The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-09-23

the solar rays and the salt is deposited.
Only one effort has ever been made 10
obtain fresh water on the island and
then after sinking the auger over 600
feet the well was abandoned and it is
exceedingly doubtful if water can be
reached under 1000 feet. Cisterns
flied with rain water furnish the sup
ply, which is pure. cold and healthful,
ant not likely to ever fall short of the
dt mand. AS to sport, the surrounding
waters are excellent for boating and
abound in fine fish, and some of the al.
jAcent islands afford rare shooting.
The population of the island Is com.
posed largely of Spaniards, or Cuba M
who came over from Cuba with the TO-
bscco industry, and since their advent
the statistics of the port show constant
~ increasing trade.
These foreign residents are UNIVERSAL
ly respected and IN their business rela.
tons are on terms of perfect harmony
with the other habitnats. The local
-Four Hundred, or leaders in society and
municipal authority, are the imml-
grants from the Bahamas or thel1
descendants, and they are called
''conchs" after that shell fish, so plenti-
full in the waters of their ma tive isla nds,
The inhabitants OF Key West were ex.
ceedingly loyal 20 the union during the
civil war, and one of the first monu.
ments erected to the memory of tho
federal dead was a beautiful obelisk
placed in the shady triangle near thu
naval station, in the early part of 1866
and in the city, keeping guard over this
is popular post of the q. A. II.
The island is about three miles lone
anG two wide, and when it was discov.
| crea by the Spaniards immense piles 81
human bones were found scattered owe.
the surface, from which they called il
"Hueso cayo sueso," to indicate that
the island was great battle ground
as it was the custom of the Florida In
dams to pile the dead killed in battle
duty. From the Spanish royal grants
tht island passed into the hands OF
three purchasers from Nassau, who
called it Thompson's> island, and the
settlement following became known as
AleentoWn; the Spanish name, however
Wa: never lost, but in the course of time
it became corrupted into Key West, by
which the island and town are now
known.
Situated as the island is, near the mid.
die of the Florida Keys, it became an
important station for the men-of-wal
in ante-bellum days to operate from in
the interception or destruction of YES.
sells engaged in the slave trade, as well
as the suppression of piracy. AS the
line of commerce with the gulf states
ahu the Atlantic ocean lies between KEY
West and Dry Tortugas, the position ii
Key West is of great naval importance
as stra.egical point for the base OF
operations, and coaIing station to the
feet protecting the southern coast in
time of, war. During the war this i'm.
portance of Key West was recognized
By the establishment there of the head.
quarters of the East Gulf blockadino
squadron, without which it would have
been impossible to have maintained an
effectual blockade of the southern
coast. When the completion of the
Nicaragua canal is an esta blishcd fact
Key West will become of still greater
Importance to the United States az q
naval station. LUCIEN YOUNG.