The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-22
PROSPERITY IN KEY WEST.
It's Cigars, Its Sponges, Its Gardens
and Its Nut Farms.
From The NelC York Times

pf Long anu cCL ctA4A Ii
their smacks down the Atlantic coast
70 settle permanently on the small
island of Key West Their only market
was Havana, and by their industry they
SON drove the half-breed fishermen of Cuba
10 seek other employment. In 1882 the
colony had grown to such a size that a
custom house was established there, and
from that day to this, Judging from the
town talk l hear, the government offices,
such as collector and inspectors, and the
salaries connected Herewith, have been a
source of great worry to all Key Westers
who did not secure them.
Fishing wrecking and sponging, as that
industry is called, were the principal occu-
nations Of the people up to 1870. when, dur
ing the Cuban rebellion, many patriots
escaped from their Spanish rulers to land at
Rev West. These people knew nothing but
the manufacture of cigars, and every hut
and shanty occupied by them in the start
became a cigar factory as soon as they
could secure the leaf from Cuba. Since
1870 the cigar industry has been steadily
increasing, until now the town boasts of 100
cigar manufactures, employing 9,OO0,C ubans
and Americans, which last year shipped
90 OOO. 900 cigars, and this year, on the au-
tbority Of E. H. Cato, the largest manu-
facturer, may be expected to produce $780,
The profits of the business are large, as will
be seen when it is understood that Mr..
Cato. who to-day is worth $4,000 came
10 Key West ten or eleven years ago and
worked for wages at the cigar table. Such
good results have stimulated every branch of
trade, and what before was waste sand lots
on the island is now held as valuable real es-
rate, daily increasing in value; and it is as
difficult TO purchase plat of land in Key
West as it is to buy one of the Astor fam
ivs houses in New York. Every property
holder has the greatest faith in the future
of the town, and justly feels hurt when the
rise in real estate is compared with a Cali
fornia boom, because his values are
founded on a solid business industry.
Wrecking is now scarcely followed at all,
as last year the total losses on the Florida
reefs fell inside of 100000 but the sponge
industry has greatly increased in value,
Key West alone shipping 1915, 200
worth per annum. The town is the
home of about 200 vessels
ranging in size from the common cat
rugged boat to fine vessels of forty tons
measurement, constructed at Key West, of
fine woods, cut on Elliott's Key and Key
Sarge, and worth $4,000 each. Through
the kindness of gentleman engaged in the
sponge trade l secured passage on one of
his sleeps on a sponging expedition up the
coast. The cabin accommodations were
limited, the sun intolerably hot, as we
always sought calm spots, and the ever
present odor of Bahama negroes, of which
the crew was composed, made the trip one
not soon to be forgotten.
Nearly all the captains of these boats
have some interest in the cargo secured, and
i'll former years were superior class of
men, but when cigars became SO profitable
many hands went from the tiller to the
work table, and the Bahama negro, or
Nassau COON" as he is called, came over to
fill the vacant bunk. The "coon" can only
be described as blacker than ink, good for
nothing but sponging; lazy dissipated, aud
so low generally that the respectable Kew
West negro passes him by without a nod.
They have peculiarly offensive, impudent
manner. which is more apparent in new
Corners from Nassau than in those who have
passed year or so among Americans. On
shore the 'coonn never leaves the grogshop
but once afloat and away from whisky he
works well.
Each vessel has from eight to ten small
boats or dingies, which are manned by two
men, one in the bow. on the lookout for
sponges, and the other astern, to scull slowly
along. Clear water that through which
the bottom can be seen, is necessary, as the
sponge is always on the bottom. The man
in tie bow always uses water-glass to
enable him to discern sponges at depth of
30 feet, which is made by knocking the
bottom out of a common wooden water
pail and inserting in its place glass plate.
With the water glass in one hand he peers
through it closely, watching the bottom
until he sees his prize, when he cautions
his companion to steady the boat
while he secures the sponge by means
of graphing hook fastened on the end of
forty-foot yellow pine pole. This is con-
tnued all day under broiling sun, the
small boats returning from time to time to
unload at the large vessel. When the
sDonge is detached from the bottom it is
covered and filed with meaty substance.
which dies and rots away when the sponge
is placed in other water, emitting an odor
more offensive than Long Island menhaden.
When the meat has decayed sufficiently the
"coons" beat the sponges with rods, as car
pets are beaten, which expels all the meat,
after which the spcnges are strung on heavy
Irvine and taken TO be auctioned off by the
pound on the Key West sponge wharf.
presume the sponge dealers of the town
are OF the opinion that there are enough
people in their line of business already,
because they are very discreet and say but
little about profits. Mr.. John Low, Jr., the
largest sponge dealer in the place, earnestly
assured me that there twas nothing in it,n
when tried to get some figures yet some of
his friends told me that with one exception.
Two months ago, he had bought every
sponglng vessel offered for sale in Key West
during the last ten years. When a vessel
has secured 500 or 600 strings" of
sponges she has all she can carry, and this
quantity is fair estimate of a three
months trip. The auctions are attended
by all dealers interested in the sponge
trade, ana | have frequently seen $50, 600
worth OF sponges on the wharf. The
coon" is always present at the auction,
ana though his tough, black skin may have
just returned from three months hot,
Woodworking trip, he will be there dressed
IN an immaculate suit of white duck, hold
ing an umbrella over his head to protect his
complexion.
Key West island is about six miles long,
ana IA miles wide. The foundation is
SOLD rock, though the casual observer
you'd imagine it to be but sand KEY.
i before 1870 some small gardens on the
Island produced an abundant supply of
vegetables, but now no garden labor is
aFal!aDle, because wages in cigar factories
run from Sl2 to $50 per week, while farm
hands could not expect more than 81 a day,
aud as any farmer boy can sprinkle tobacco
ana roll cigar with but little practice, the
gardens have become full of weeds.
While In the sponge district l spent a few
9 Iy among the garden truck farmers OF
LIlott's Key, Key Largo, Upper and
Lower Matcombe, and Plantation Key,
winch skirt the west coast of the peninsula
from Key West to Cape Florida About
~; PIX hundred people live on these keys, work.