The Grenada sentinel., 1897-09-25

The salt pans on the island are an.
other source of much wealth. They
consist of shallow basins dug in the
soil and into which the sea is permitted
10 flow. then cut of. and the water thus
cui.fned is allowed to evaporate under
Only one effort has ever been made 10
obtain fresh water on the island aut
then after sinking the auger over 6U0
feet the well was abandoned and it ,s
exceedingly doubtful If water can be
reached under 1000 feet. Cislerus
fiji ed with rain water furnish the sup.
: ply, which is pure. cold and healthfuL
The population of the island is com.
posed largely Of Spanlards, or Cuba na
who came over from Cuba with the 70.
t"cco industry, and since their advent
,hc statistics OF tie port show constant.
| IS increasing trade.
| These foreign residents are universe |.
ly respected and in their business rela.
tens are on terms of perfect harmony
with the other inhabilnats. The local
Four Hundred, or leaders in society and
municipal authority, are the imnl.
grants from the Bahamas or their
descendants. and they are called
"coLchs' after that shell fish, SO plenti.
| ful in the waters OF their native islands,
The inhabitants OF Key West were eN.
oeeLinSly loyal 20 the union during the
cNi. war, and one Of the frs, mona
Ments erected to the memory of the
| ftueral dead was Dea uiiful oDel liak
| placed III the shady triangle near the
naval station. in the early part OF leG6,
and in tne city. keeping guard over This,
- d popular post OF the q. A. Il.
The island Is about three miles long
ana two wide. and when it was discov.
cr-u by the SpanIards immense piles Of
| human bones were found scattered over
the surface. from which they called I,
'uueso cayo sueso," to indicate that
the island was Il great battle ground,
as it was the custom OF the Florida In.
dIans TO pile the dead killed in battle
ouiy. From the Spanish royal grants,
tn. island passed into the hands OF
tnTee purchasers from Nassau, who
called 1t Ihompsons island. and the
settlement following became known ~
Aienlowu; the Spanish name. however,
Wa! never lost, but in the course Of time
it became corrupted into Key West, Us
" hich The island and town are now
| knCWn.
Situated us the isla nd is. near the mid.
d,e OF the Florida Keys. It became an
! important station tor tine meu-ui-wal
in ante-Dellum days 10 operate froln "a
tie interception or destruction oi YES.
se!s engaged in the slave trade. as we'll
as the suppression Of piracy. As the
line of commerce with the gulf states
att The Atlantic ocean lies between Key
West and Dry Torlu lugas. the position Il
keC West is OF great naval imporlan nee
IS a stra'egical point for the base OF
operations. and coaling station TO the
feet protecting the southern coast ia
time Of war. During the war this i'll.
voriance of Key West was recognized
by The establishment there OF the aead.
quarters of the East Gulf blockadlna
squadron, without which il would have
Leen impossible to have maintained IN
etiectusl blockade Of the southern
coast. When the completion OF th,
Nicaragua canal is an established fact
Eey West will become OF still greater
Importance to the United States as q
| nGtal station. LCClEN YUuN,;
We wonder why the ire never burn.
| until n ftar fha meal Ia conLad