The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1899-02-11
Letter From Florida and Cuba.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 30, '99
Editor ROu,,ddbOu.

JhSnboNN bNs O"'' wv W.
Editor Roundabout:
1 stopped 80 suddenly In my for
mer communication 1 do not feel
satisfied to leave you and your read
ers without giving you more fully a
history of what / saw and heard on
this trip.
was never below RockledRe, on
the east coa.t, until this trip. Then
there was no railroad below Titus
Vile, the county seat of Brevard
county, where the Republican poll
ticians met at the time and just after
the election between Tilden and
Hays and arranged and prepared and
did beat Tilden and the Democratic
party out Of fairly won election.
Rockledge IL some twenty or more
miles below 4 tusville, and as far
down then AS visitors went. In the
past few years Mr.. Flagler has built
a road down the east coast 25O or
800 miles to Miami, and has built a
great number of hotels at most of the
stations along the road. For grandeur
and beauty of surroundings it SUI
passes anything in Florida. The
west coast until the last few years
was the attraction, but Fla2ler has
gotten away with this route, which
was established by Mr.. Plant, which
is known as the Plant line road, and
steamers to Havana. The east
coast now has line of steamers from
Miami to Key West, from Miami
to Havana. and from Miami to
Nassau, built on one of the many
islands of the Bahamas. 1t is very
costly travelling in Florida. The
railroads charge four cents mile,
but if travellers will ask for receipt
from the r. r. agent when he gets a
ticket, and will send it to the State
Railroad Commission, they will send
him a check or rebate of one cent
a mile.
From Miami to Key West is 1865
miles. This is one of the points that
Miles d Son have never sold flour.
My object in going there, as l believe
/ stated in my former letter, was to
establish trade or demand for our
flour, which / did, and hope to make
it paying trip in the final end.
Key West is situated on one Of the
many islands at the extreme south
ern end of Florida, which your read
ers all doubtless know. The largest
portion of the inhabitants are COM
posed of Cubans, and the great bulk
of them cannot speak English. They
are called Conks, so called from eat
Ing the animal they get from the
shells so called along the coast. They
are principally cigar makers. This
place has no trade except with them
selves, and the vessels coming in and
going. The government spends IA
great deal of money here yearly, and
h Is been doing so for great many
years, building what is called jetty,
t. protect the channel for vessels
coming in and going out. Besides, it
is now building several large forts.
The old forts, here, l think, have
proved to be practically worthless
since the improved navy guns have
been invented in the last few years.
At Key West while there the gov
eminent sold IL lol OF provisions tina.
were lei, after moving the troops
away that we've stationed there. In
this sale was 3,4O0 barrels Of -four;
100 or nioie barrels Of molasses and
rice and otherthings. TWAS claimed
that weavil and worms had gotten In
the fiour.g / examined it, but found
nothing wrong with it. 1t was sold
for Il mere song. Flour, rice and
molasses were in fact almost given
away. Some one was to blame for
this; the party or parties having con-
troll of il failed to do their duty. ,
This war has be- IA money making
scheme from start to finish.
Twill finish up this scribble, 1t be-
ing continuation OF my former let
ter, by enclosing clipping from the i
Times Union and Citizen of this
place. Ii viii lie somewhat of Il rep
etition OF what ! have already writ
ten, hut will show you and the read
prs of The BOUT that Others