Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-03-08

epoch Of the islands history was when it served
as sort of -sayefattening~ depot In the days
when the traders in BLACK ivory" found the diff
culties OF their profession increasing in the ratio
of prejudice against slave holding their profits
decreased in like ratio. They attempted to
rectify this loss in a measure by bringing more
valuable article to the available markets The
negroes shipped from the Kongo often in
poor health, and their condition became pitiabe
before they reached their journeys end. Imagine
the effect of sx-weeks' voyage crowded under
matches, in the Tropics Contrast the Joy Of these
unfortnnates when turned loose TO work in the
fields OF beautiful land with abundance of food
after the horrors of the oversee crossing.
It is hard to index the islands many charms
Perhaps 1t finds its greatest attraction as refuge
for the winter riyen dwel1er in northern chimes
in the wholescmeness of the climate. The win
ter climate of the Isle OF Pines is ideal The air
has an Undesirable quality that let's the tenn
perature defy the rigid markings Of the Their
mometer. The northern winds that play among
the pine trees soft as the touch of butter
flies wings TO borrow phrase from the poets.
and the sunshine seems to distill perfume from
the resin that truly sweetens the breezes 1t 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 IL
is monotonousiy good The sheltered position Of
the island protects it from the north while the
southwest trades blow fresh from the Caribbean
with a steadiness that makes for such equable
atmosphere which not be Tivaled In any sec
ton OF the globe. This is not hyperboe but fact.
The two old towns Of first settlement Nueva
Corona and Santa Fe. still hold much of their
Spanish setting DESPITE the invasion OF the aus
thing American. who indicates his presence by
the typical country store that caters to the uni
yefsal needs of the celonsts. and the busy bank.
Nueva Corona. which is the capital of the island.
has been fortunate in having for its mayor ma
xxhn all he nf 10 mar
ish ancestry with good business sense. which has
enabled him 10 turn the current Of the islands
present progress to the advantage OF the little
town he loves well. The many municipal inn
provements that have been carried out during his
term Of Office serve monuments TO his industry.
Santa Fe rivals the sister town in civic pride and
its residents are alert in the matter of the i'm
provement of their pueblo.
The island is entirely owned by Americans.
OF the 100000 acres of estimated surface the part
that remains in other titles is small to be
negligible. The present owners have developed
the principal industry of the island-citrusfruit
growing
Many have confused the name of the island.
connecting it in way with the pineapple.
As already stated. the name is derived from the
many pine trees growing there: yet 1t were not
inappropriate that the title should come from the
fruit for the finest pineapples / have ever seen
are grown in its valleys As vet pineapple culti-
walton has not been made the business success
that it promises. A number OF reasons have made
it difficult to market the fruit successfully
Tobacco was grown with great profit on the
island I'm certain specially suited sections during
the Cuban war of independence. but tobacco
growing is almost an esoteTic art the secret OF
which is only known TO the "colonistas" of the
Vuelto Abaio district In Cuba
Besides these special agricultural products the
island blooms with all the tropical and sent
tropicaI vegetables and many of the hardy tubers
from the temperate zone, so he who seeks his
winter home those inviting shores win plant
his kitchen garden when he sets his nurselings
out
Perhaps the most neglected, yet to the writer
the nest potential gifts which nature has en-
lowed the Isle of Pines are the thermal springs
These are beneficial beyond the mere figures O
the analysis Of the curative p-c2erties hey pos
sess.