Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-06-16
FROM THE BLAKELy SUN.
PenasacOld, May 6, 1919.

FROM THE BLAKELT SUN.
Pensacola, .Nay 6, 1919.
Mr.. G. F. Mott.
Dear Sir-On the evening of the Sd inst
famiyed in this town, after very pleasant
Journey from Blakey by the circultous
rouIe If the ue~ road around the head oil
III Rio Pcrlido. The dist, nee that way
10 this place | find 10 be about 95 miles ;
but when rosG shall be open from Blake
IL t. this town in the most eligible course.
the distance will not exceed 80 miles.
For two days have been constantly IN
motion surveying this aged city, IN pursuit
o. -nch facts and information as deem ne
ceSsary, to make an estimate OF It's value
and Appearance as maratime town.
As a seaport the local situation OF Pensa-
cola may be reckoned on the scale OF me-
dmcrity. II possesses some essential ao-
vantages over many southern ports; but is,
al tie same time, subject to sundry in
conveniences unknown in othercommercIal
cities.
The most material disadvantage this place
at present labors under, in regard to ITS har-
bur, is the very extensive shoal which
stretches along the shore of the bay in front
of the whole town. Although the channel
leading from the sea past the Barancas INTO
thi, bay, commands, as am informed, our
fathom at ordinary high water; yet YES
sci drawing eight feet water, cannot APP
pToach within three hundred yards OF the
shore. In fact, from my own observation
find that at the distance of 100 yards in a
depth on;y OF three feet at low water, and
only five at high water, the tide rising or
dinarily only two feet, and but once IN "a
hours. The bottom, however, being II
hard y hiie sand, ADMITS of good founda-
ton for wharves and piers. which may he
made a; great expense by merchants, who
have capilli to lay out IN supPiyIng tins ra-
dical defect of nature in the celebrated har-
Dor of PenSacola.
As the island of ST. Rosa lnter'ocks with
points of the main land, and shuts out the
surf and fury of the sea, the whole Amerl-
can navy MY ride here in safety at all
times, except during violent hurricanes
Iris bay is six miles wide and about 30 in
length, exte nding from the Barrancas near
~ east past the town, which lies on the
north side, ten miles from the guilt.
The plain on which the town is built is
extensive aud about s feet in altitude above
the surface of the sea. The soil is COM
posed of grey, and in some places, OF a
white sand, which is extremely sterile, sus-
tanning little grass, but considerable use
less shrubbery so loose and yielding to The
foot is the sand in the streets, that walking
Is very fatigung ard disagreesble; and the
dazzling lustre OF the sun sref1ection there
from very painful and dangerous to the eyes
ia clear weather.
The population Of Pensacola at present
is about fifteen hundred persons OF all CO.
las, and the number of houses do not eX-
coed four hundred; many of which are fall
ing to ruins-and but few fitted tor conVe'
nent stores, and mercantile business
Though no seaport town OF The SIZE OF tins
can nave less trade, or fewer charms for
the sCOuner, yet the price OF real estate
here at pres, Mt, is extravaSant!y high
Some house-loi even in the rear OF the
town, in then natural state, have been sold
this spring for 5000 dolls. " hony SOtee'
front and 10 feet dep,h. Water lots o
the same size with old useles. buildings OF
them. are held at ,, 6, and z thousand dol.
lars.
The purchasers have beengenerally from
the interior Of the southern and wester
states, and are of the Specializing class Q
society, who appear to entsrtaina high OPT