Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-21
TRIP TO THE BAHAMAS.
j. G. Brown Tells of the Industrial and
Social Conditions.


, Editor Times Republicans: We lef
II Daytona, Florida, at 1880 p. m. on tn,
t 31st ult taking one of the last specia
S trains that lad been running for tel
a weeks to accommodate the heavy tray.
: ell to east coast points. Cuba and thi.
gem of the Bahamas. A days stop was
made at the renowned resort, Palm
Beach. which boasts of the largest ho-
tel, the Royal Poinciana, in the world
set in magnificent grounds embellishec
by great variety of tropical trees ane
: decorated by innumerabe plants ane
flowers of every hue The Poinciana
3 can accommodate 1900 guests.
When one views the grandeur of the
numerous palatial hostelries in Flor-
da and this island, and considers the
lavish expenditure of money by II. NJ
Flagler in their erection and equip
ment together with 366 miles of rail-
road and several steamships, he must
place his name high in the list of great
) benefactors. Miami, the terminus OF
the railroad. is a growing business
place and popular resort, but it lacks
the beauty of some other places on the
coast The chief attractions of Flag
lers resorts are the works of art. There
is greater variety of attractions, and
beautiful scenery from the standpoint
of nature, in Daytona than in all OF
f'lagleS's doomed so-called paradises.
4 we boarded the steamship Marti-
nique at Miami on the afternoon of the
Sd, the passenger list consisting of Mr.
Ben Flowers Mrs. Brown and myself
The incoming boat the day before car
/ ried sixty returning visitors, which,
/ shows the direction of travel this time
4 of year. We soon crossed the bar and
4 entered the gulf stream, which as usual
was little rough. Mrs. Brown and
the other passengers generosity was
| such that they soon fed the fishes and
retired to their staterooms to rest,
while alone sat down with the officers
of the ship to a sumptuous dinner AT
6 o'clock next morning the lines of New
Providence island were sighted, and
soon the Colonial and Royal Victoria
hotels and old forts around Nassau ap-
peared in view. Innumerable sailing
craft, from large schooners to small
fishing smacks. were tied along the
docks or anchored in the harbor for
two miles. When a landing was made
and we touched foreign soil we were
cordially greeted by revenue officer
who asked contribution of S1.25 for
each bicycle. Twenty-Five per cent
duty is collected on most imports. After
giving our grip baggage passing look
we proceeded to our hotel with the sat
isfactory feeling of honestly treading
on British territory.
New Providence island is thirty
miles long east to west and ten wide.
Nassau lies along the northern shore
at the foot of a slope of low range of
hills about ninety feet above the sea
level, with a basis of coral rock. hard
and porous, the well-judged arrange
ment and constant labor Of years. The |
white surfaces of the streets are strik- |
ing features of the cry and the fire.
quent avenues Of trees with which they |
ere bordered increase their pictur-
esqueness.
The houses are generally two stories
with blinds to all the windows, and
most of the porches are latticed or
suffered. There are no chimes ex-
cept in out-cook buildings, and practi-
cally no heating stoves. The streets
and many buildings show Spanish
origin similar to st. Augustine and Key
West i
The harbor is q channel one half
mile wide, separated from the ocean by
Hog Island, a narrow strip of lard. The
wharves are bee hives of Industry.
Hundreds of spongers, fishing smacks
and crafts of all descriptions fill every
space and the negroes swarm about
them like bees around a molassses bar
rel. The sponge industry is the leading
one and a great part IF the native coll
ored population make their living from
IL. Refuse and clipping of sponges are
seen nearly everywhere about the city,
yet one can not sponge anything. He
not only pays for everything he gets
but is expected to "tip" besides. The
natives will run alongside of your car
riage or bicycle and cry Boss, give me
d penny" The population of the island
by the last census was 1900, 10000 OF
whom are colored. Nassau and sub
urbs contain nearly all the inhabitants
The population has decreased since the
former census, and the crLipbling Il
buildings and fences yerify It, Except
ing the remodeling of the Royal Vic
toria Hotel and the erection OF the
Colonial, 50Og guest hosiery, by H. M.
Flagler, there is little evidence OF i'm
When Mr.. Flagler equipped
his hotel with electric lights he offered
to furnish the city lights If it would
erect the poles and attach wires. but
the generous offer was not accepted.
so the streets continue to be lighted by
dim oil lamps. Willis Mr.. Flagler is
certainly bringing prosperity TO most
lines of business, there is divided
opinion among the white population
who are mostly back numbers q : to the
utility or propriety Of his improve
ments. They prefer to keep in the old
ruts.
The people have hard struggle be-
tween labor and Incidence to secure a
living, the latter generally winning.
The industries provide great variety
Of labor, yet the improvident native
takes hold only when necessity COM
pels him. Many varieties of fruits
grow wild, and they contribute towards
4 living without labor. The woods are
'ull Of cocoanuts and sapodillas, the
after a. delicious fruit. The agriculture
If the Bahamas suffers from the fact
hat the majority of the inha bitants
nave fallen under the spell of the sea.
rhe seafaring tendencies haNe more
han overcome any inherited agrcul-
ural instincts. The Bahamian likes
better to haul on the halyards, to trim
he sheets, or to hold the tiller than to
4 4 H.