New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-17
FLORIDA,
WHAT 1 saw 1t Key Wcsts
,ndence of The n Y. Tribune.

Florida, as regards population, is the
smallest Of the thirtyone States her white population
heinz only l7l20 and her slave 1891 Spanish set-
,ement was made within the limits of the State nearly
FAY years previous to the settlement at Jamestown
Virginia Fort Marion, in the city Of 81 Augustine, Is
certainly one of the Oldest In the United States having
been finished In 1885, in the reign of Ferdinand the With
and g. Augustine IA the most venerable city In the
Union, having been settled ony-three years before
jamestown, Va, by the British.
KxYwrsr is an Island at the southern point OF the
Peninsula of Florida, and belongs to the Archipelago
ich beautfy the Florida coast and the entrance into
he ulf of Mexico II b the southernmost settlement
In the United States and by is position the Key OF the
limited staes to the Florida Pass and the Gulf OF hex
an Tbs Island has 90 long been connected with scenes
Of maritime disaster and rekng that It's reputation
abroad has been associated very generally and unusy,
Nth barbarous violence and quasi piracy
n n however one Of the most attractive =" beauty
suots resting upon the surface of the Ocean-with
climate more salubr0us, healthui and remedial thsh
any other spot upon this Continent and with popna'
ton characterized by as much intelligence accomPhs
ments honesty, industry and morahfy as that VI any
other portion Of the Union
Kew West Is the most populous town In the State Oh
Florida containing about 5000 innabtants. IL n ~"
H.nses o6 stores 10 warehouses churches (Eplsc0-
al Catholic Methodist and BAPTIST courthouse jail
susso,n-house, marinehoeptal, commodious military
barracks fort In the process o. construction, On ~Sh
hon more TO complete it, 1t has q wreckng and coast
ing and fishing vessels, with aggregate tnnagc OF
2250 TONS The barber is large, safe and OF easy ac
eess by different channels for ships OF % feet draft
The island Is four miles long by half mile to
q mile In width, making the area about 200 acres
including salt-pond Of some 33O acres IL Is cum
posed OF formation af coral limestone ana sea.
shells. with sandy and rocky surface, and very
litfle available SOIL The highest elevation ON the
issnd Is not over - feet above the level Of the sea-
The unoccuped parts are covered with low stunted
ocd and bushes, the larger trees having been pros
trated by the destructive gale Of le46 The prickly
near peranium, &C., grow uxuriantly and the Wild
1owers never unfold their petas-t is an ever
green SCOT The tree, the banana, the plan
tain the ne the orange lemon, fig, tamaIind date and
other tropical trees grow well where there Is earth
enough to sustain them, and always found in the
yards and gardens adding greatly to the singular beauty
and attractveness Of the principal residences.
The production Of culinary vegetables is unceasing-
such AZ sweet potatoes cabbage, beets lettuce cucum
bers trnips, &c. They grow best in winter, being
the wet season The want Of mother earth" however,
renders gardening expensive and the production OF veg
etablcs IL limited.
The PALM TREE is the pride of tropical climates and
contributes than all others, perhaps TO give Pc
culiar and imposing character TO those regions The
family of Palms comprises 700 varieties, and among
them the CocoANuT TREE IL q majestic as well as most
useful reeable In the Society Islands II grows ~ and
30 feet hy-at Key West their hight Il from 20 to 80
feet The stem apers to the top without branch off
set but at the summit shoots forth 20 TO 80 leaves from
Is to 20 feet long and these hang in graceful tut
around the top When the branches spread out clds
around the body where the branches join the trunk oil
the tree Some trees bear 100 others 50 and ~ nuts
containing from one-half pint to quart OF liquor Inc
raght ubranchng trunk the long and graceful leaves
or branches and the clustering fruit give to this re-
mark able tree most noticeable and singlary beautiful
appearance and i furnishes timber fuel mats baskets,
ropes drinking vessels food beverage, straners, bon
nets oil and bowls.
The original name of this island Cage Haesson, or
Bone KEY the quantity of human bones found upon
It when discovered by the Spanards KEY WEST is the
English corruption Of Cdyo Huessoa it is, however, not
the western termination of the Reef there being several
other islands with Iotugas, the largest some ~ miles
distant
Forty years ago this island was granted by the Spanish
Crown to John p Salas, and IN 1893 was purchased by
Col simonton who still resides here. In 1892 1t was
made military station, and in le45 the Barracks were
completed, consisting OF eight commodious and airy
buildings placed three sides of quadrangle open
ing toward the sea, each building having piazza
tirely around it. The first white female settler was
Nrs MALLORY In 1898 the mother Of the present u 3.
woman Of Irish descent and still keeps an excellent
boarding house for the accommodation OF ysors-there
being no tavern upon the island
The population consists of emgrants from most of the
States and civilized nations There about 800 slaves
well cared for civil and joyous and nearly onehaf of
al residents are natives OF the Bahama Islands They
called Conchmen or C0aes by reason OF their skill
In diraS They generally uneducated and ignorant
of the world but hardy, industrious and honest race
getting their living by wreckng, fishing spongng, tur
tlng diving &c. They are employed In diving into
the holds OF sunken vessels TO make fast TO goods TO
dive under and examine the bottoms of vessels that have
been injured upon the reefs 40 so feet water being
regarded good working depth. They are indeed an
amphibous race having been known to dive III 30 feet
water and make last to anchors, &c.
The principal business Of Key West Is derived from
the savages, commissions and perquses OF wrecking
II Is not however, as many suppose, sort OF pirancai
employment but Is as legitimate any other occupa-
IN md
legally recognized rules for the mutual benefit OF the
wTeckcrs, the wrecked and the underwriters. Those
engaged In mostly men OF wealth, character of
generous sentiments and humane impulses The rule
among wreckers vs. that he who first boards the wreck
has control Of her until delivered into the hands of the
Court He determines who, IL any, shall aid him, and
In what order and they shall share the benefits He
also decides unless the captain selects TO whom the
wrecked vessel shall be consigned Then the whole
matter Is left for legal adudicaton the amount of sal
wage determined by the Court and each party shares
therein promised by the wrecker who first boarded
che wreck
The award averages about onetenth Of the value OF
she property saved and the commissions expenses &c
swell this about onesixh There Is annually brought
which leaves behind some $4,000 to be divided among
captains crews, wreckes, wharf owners lawyers auc'
toneers, shipwright &c, &c II Is the principal rel-
ance Of the business men Of the island
The reefs abound in sroRges and many persons are
engaged in collecting them il is quite lucrative bust
ness paying about $40 $50 per month to each hand
About SSouu0 u annually shipped. The sponges are
cleansed, dried, packed and pressed and shipped TO
Ncw.York and thence mostly sold TO the French to
make feh for hats.
Some 5000 bushels Of excellent salt are annually
made on the Island There is a saltpond, covering
about $50 acres the Influx from the being regulated
by canal There wooden pans, as at Syracuse,
and ground pans "incosed in stone walls and cement
Of various dimensions from 40 feet square quarter
of acres the water being introduced into the wooden
and ground pans by pumps worked by wind mills The
salt sells at the works at % per bushe and the
works which be extended at pleasure, are now be-
Ing enlarged. :,
The finest fish, and of many varieties, are taken IN
large quantities. "Turthny is also regular bust,
ness and large exportaions of the "artele are made
Turtles are taken in nets but the sport Is mad in taias
and ysesing turtles. They come upon the sandy beach
to deposit their eggs in the night and at such times they
ere steahy approached and turned upon their backs
before they can escape 10 the water "Peggng turtles
L. singular sport small instrument Is used, not un'