The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1949-08-26

~t@EAe tbat appeared IN the New
York Daily Times on Friday
July z. 1854. and is entitled
Population and Trade of Key
West-The Wrecking Business
and C."
The inhabitants of the Key
may be divided into two classes,
which differ in a very marked
degree In their character and
habits Of life: these are the
bahamians, and the emigrants
from the States. Without wish
ing TO consider intellectual and
moral qualities as belonging to
any particular class exclusively
We may notice as a fact, that the
Bahamians are in both respects
less improved than the Ameri-
can portion. They are. however,
quiet, frugal and industrious
people. Some of them, by a per-
severing and honorable course,
have elevated themselves in the
community, and are ranked
among our most worthy and in
fluential citizens. The other
class of the population retain
generally the manners and hab-
us of their native States, mod
flied by their peculiar situation,
There is diffused among them a
feeling of independence and
equality. increased perhaps by
their isolated position. The gen.
eral tone of society is refined
and polished, and the people
have shown themselves active
and enterprising; fully capable
Of commanding all the advan-
tages which their situation
presents.
AS to the trade of the Key,
there is but one that is of much
importance. Il is true the manu-
factory Of salt, gathering spon-
ges. turtleing and fishing, are
each carried on to a considerable
extent. but, in a peculiar sense,
wrecking is the business of the
Key. To form correct idea of
the extent Of this trade we must
consider that through the Gulf
of Florida sails a commerce little
inferior 10 that of any other sea;
and that with a portion of the
property strewed by the winds
and waves on this Reef, town
has been built up on rocky
island. numbering 5000 inhab-
itants. Upwards of 500 vessels
are annually wrecked and
brought into this port, the whole
value az which. including cargo,
may be estimated at $12 or 81.
100000. The salvage awarded on
this amount is perhaps about IL
ar IS percent. amounting to $l20,
600 or $l5O.00O. and the expenses
for repairs. and c., to an equal
sum. The wrecking business is
carried on in sloops and schoon-
ers of from 80 to $50 tons burden,
which rDst from $1,000 to $40.
600. and require a proportionally
heavy expenditure for an outfit,
repairs. and C. In former years
the profits of this business were
very large; $4,000 and $4,000
were often paid for plotting YES
sells through the Reefs. 1t is said
that a much higher rate of salv-
age Is paid the wreckers on the
other side of the Reef than is
awarded TO our own.But a STEW
DAYS since $4,000 were paid two
vessels for towing the bark By
ron into port of Nassau. Before
the establishment of the u. S.
Court at this place, many irreg-
ularities were practiced by the
wreckers, and just complaints
were made of excessive awards
Of salvage: but since the control
~ the business has been given to
the Court. these abuses have
been corrected. The two Judges
who have successfully occupied
the bench. have exercised their
authority with fidelity. Every
vessel is licensed; the duties OF
the master are described and his
reward is in proportion to the
good faith. activity and gallantry
with which they are discharged
But not withstanding the vigil
ance and faithfulness of the
Court. doubtless frauds some
times occur. In some instances il
may be otherwise, but the great
majority Of the wrecks are un-
avoidable, and the wreckers use
every exertion to get the vessel
off and save the cargo in the best
possible order. The rate of sal
vage Is not higher than SOUND
policy demands, because the in.
tereSt Of commerce requires the
employment of regular class Of
wrcckerS. and the amount diStri
buted Is not more than a just
compensation for the expenses
hardships and perils encountered
by them. Many vessels are re.
lieved without much labor. but
In order to save the vessel. the
wreckers often work eighteen
and sometimes the entire TWEEN
tv-four hours. When a vesse
bilges. they dive up the cargo