The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-02-07
DESCRIPTION Of
ISLE Of PINES
F. s. Doud Writes Fine Article on
That Wonderful Little
Island.

readers i WISH TO give Inetn lhIoush
your valuable publication few facts re
garding that much talked OF Isle OF
Pines.
1t is located 60 miles south OF the
western end o. CHA and about midway
and in a direct line between New Orleans
and the Panama canal. The opening OF
this canal will bring the water ays OF
the world directly past the Island, SO
that it will not lack for transportation.
The soil of this island is very fertile and
especially adapted to tho Rising OF
fruits, vegetables and tobacco. Negeta-
bles can be grown every month IN the
year.
AS to climate, u. Consul General
Steinhart of Havana, IN his report to the
u. s. government under date OF Septem
Der 27, 1903, states: The climate can
certainly be described as one of tue fin
est on earth. In fact, the soil, climate
and water are ideal. The mercury sci
dom goes above 80 degrees and never be-
low 50 degrees The average for the
year NAV be stated as 10 degrees. The
sea breezes pet citrate every part OF the
island and passing over the pine forests
are gentle and invigoratlng, tempering
the heat of the summer and lessening
the cold of winter. The nights are gen
orally cool and pleasant. There Is no
doubt that 10 time as the island becomes
better known it is destined TO he Il most
important health and winter resort, as
the conditions of the climate and vege
tation combined make IL attractive both
to invalds and to others who are in
search of "A more uniform temperature,
or who may wish to escape the Northern
winters. No yellow fever, cholera or ep-
idemics of any kind have ever been
known to make their appearance on the
island. Although south of Cuba the
temperature is some what lower and it is
visited by the sick from Cuba and
abroad who come to be cured by the
pure air and beneficial waters of its
springs"
When the above was written very lit
tie was known Of its possibilities in the
way OF fruit raising, but within the past
two years some of the first groves set
have begun bearing and they are going
beyond the growers expectations. |
quote from the Havana Post of recent
date: Every steamer from the Isle of
Pines lately mas brought from 100 to 200
boxes of grape fruit from the Laceiba
groves of Mason Bros ADD j. g. Liud
near Saute Fe. This fruit is being sold
In the northern cities at Sl2 per box re
tail add 81 Wholesale. 1t is of a handsome
size and finest favor Cubaa planters
please sit up aud take notice!"
Mr.. Downing and myself spent several
hours 10 Mason Bros's grove Although
bore seven boxes of fruit this season and
without irrigation. The whole grove of
10 acres would average four boxes to
the tree Count 100 trees to the acre,
even at 50 or So per box and YOU can s. g
why we became enthusiastic. So would
YOU if you could see it Before going
down | had thought some of selling my
small owe, but after | saw the posi-
bilities | wrote home that my grove was
not for sale. Instead, l began looking
for other lands.
The first horticulture and vegetable
fair was recently held iu Havana, and
the Isle of Pines carried of the blue
ribbon. The papers also state that the
Isle Of Pines exhibit attracted more at
tention than any other, Provincial Gov
Magoon being especially interested.
While the island is under the Cuban gov
eminent and American control there will
be no taxes to pay as the government is
supported by her import duties. The
govern ment is also making great i'm
provement on the island 10 the way of
stone roads, harbors. etc that is being
paid for from the government treasury.
Land values on the island today run
from S25 to 800 per acre, according to
location and deve opment, but as the is
land is only 80 miles across, or about
the size Of an ordinary county 10 the
states, it will not take long to develop
the whole island, aud more has been
done in the past year than in all the pre-
vioIs years since the war.
The Whitney Land Co. own $4,000
acres OF land on the south west coast,
beautifully located. with white sandy
beaches and high ground for town site,
and with the only deep sea harbor on
the island, as Is proven by government
maps OF survey. This company has just
organized boat line to run from this
point to Mobile direct, giving the first
direct connection with the states. They
have withheld the sale of their land until
they had this line started, so as to bene-
fit by the advance in values. This tract
today is practically the only undevel-
oped or unsold tract OF any size on the
whole island. As they wished to raise a
large sum OF money at once to put in
docks AID warehouse, Mr.. Downing and
myself we're able to secure an option on
two sections Il $50 acres) OF this land at
$500 per acre. We having our pick Of
the whole tract. We have selected
choice fruit land just outside OF the
town site, with an elevation Of 500 feet
above sea level, and there is no better
land on the island.
Were 1t possible for US to handle this
large tract ourselves we certainly would