Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-30

nrIhe Fmrahune southern Roamao AAo
Umaeen states.

past aud very little present While the
rest Of the Union has been up and doing,
this coral key has slumbered in the guilt,
almost unknown to the world and caring
nothing about the worlds manner or
customs. 1t is alike peculiar in climate,
situation, structure and population. 1t
is the flrthest south of the most souther-
" State, and IS indeed the very end of
the United States. When the sun has
traced the highest point of his spiral
course on the 21st Of June he IS almost
directly over Key West, as it lies in lati-
tude twenty four degrees thirty-two
minutes, and the border of the tropics is
only sixty miles south. On the map
you will notice o chain of little dots
trailing south-southwest from the Flori-
da peninsula They are keys, and at the
end is Key West. Speaking strictly,
there are several keys still further west
and south, but they are merely speck In
the water sufficient to hold lighthouse
with the exception of the Tortugas, on
which Jefferson Davis, when secretary of
war, built fourteen million dollar fort.
now in charge of garrison Of one ord
nance sergeant and somewhat in need of
repair.
The climate is essentially tropical.
This is the only city in the United
States where neither snow nor frost has
ever been seen. The lowest temperature
ever recorded was Al degrees about
thirty years ago; the lowest in 1884 was
81 degrees The average temperature
for January. 1865, was - degrees; for
months Of July and August it is about
81 degrees. The daily range of temper.
allure is very small, rarely more than ten
degrees, and sometimes as low as two
degrees; and the highest temperature in
simmer seldom exceeds "a de-
grces. During the northers of the
winter months, temperature of go
degrees is low enough to
SILVER the entire community, and over.
coats with fur collars are in great de-
mand. Lying in the track OF the
northeast trades, with the gulf stream a
dozen miles to the south, Kew West has,
without exception, the finest climate in
the United States. There is always
breeze, rarely gale, and you may wear
q straw hat with proprietv every day in
the year.
Key West is reached by steamers from
New York, from New Orleans and by
mail steamer from Tampa bay. The key
has about as much shape as q camel. but
in general way lies east and west, and
contains about six square miles. 1t is as
flat as pancake. the highest point being
sixteen feet above mean sea level. To
the casual visitor it looks as though the
sea, particularly in a storm, would sub.
merge this insignificant rise: but it is a
matter of record that it never has. The
city proper covers the western end Of the
20 4 10 Ter fnH 81
unAmerican as possible, bearing a strong
resemblance to West Indian town. The
houses are of wood, plainly built, and,
with few exceptions, painted white.
There are, think, only three brick
buildings, certainly not more than six.
Piazzas abound, and occasionally some
lattice work is seen, but there is no at
tempt at decoration or display. Many of
the business houses have no signs and
there is a general air of don't-care-
Observation-Disclosures about the shops.
The houses are of all sizes, jumbled up
IN the oldest way, and anywhere but on
the line OF the street. The interior of |
each block is filled up with one
story shanties, access to which is had /
by going up alleys. through fences,
or over somebody else's yard.
The population being IA, 1000. |
land is precious. Lots are divided and /
sui. divided. and houses built in Yards
and gardens are wedged in here, there |
and everywhere, facing sixteen WAYS for
Sunday. Where there is no room for a |
house they build a stable or a pig-pen, /
and sprinkle chickens around in the cor |
ners. The richest people do not disdain /
to thus add from three to six dollars a
month to their income. although it de- I
stroys their privacy and disigures their
grounds.
The streets are Of good width, toler-
ably straight and passably clean. The
roadway is coral rock. There is no soil E
What passes for soil is merely triturated /
coral, wonderfully rich in phosphates
and making an excellent fertilizer. but.
by itself, deficient in fat. To garden. /
you must use pick instead Of hoe.
10 vegetables are raised on the key, and /
the vegetation is confined mainly to CO.
cOanut trees. Here and there you will I
find pine or an oleander, q star Of India /
or q royal pOinciana; but in the main
there is criminal lack OF foliage.
The white houses, without a vine or
climbing flower, the dazzling streets
without tree, and with no sidewalks
dusty and glazing wherever you look
Il is enough to make you wish for hur-
ricane to stir the city's blood. Yet, to
the student Of sociology, the explanation
Is plain. The population Is to blame.
and the climate makes the population.
This KEY il settled by Cubans. negroes