Efterskrift til Politivennen).

 THE "AVIS"

CHRISTIANSTED. ST. CROIX.

Saturday, the 4th of May 1878.

In a small island like ours to miss even one among the old familiar faces is so eventful thing and brings with it some sadness But when we have to chronicle many changes, permanent and temporary, we cannot help realizing vividly what a shifting scene this world of ours is after all.

The first of these changes that we notice is the departure from the island of Captain Raupach, K. D. the commander of the forces here for many years. His term of service having expired, he is now leaving to spend the remainder of his life in that rest which anyone may well feel himself entitled to after having served his country as a military man for 46 years, 43 of which have been spent in the West Indies, and having during all that time been a most efficient officer. He also acted for a short time as Royal Treasurer, and Churchwarden of the Lutheran Church. We wish him, new that active service is over, many years of life and health.

With the departure of Captain Raupach the Fort ceases to be a fort any longer. As our readers are aware, It is to be used in future as a Police Office &c. How ever much this measure may be demanded by the pecuniary circumstances of the colony, we cannot help deploring it from what we may call an aesthetic point of view. And even on higher grounds than a mere matter of taste, we do earnestly wish the Fort could have been kept us a fort. Anyhow we are glad that its present Captain has not seen it changed in his day. His successor, who is Baron Rosencrantz from St. Thomas, will live in what is now the telegraph office. But this move, and others consequent on it, we shall allude to when they occur.

Judge Jürs is leaving us for a year, and we know that we only express the universal feeling of this community when we say that his loss will he deeply felt even for a year. His duties are to be discharged during his absent by Mr Nyssum from St. Thomas. That they will be efficiently discharged we have no doubt, but we arc sure Mr. Nyssum will permit us to say that, if he is only another Judge Jürs, we wish for nothing better. To be Police Master is not a pleasant office, we should think. To be the Dealing Master of late years in St. Croix has been a very difficult thing indeed, involving problems almost as hard to solve as any we met with in our mathematical days. But the urbanity and equity of the Judge's career is known to us all. We trust to see him return after his weil-earned year's holiday in perfect health.

The Rev. T. Engholm has come into residence in his new parish of Christiansted during the last few days. We wish for him much happiness and usefulness in his new sphere, one in which his predecessor earned, as we noticed in these columns when he was leaving us, much esteem and love. We believe Mr. Engholm's successor in West End is appointed, but we have not heard his name.

But our changes run through all the professions - not clerical and legal only, but medical also. Dr. Knudsen, who has been faithfully acting as King's Physician since Dr Aagaard's death, now retires from that office, as Dr. Kalmer is gazetted to it. We rejoice in the assurance that the permanent stay among us of a man of Dr. Kalmer's proved ability is thus secured to the community and his many patients. Dr. Neumann will now be physician to the poor, and in him we believe the poor will always find a sympathising friend.

(St. Croix Avis 4. maj 1878).

Kaptajn Heinrich Andreas Raupach (1813-1882) var tjenstgørende 1835-1878 i Dansk Vestindien. Han var født på St. Thomas og blev som 8-årig sendt til sin onkel og tante i København, senere Herlufsholm og genså aldrig sine forældre der døde. Han uddannede sig som officer og kom januar 1835 til St. Croix. Han blev her chef for artilleriet i Frederikssted og Christianssted. Han avancerede til fort- og kompagnichef ved Christiansværns Fort. Han tegnede en del portrættegninger af samtidige dansk-vestindere. Efter hjemkomsten levede han et roligt liv og blev begravet på Solbjerg Kirkegård (Frederiksberg).

H. A. Jürs var foruden at være auditør og underdommer også medlem af kolonialrådet.

Som nævnt blev fortet i Christiansted omdannet til politistation, hvilket blev uddybet den 19. juni 1878:

 "THE AVIS"

CHR1ST1ANSTED. ST. CROIX.

Wednesday,19th of June 1879.

The conversion of the Fort at Christiansted into a Police Office involves several smaller changes which our readers will no doubt expect us to notice as items of local news. All those who happen to live in Christiansted or within a couple of miles of the town will have noticed that the morning and evening gun is no longer fired. Some will perhaps feel like missing an old friend, but they will no doubt soon get used to his absence. For our own part we must say that there was something pleasant in the sound of the morning gun calling the town to renewed lite and activity; but we could never see any poetry in the evening gun. Both however have now disappeared before the spirit of reform which is remoulding Santa Cruz into a new, and let us hope a better shape. 

We have been informed that the military band which hitherto performed at the Fort on Sunday afternoons will play from 5 to 6 o'clock in the Barrack Garden where chairs and benches will be provided for visitors.

The officers of the Telegraph Company are busy in removing to their new room in the Depot, where they will have cooler quarters than before and be closer to the business part of the town, an improvement which will be appreciated by those who have business transactions with St. Thomas.

