New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-08-29
KEY west coRREsPoNDENcE.
Special to the Nsv Orleans crescsntl


KEY WEST, Aug 23, 1853.
Mtssrs. Editors There probably has been no
time in its history when greater facilities existed
for rapid regular and certain means for the trans
portaton of the malls between this city and New
York, than the present. Twelve ocean steamships,
OF the frstclass, carrying the United States mails
touch here every month, and all from or bound to
New York or New Orleans yet 1t Is lamentabe
fact that with but two of them has the Postmaster
General arranged for the transportation Of our mails
The service, a. performed by these two vessels, ia
anything but satisfactory to the citizens Of Key
West The fault lies not with the steamers or those
managing them, but with the Washington officials,
who to add importance to the Fernandina route,
force all maimatter destined for this place across
the swamps Of Florida thereby delaying the receipt
Of letters and papers much beyond the time in
which they have heretofore been received. Mail
steamers leave New York on the I'd, 5th, 18th and
Goth of each month, coming direct to Key West
They make the run In five days. Tho agent of these
steamers has offered to bring the mails for this place
for the postages-but the Department at Washington
prefer to send the Northern mailmatter to Charles
ton thence to Fernandina across the peninsular to
Cedar Keys, and from thence by steamer to Key
West. Mails by this route, leaving New York the
9th and Charleston on the llth, arrive about the
2eth, consuming eleven days or six days more than
the direct route by sea. Receiving mail but once
in fifteen days, one would suppose that We should
be entitled to the speedest chance that Offers 1t is
necessary, however, that certain importance should
be given tothis famous Fernandina route and the in
terest Of this community is sacrificed. What sum is
paid to the Ferandina road for the service is not
known-doubtless moro than Mr. Roberts would re-
ceive
1t Is useless for to would
avail nothing. Your correspondent would recon-
mend that all letters for this place be sent to New
York and endorsed, via California mail steamers.
| 1t is rumored that the steamer Isabel will resume
her trips between Charleston and Havana in Octo
ber. Having run 30 long in this route, she could
hardly give us the go-by. We should welcome her
back with pleasure, and we can assure her proprie
tors that the citizens of Key West will patronize her
in preference to all other steamships and overland
routes.
| The health of the city is good-some few cases Of
fever (bilious) have appeared at the Marine Hos
pta and some two or three vessels have arrived with
sickness among their crews. The weather has had
the appearance Of the near approach Of hurricane
for several days past Barometers have been bobbing
up and down most strangely. The weather men say
VERY likely.
IA not long since W.. had a most ma ,aonacent o,
b;bition of water-snouts in the harho1 From a
ain o,e cloud in the Northwest we connted M ,ess
than thirteen all plsvinu avav most beont;fnl,v-
nrobablv far a nrze trident or t,nmnet We bsve
read somewhere of twelve water.snonts beinc seen
at Malta at once--but Kew West has beaten Malta.
A uater.snout here ia almost of da;,v occurrence
One crossed the harbor last week and nassed within
one hundred feet of fishing hoat. II took mn one
of Lieut.. Walcott's buoys. and whrled it about and
abont in the air but the moornp anchor beinp heavy
i It was not carried off.
In the wreckipr line. all il ouiet. The savors q,
the cargo of shin Indian Hunter have heen maid
ss0 000 for their SERVICES and bnsnes. has baen
lively.
A decree of the snanish Governnant reroovas an.
ties from live and dead fish The new law ooes nto
effect at once. This will add ncb tn the bnsnasa =,
Kew West 1nr waters are fnll of fish and tba Ia.
banos love Florida fsh. Their market will hence.
forth be supplied bv the Kew West 6sbermen. Wbv
wonld II not he oood oneret;on FIR Tho Moo,o ~.
setts fsbermep the Goncester 7eet to come ont and
i fsh the coming winter7 Thew law nm of necessity
when the cold weather comes on. There ara fab
enouph IN emnlov a tbonsa nd mon tn advantage
| ...4; KEY WEST, August Is.