The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1912-03-09

epoch OF the Islands history was when it served
sort of "slavefattening" depot. In the days
when the traders in "black ivory found the diff
eulties Of their profession increasing the ratio
of prejudice against slave holding their profits
decreased in like ratio. They attempted to
rectify this loss in a measure by bringing
valuable article to the available markets. The
negroes shipped from the Kongo were often in
poor health, and their condition became pitiable
before they reached their journeys end Imagine
the effect of six-weeks' voyage, crowded under
matches, in the Tropics Contrast the Joy of these
unfortunates when turned loose to work in the
fields of a beautiful land, with abundance of food,
after the horrors Of the oversee crossing.
1t is hard to index the islands many charms.
Perhaps 1t finds it's greatest attraction refuge
for the winter rlven dweller in northern climes
in the wholesomeness of the climate. The win
ter climate of the Isle of Pines is ideal. The air
has an indescribable quality that lets the tenn
perature defy the rigid markings of the Their
mometer. The northern winds that play among
the pine trees are soft as the touch of butter.
nles wings, to borrow phrase from the poets,
and the sunshine seems to distill perfume from
the resin that truly sweetens the breezes It has
been said that the perfect is beyond description.
This is true of the winter climate of this island.
The only criticism that the most difficult to please
would dare offer in complaint might be that it
is monotonously good. The sheltered position of
the island protects it from the north while the
southwest trades blow fresh from the Caribbean
atmosphere which can not be rivaled in any Sec
ton OF the globe. This is not hyperboe but fact
Inc two old towns of first settlement, Nueva
Corona and Santa Fe, still hold much of their
Spanish setting despite the invasion of the hus-
Ting American, who indicates his presence by
the typical country store that caters to the uni
versal needs of the colonists, and the busy bank
Nueva Corona, which is the capital of the island
mas been fortunate in having for it's mayor ma
tive who combines all the courtesies OF his Span
1sh ancestry with good business sense which has
enabled him to turn the current of the islands
present progress to the advantage of the little
town he loves so we'll. The many municipal i'm
provements that have been carried out during his
term OF office serve as monuments to his industry
Santa Fe rivals the sister town in civic pride and
It's residents are alert in the matter Of the i'm
provement of their pueblo
The island is entirely owned by Americans
or the 100000 acres Of estimated surface the part
that remains in other titles is so small as to be
negligible. The present owners have developed
the principal industry of the isand-citrrs-fruit
growing.
Many have confused the name of the island
connecting 1t IN some way with the pineapple
AS already stated the name is derived from the
many pine trees growing there yet it were not
inappropriate that the title should come from the
fruit, for the finest pineapples have ever seen
are grown in its valleys. AS yet pineapple cult.
walton has not been made the business success
InoI IL ~ oluSes "A bumper OF reasons nave made
1t difficult to market the fruit successfully
Tobacco grown with great profit on the
island In certain specially suited sections during
the Cuban war of independence; but tobacco
growing is almost esoteric art the secret Of
which is only known to the 'colonistas" of the
Vuelto Abajo district in Cuba
Besides these special agricultural products, the
island blooms with all the tropical and semi.
tropical vegetables and many of the hardy tubers
from the temperate zone, SO he who seeks his
winter home on those inviting shores will plant
his kitchen garden when he sets his nurselings
out
Perhaps the most neglected, yet to the writer
the most potential, gifts which nature has en-.
dowed the Isle of Pines are the thermal springs
These are beneficial beyond the mere figures OF
the analysis Of the curative properties they pos
sess.