Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-09-30

The salt pans on the island are j.
other source of much wealth. They
consist of shallow basins dug in the
soil and into which the sea is permit ted
10 flow, then cut off, and the water thus
Confined is allowed TO evaporate under
the solar rays and the salt is deposited.
Only one effort has ever been made TO
obtain fresh water on the island and
then after sinking the anger over 600
feet the we'll 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.
The population of the island is COM
posed largely of Spaniards, OF Cuba rs
who came over from Cuba with the to-
bacco industry, and since their advent
The statistics of the port show constant
~ increasing trade.
These foreign residents are universal
~ respected and in their business reia-
tons are on terms of perfect harmony
with the other Inhabitants. The local
Four Hundred, or leaders in society and
municipal authority, are the immi-
grants from the Bahamas or their
descendants, and they are called
| 'conchs" after that shell fish, so pienti-
| full in the waters of their native isIa nds
The inhabitants of Key West were eX-
| ceedingly loyal 20 the union during the
c;Yi. war, and one of the first mon IL
| ments erected to the memory of the
| federal dead was a beautiful obelisk
placed in the shady triangle near the
naval station, in the early part of 1866,
and in the city. keeping guard over this.
| is popular post of the G. A. Il.
The island is about three miles long
| AMI two wide, and when it was discov-
cred by the Spaniards immense piles Of
human bones were found scattered over
the surface, from which they called it
| "uueso cayo sueso, to indicate that
the island was a great battle ground,
| as it was the custom of the Florida In
dions to pile the dead killed in battle
| only. From the Spanish royal grants,
| III. island passed into the hands of
three purchasers from Nassau, who
called it Thompson's island, and the
| settlement following became known as
| Allentown; the Spanish name, however,
| was never lost, but in the course oftime
| it became corrupted into Key West, by
W hich the island and town are now
known.
Situated as the island is, near the mid
| die of the Florida Keys, it became an
i important station for the men-of-war
in ante-beiium days to operate from n
the interception or destruction of YES
sells engaged in the slave trade, as well
az The suppression of piracy. AS the
line of commerce with the gulf states
aEo the Atlantic ocean lies between Key
West and Dry Tortugas, the position Of
Key West is of great naval Importance
| as strategical point for tine base of
| operations, and coaling station to the
feet protecting the southern coast in
time of war. During the war this inn
portance Of Key West was recognized
by the Establishment there of the head
quarters of the East Gulf blockading
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 established fact,
Key West will become OF still greater
Importance to the United States as a
| naval station. LUCIEN YOUNG.
We wonder why the fire never burns