The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-19
DUB MARITIME FRONTIER
Key West in War Times and IN Peace-Life on
This Wretchsd Isle of the ses-An Excuse
for Being-Ths Fleet and Naval Pre-
psrstious-The End in Smohs.
KY WEST. Jan. IS, 1874.

some cities have days OF greatness shrust upon
them and, after time, relapse into the insig-
nincance from which historic events have dragged
shein- Key West Is worthy example. From q
| nest OF hshers huts prior 10 the war . mushrooms
prosperity has developed IL into Q city. 1t Ia no
more me Key to the Gulf than the most tnsig-
nincant port IN Yuca.sn. What should induce any
iole'gh rover 70 want to possess this poor,
wretchea keyI cannot imagine. Commanding
prominent place In the history Of our late war
from les being for long time the only southern
port in the possession of the fedora, government
like many individuals who owe their rise 70 army
contracts, discounting its possible destany IL ga
sumes to be q city Of the greatest commercial I'm,
portance.
IT'S PAST HISTORY
From being the base Of supplies for the Gulf and
most OF the Atlantic blOckading squadron II de-
generated into q mart famous only for poor ctpara
and sponges Left to govern itself after the war
closed, 1t assumed all the gaudiness of Tammany
municipal re0Gne 1t found that large police
force was needed, and, to facilitate matters, the
MAJORS ONCE was located in the loft over GIN
mill, from which most Of.the unhappy victims came
who were mulcted for fines and on1cers' fees ii
ID true that the worthy guardians Of the peace ap-
pear on duty in their bare feet, smoking cigars
and drinking anybody's health who will stand
treat but their purpose Is always nrm for the best
interests OF the city treasury. They generally ar
rest the wrong parties, but the Mayor assesses hs
fines impartiaIly.
WHY KEY WEST Is.
Yet Key West has an excuse for it's existence,
and its reason for being o prosperous outpost on
our maritime frontier. It Is the best point Of calls
on the Atlantic coast. Havana in our hands would,
OF course, swamp tt in that sense; but Havana
under Spanish administration, with its port
oh and ptnfNoo <nye~
against foreign vessels and its extravagant ocial
and non-Oflcial exactions; stimulates the growth
OF the freer port opposite. Key West is In direct
teegraphic communication with Europe. 1t Is at
the entrance OF the Gulf ana midway between the
North American and South American ports.
Thus, vessels leaving Europe with cargo
OF general merchandise to be disposed
of at such port In America as oners
return cargo can be started Westward
here, the owners having the advantage Of the tlme
consumed in the voyage to gain the latest market
south say to Charleston or Savannah for cotton,
IN which case they have the Gulf Stream with
them to nctas heif 2 or to srsz or
Is why Key West ia. And this is its promise Of
Gulf, nor so named, for Cayo Hueso, It's original
Spanish name, means simply "Bone Key" and
keeps an excellent watch upon the real key
Havana-and Is valuable point OF observation for
a vlgtlant sentinel
FLEET WITH HISTORY.
and the ysiow fever have rivaea esca S other s IN
rendezvous Of the largest neet ever concentrated
at any one port on our coast. T6-night the largest
anchor in its harbor, and each comes With war
record more OF less brilliant more Or less CORY.
Fort Fne Of
these stormy days are occasionally revived BY
naval o11cers who. paying Visits among the ves-
decks were sanded." Even poor JACK remembers
foreyard of one or other OF these vessels Yet the
deck OF man-0f.war Is the Utopia Of a naval
the admiration Of the man sstore the mast Tnere
are many associations connected with life on board
2 man-of-war which cannot be shaken on In after
The 'penny wise and pound foolish" ideas OF
exemplined tnan by a reference to the neet which
Is now here. Were it not for the three monitors
array OF wooden vessels would be completely as
tae mercy Of the nrst g9oa spanish ir9ncad that
like the Dictator for instance, could steam into this
fleet OF vessels and sink haif of them before the
guns at the fort could be manned. Spanish
man-of war was IN sight on the harbor all day yes
terday and, while there was nothing to fear, con-
lecture rife with the possibilities OF war Ru-
noat around the feet and In the absence Of any
news serve subjects for ward room tax most In
terestlng.
Despite the disadvantages under which the
United States now laDors as regards preparations
OF the service now here Is lor final settlement OF
the Cuban question. The island has been q con-
to every nation having any commercial relations
with its ports Its laws, both State and municipal.
are framed with an utter disregard for the best In
with every Otner inhabtant Of the world. The out
raged sense OF humanity calls for the abolition OF
selashness OF the Middle Ages. This compromise,
which has been erected at the sacrifice
81 sc nu' Sea nas0na 0n disease 1se as
sooner or later break out again. American c1ti-
se1s are tracked around Havana BY Spanish spies,
worth the trouble which 1t would give the author
tiles to guarantee protection. Poor, wretched.
Cuba with bloodhounds, while nation which sac
rifced thousands OF lives to suppress the very
ussers not Ons wod IL q sven 10Y Sa
manity's sake. With such spirit, IL Is but just to
say, the American navy does not agree.
THE HOUR FOR FINAL SETTLEMENT.
The neet which now lies at anchor or this harbof
has been gathered together from all parts Of the
Se sesrsa wno Ss nsn Sse
s sn e aess on the dss9 4 w an, require SsaTs
time to mass an equal number OF war vessels at
TINS point In weeh, or two at most, there VIII
be an ADDITION OF three more vessels to those a.
ready here. THIS win place the United states in as
good Condition for war as her present navy can
secure to her without the expenditure OF many
millions upon the monitors at league Island Then
1t Is to be hoped that the hour for diplomacy VIII
have passed and the hour for some action looking
to the actual regeneration Of AFFAIRS In CUBA Will
have come. War Is not sought after, nor ID any
one trying to find furtner cause Of hcstaiues than
already exists but the sentiment Is that trouble
is coming now is q very good time.
TERRIFYING THE SPANISH HEART.
The programme as it now develops itself seems
to be to send a feet, consisting OF five or six of
the largest vessels now here TO cruise around the
island or Cuba. Rumor has IL that the Colorado,
Congress- Alaska and Massachusetts will 20 on
this cruise at an early day, and that Commodore
parker will have command. The neet win probably
rendezvous OF Havana about the end OF next
week and then touch at all the ports both going to
and returning from santiago de Cuba. The only
object TO be attained now by such maneuvre
can be to smite the condolences OF the guilty
volunteers for past onences, as there are longer
any Americans on the island, out OF Havana, to be