Litchfield enquirer., 1875-08-12

there. On Beacon Hill a bird's-eye view of the whole plot can be taken. The Island, named after its discoyerer, is estimated at eight miles long, with an axearge breadth of three miles The pop ulation is, by census, nearly 1.5OO souls. The houses, about four hundred in num- Der, have tiny look, being whitewashed .yeaxly; they are mostly covered with shingles. the people claiming theseto be warmer than boards. Of the soil we can say that no larger crops are raised on the main land. Good grass, corn, potatoes, oats, and the hke flourish we'll. Very few trees are seen, the wind breaks them off in the winter. In sheltered spots orchards have been started, and we saw some cher " trees, and quinces III fruit.
 Near one of the hotels are two boiling springs; one impregnated with iron, the other throwing out pure, hmpid water These springs are not twenty feet apart, and slggularly one of them burst forth during a summer of great drouth. The iron spring is said to be a good tonic for invalids.
 Land is held at high prices, as you can infer when farmer refuses $1 ,OOO for a quarter of an acre. The average price is $4O0 on the eastern end.
 MT. Ball has built first class hotel near the wharf. The cheaper houses are all one could wish. particularly the ''Ad- rian." Those who dine the transient com pany feel so-e over the Restaurant built last year. Competition affects prices, and . good dinner can be had in twenty places for fifty cents. The Island has no market; each is his own butcher and his own stock grower. Lamb and green peas are daily items in the bill of fare. Exports are, besides fish, lambs, chickens, eggs &c.
 Religious services are held in two parts of the Island by resident Baptist preach CTS. The Methodists have begun a mis- sion this season, under the charge of the Rev. .Wellwood in She restaurant. The inhabitants of Block Island are temper ate. industrious, respectful class. One rarely hears a profane word, and the Lords day is strictly kept. An Islander cannot be hired to go fishing on Sunday. Those who visit the Island are obliged to go alone, or hire some smackman to pilot them ont, if they fish on Sunday.
 One physician, Dr. Mann, lives on the eastern part and has all the practice. We found the Doctors soda fountain a treat, as he makes the pute article, syrups in- cluded, under his personal supervision. Dr. Mann is strict homeopathist. Epi- denies seldom visit the Island. A wag- gish fellow, lately from Western Kansas, said that ':Block Island was as healthy as the place he came from, where a man has to draw his last breath with corkscrew." I won't vouch for this part of the article, but you can put on flesh at the rate of sic ponds per aueek, for we did it.
 Just now the horse mackerel, or better known blue fish. strike on in acres, stick ing as far as the eye can see. A catch is a sure thing if yod can pull in as fast as the fish can swim: if you can't pull in at that rate you can see every fish jump up and unlock himself in the most approved fashion of back somersault. Mackerel promise to be very thick during this month. Let me say word in your pri- vate ear about hiring boats. Ask. for Capt. Jimmy Dodge, the one armed man, and you will find an honest man. .iWhen he tells you that there will be goodweath- CT and good luck, you can be reasonably sure of both. Some men will go with you at all times; keep clear of them as lou can pay out your dollars and get nothing for them. Capt. Jimmy is regular ''old Probabilities" on the weather and fishing. and he has good boats. The regular rate of sailing is one dollar, either per hour, day, or half day: one or twenty going.
 The mail service is by schooner. She goes and comes, wind and weather per- hitting, three times week between New port and the Island. The steamer Can- nonicus makes trip every other day from Providence, and the Ella makes one trip weekly from New London. I venture to predict that in ten years Block Island will be famous resort for the sick and we'll. The travel increases each year, and those who have been there once Ain be sure to go agaiu.
 What more can a man ask in July and August than a cool climate, no mosqui- toes; good fare, refreshing sleep, quie- tude, and the assurance that the air is as pure as air can be? Ye nervous people; ye sufferers from heat; ye hard working men of the sanetum, the shop, and the farm; ye lovers of pure oxygen; Ye yearn- CTS for rest; ye epicures; ye disciples of old Sir Isaac Walton; ye travellers who seen the world and little more; ye people of moderate means; ye sick and we'll, take my advice and buy ticket at once for Block Island. Start tomorrow, and if you don't get your moneys worth charge it to the ''Parson" and he will payyou in preaching"
 Yours truly,
 CADLEY, BRADFIELD, DUFwELL. C0uNTY ITEMS.
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