The Elbert County tribune., 1912-03-08
. -

epoch of the islands history was when 1t served
as a sort of 'slave-fattening" 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
rectfy this loss in measure by bringing more
valuable article to the available markets. The
negroes shipped from the Kongo often in
poor health, and their condition became pitiable
before they reached their journeys end Imagine
the effect of a six-weeks' voyage crowded under
matches, in the Tropics Contrast the Joy of these
unfortunates when turned loose to work in the
fields of 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 its greatest attraction as refuge
for the winter rven dweller in northern climes
in the wholesomeness Of the climate The win
ter climate of the Isle of Pines Is IDEAL The air
has indescrbable quality that lets the tenn
perature defy the rigid markings of the ther-
mometer. The northern winds that play among
the pine trees soft 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 1t
is monotonousy good. The sheltered position of
the island protects II from the north while the
southwest trades blow fresh from the Caribbean
with steadness that makes for such an equable
atmosphere which can not be rivaled in any sec
tion OF the globe. This is not hyperbole 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 hus-
tling 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.
has been fortunate in having for its mayor a
tive who combines all the courtesies OF his Span
ish 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 well. 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
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-ctrusfruit
growing
Many have confused the of the island,
connecting it in some way with the pineapple
AS already stated. the 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 I have ever seen
are grown in Its valleys AS yet pineapple culti
vation has not been made the business success
that 1t promises. number of reasons have 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 CT
which is only known to the "colonstas" of the
vuelto Abajo district in Cube.
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. 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 most potential gifts which nature has en-
dowed the Isle of Pines the thermal springs
These are beneficial beyond the mere figures OF
the analysis of the curative properties they pos
sess.