(St. Croix Avis 19. juni 1878).

Ubekendt fotograf: View of Peters Rest Station. Sankt Croix. Årstal angivet 1860-1940. Det kongelige Bibliotek. Muligvis beskyttet af ophavsret.

Barnefødsel i Dølgsmaal og Barnemord. (Efterskrift til Politivennen)

Ved Frederiksborg Birks Ekstraretsdom af 27de f. M. er Arrestantinden Ane Kristine Hansen for den nævnte Forbrydelse idømt Straf af 6 Aars Forbedringshusarbejde. Arrestantinden har forklaret, at hun Tirsdagen den 19de Marts, Dagen efter at hun var kommen hjem hos sin Fader, der var misfornøjet i med hendes Forhold og ikke vilde beholde hende hjemme, gik fra Kikhavn til Frederiksværk, hvorfra hun rejste videre til Hillerød, idet hun tilbagelagde noget af Vejen til Vogns. Efter at være kommen hertil og efter forgæves at have søgt Natlogis i Holsterhuset i Nærheden af Hillerød, og efter at hun under sit Ophold her havde mærket, at Fødslen forestod, forlod hun Huset og gik i Præstevangen i den Hensigt der at udføre sit Forsæt at føde i Dølgsmaal. Hun maatte flere Gange sætte sig ned, og efter at hun var kommen temmelig langt ind i Skoven til en Bakke, hvor der var en Del Grantræer, fødte dun i her staaende et Drengebarn, om hvilket hun har forklaret, at det bevægede i baade Arme og Ben, ligesom ogsaa, at det trak Vejret og gav nogen Lyd fra sig. Da Barnet havde ligget noget paa den bare Jord, bøjede hun sig ned og puttede dels Svælg fuld med Løv og andet Affald af Træer, og Barnet var derefter hurtigt kvalt og gav intet Livstegn fra sig. Hun tildækkede derefter Barneliget med Løv og Jord og gik derpaa ud af Skoven over Marken til Stationsbygningen og tog med Middagstoget til København, hvor hun paa Foranledning af hendes Farbroder, der laa ved Gl. Strand med Kartofler, fik Nattelogis bos en Værtshusholder ved Gl. Strand, hvor hun fra 1ste April skulde have haft Tjeneste og hos hvem hun opholdt sig, da hun blev anholdt.

Vi tillader os atter at spørge Avtoriteterne om man ikke tænker paa at oprette et Hittebørnshospital? det kan da ikke være kostbarere at bygge Hittebørnshospitaler end at bygge Tugthuse.

(Social-Demokraten 3. maj 1878).

Assistents Kirkegaard. (Efterskrift til Politivennen)

Paa den Hovedvej, der fra Kapelvejen løber ind i Assistents Kirkegaard og paa en Maade skiller den gamle Kirkegaard fra den nyere Afdeling, har man i dette Foraar borttaget en stor Hæk, der voksede langs med Vejkanten, og man agter, efter Sigende, nu at benytte det indvundne Areal til Begravelsespladser. Da Kapelvejen nu er temmelig tæt bebygget og der ovenikøbet agtes opbygget en Skole derude, henstiller vi til rette Vedkommende, om det kan forsvares, at begrave Lig paa denne Linje, tilmed i Sommertiden, hvor Forraadnelsesprocessen jo foregaar langt hurtigere end om Vinkeren.

Ligeledes bedes Autoriteterne at overveje , hvorvidt det er forsvarlig! atter at benytte det større Stykke Kirkegaard, der ligger nærmest ved Kapelvejen, og som efter Sigende har været Fri- eller Fattigjord, naar de allerede Begravedes Liggetid er udløben.

Vel vides det, at der kan faas en temmelig høj Betaling for disse Gravpladser, men Spørgsmaalet om en saadan Indtægt maa bortfalde, naar det gælder at forebygge Sygdomme, der kan fremkaldes ved en pestsvanger Luft. Ti Folk, der har Raad til at købe Begravelsespladser, har vel sagtens ogsaa Raad til at køre Ligene ud til den nye Assistents Kirkegaard, hvor der er rigelig Plads til at modtage dem.

(Social-Demokraten 2. maj 1878).

Sukkerfabrikken i Dansk Vestindien. (Efterskrift til Politivennen)

"THE AVIS."

CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX

Saturday the 6th of April 1878

At the present time two topics occupy the entire conversation of our island community, the wide one of the Eastern Question which concerns the world, and the narrow one of the Central Factory which concerns us. We are sorry to say that the tone is not very cheerful on either topic. The war-cloud is still hanging over Europe, and the difficulties of the Factory seem not yet to be mastered. If we thus couple small things with great, it is because the small are so close to us that they assume an importance which at, a distance they would altogether lose. We are well aware that the Factory has what a humorous Yankee would call disfriends, but it is not only from these that we hear expressions of discontent. As we remarked a week ago, the opinion is pretty general that the Stations are not adequate to their work. This would perhaps be a small matter if there a short crop on the land, but with the present heavy crop it is a very serious consideration. Fortunately most of the planters have not removed any portion of their works, and after some little delay they have been able to grind for themselves as well as to supply the stations. So far as we can see at present this will be the only way to get off the crop. Besides this main defect of want of power we hear several others complained of, and we think it would be a good plan if a deputation of planters would wait on the Company's Managers, and discuss these defects and the remedies for them. Such a procedure would contribute to keep up the good understanding between the planter and the Company's staff, without which it will be very difficult to get along at all. We are not vain enough to suppose that we are called on to mediate in this matter; but we are proud enough to believe that we shall be credited with no other motive in discussing the subject than the sincere wish to further the best interests of the colony. 

It seems to us that what is wanted is some kind of organization in dealing with the seller of cane. For example, there should be some notice given when cane are not required, otherwise a planter may end the day with a large quantity of canes cut, but which the station suddenly refuses and cannot take for a week. Of course it is easy to compensate the planter, who perhaps has these canes souring on his fields, but this implies a lods to the Company, and, however looked at, is a loss to the colony. Again, there should be some undetstanding as to what estates are to deliver canes during a given time, and how much will be received from each. We mention these matters not in an unfriendly spirit or to find fault; but merely as samples of the points on which it will be necessary to have a plainer understanding than exists at present. We are glad to learn that the sugar made at the factory is improving in quality, and we have not lost any of our faith in the ultimate success of the undertaking, even though it may require further labour and expense to secure the desired end. 

Since writing the above we have seen a sample of the sugar which is now being made at the Factory, and it is certainly as fine both in regard to grain and colour a anything we have seen either from Demerara or the French Island.

(St. Croix Avis 6. april 1878).

Ubekendt fotograf: Central factory. Årstal angivet 1860-1940. Det kongelige Bibliotek. Muligvis beskyttet af ophavsret.

"THE AVIS."

CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX

Saturday the 13th of April 1878

Most of our readers have no doubt seen a sample of the beautiful sugar which is now being produced at the Central Factory. It is excellent in colour, nearly white or with what may be called a very pale straw tint, and also large in the grain. There is now therefore not the shadow of a doubt that the processes and machinery employed are capable of producing, and of producing continuously, a very high class sugar; and all that is now wanted is to bring up the pace. In this repeat we hear that there is a daily improvement, so that it will probably be only a short time before all th statious will be kept fully employed. It will then remain to be seen how far the stations are capable of taking off a heavy crop, and whether any additions or improvements will be required. The managers and shareholders, as well as all who are interested, that is the colonists generally, are to be congratulated on the present success in the actual manufacture, a success which we believe will only be the first of a series of triumphs to overcoming difficulties and removing obstacles from the path. In bringing the enterprise thus far, the energy aud perseverance shown by the directors aud by the Company's staff have beeu such that we cannot believe that the minor difficulties still remaining to be overcome will prevent a final and complete success. That success means for Santa Cruz a great deal more than we can at present estimate, and we therefore have pleasure in recording that another stage has been traversed on the road towards it.

(St. Croix Avis 13. april 1878).

Arbeidstilsynet. (Efterskift til Politivennen)

Som allerede omtalt foreligger der en Beretning om Arbeidstilsynets Virksomhed i Aaret 1877. Ved Udgangen af Aaret 1877 henhørte under Arbeidstilsynet 624 Arbeidssteder, i hvilke der beskjæftigedes 2442 Børn fra 10-14 Aar, 2203 unge Mennesker mellem 14 og 18 Aar og 14 700 voxne Arbejdere af begge Kiøn. Antallet af Arbejdssteder, der ere Tilsynet underkastede, er ikke blevet formindsket i dit forløbne Aar, saaledes som Tilfældet var fra Aarene 1875 til 1876, men det er endogsaa blevet, forøvrigt kun ubetydeligt, forøget. Medens der fra Aarene 1874 til 1875 viste sig at være en ikke ubetydelig Stigning i Antallet af Børn og unge Mennesker, der anvendtes til Arbejde i Fabrikerne, viste der sig allerede i 1876 nogen Nedgang i Antallet, navnlig af unge Mennesker mellem 14 og 18 Aar, idet Fabrikanterne paa Grund af Fabriklovens indskrænkende Bestemmelser for disses Vedkommende, i mange Tilfælde foretrak at erstatte de yngre Personer med ældre Arbeidere. I Løbet af Aaret 1877 er Antallet af Børn, der arbejde i Fabriker procentviis beregnet efter Antallet i 1876 aftaget med 8,3 pCt., af unge Mennesker med 13,4 pCt. At denne Aftagen ikke kan betragtes som normal, men maa antages at være begrundet i Tidsforholdene, fremgaaer deraf, at Antallet af de voxne Arbejdere, der tidligere yar holdt sig nogenlunde constant fra det ene Aar til det andet, i Aaret 1877 ligeledes er undergaaet en temmelig betydelig Formindskelse. Afgangen falder navnlig paa: Jernstøberier og Maskinfabriker med 12 pCt., Uldvarefabriker med 14, Bomulds- og Linnedvarefabriker med 7,9 og Tobaks- og Cigarfabriker med 5,8 pCt. I sidstnævnte Gruppe falder Afgangen navnlig paa Cigarfabrikerne. Afgangen i Arbeiderantallet er heller ikke ligeligt fordeelt paa de forskjellige Landsdele. Afgangen af Børn var i Kjøbenhavn 2, i Sjælland udenfor Kjøbenhavn 10,2 og i Jylland 9,7 pCt., af unge Mennesker henholdsviis 15, 6, 12,2 og 1,2 pCt., og af voxne Arbeidere henholdsviis 10,3, 2,2 og 9 pCt. Paa Lolland-Falster og Bornholm beskjæftiges forholdsviis kun et ringe Antal Arbeidere ved Fabriker. I Fyen er Antallet af Børn og unge Mennesker, der beskjæftiges i Fabrikerne, omtrent uforandret det samme, som forrige Aar, medens Antallet af voxne Arbeidere er aftaget circa 4 Procent.

Ogsaa i det her omhandlede Aar har Indførelsen af en daglig Arbeidstid paa 12 Timer gjort temmelig betydelig Fremgang, idel af samtlige Arbeidstilsynet underlagte Bedrifter for Tiden ca 60 pCt. have en Arbeidstid af 12 Timer og derunder, 14 pCt. en Arbeidstid af 12 a 13 Timer; i 21 pCt. er Arbeidstiden 13 Timer daglig hele Aaret rundt og kun i ca. 5 pCt. er den over 13 Timer. Der viser sig i alle Hovedgrupper en kjendelig Stigen i Antallet af Bedrifter med kort Arbeidstid, idet adskillige Fabrikanter paa Grund af Conjuncturerne have søgt at indskrænke Productionen ved Indførelsen af en kortere Arbeidsdag. Det kan dog ventes, at de fleste af disse, selv naar normale Forhold atter indtræde ikte ville gaae tilbage til den længere Arbeidstid, da der paa mange steder har bekræftiget sig, hvad man ogsaa har Erfaring for andet Steder fra, at Productionen ikke aftager, fordi Arbeidstiden forkortes til en vis Grad, medens der paa den anden Side er forbundet adskillige Fordele for Fabrikanten med den kortere Arbeidstid, saasom Besparelse i Brændsel, Belysning o. desl. Foruden den anførte Forkortelse i Arbejdsdagen har der i 1877 navnlig henimod Slutningen af Aaret i Vintermaanederne i adskillige Bedrifter paa Grund af den tilstedeværende Forretningsløshed fundet en yderligere Afkortning af Arbeidstiden Sted, der dog selvfølgelig maa betragtes som aldeles exiraordinair. Dette har navnlig værct Tilfældet i Jernstøberierne og Maskinfabrikerne samt i en Deel af de textile Fabriker især i Bomuldsvarefabrikerne, hvor der paa mange steder kun har varet arbeidet fra Kl. 8 a 8½ Morgen til Kl. 6 om Estermiddagen, ja paa flere Steder endog kun til Kl. 4 Eftermiddag. Paa enkelte Steder har man indskrænket Productionen til at arbejde nogle Dage om Ugen. 

Som det var at vente, har Antallet af Retssager, anlagte for Overtrædelser af Lovens Bestemmelser om Arbeidstiden for Børn og unge Mennesker, i det forløbne Aar været forholdsviis ringe, idet der kun i 10 Tilfælde er blevet indledet retslig Tiltale mod vedkommende Fabrikanter. Medens tidligere de for Overtrædelser af Bestemmelserne om de unge Menneskers Arbeidstid anlagte Retssager vare forholdsviis hyppige, fortjener det at bemærkes, at iaar kun 2 af Sagerne have været anlagte for Benyttelse af unge Mennesker i en Arbeidstid af over 12 Timer og i en tillige for Benyttelse af Personer under 18 Aar til Natarbeide. Af de øvrige Sager have 3 været anlagte for Overtrædelser af Bestemmelserne om Børns Arbeidstid og 4 for Benyttelse af Børn under 10 Aar til Arbeide i Fabriker.

(Den til Forsendelse med de Kongelige Brevposter privilegerede Berlingske Politiske og Avertissementstidende 30. marts 1878 2. udgave).