mile and a half.” Labor is scarce, it would be best to take it along, the same of house servants. There is timber enough for all building purposes, if there were saw-mills. The country is remarkably healthy, and the climate in winter and spring cannot be excelled, it is pleasant even in summer. It is attractive, and will doubtless be well populated at no distant day. The great trouble is the want of facilities to get to and from it. It is a splendid game country upon the Perrine grant. The water is pure and good. At the ADDISON place there are some very remarkable springs, some of them mineral. Mr. WM. A. SWAN, under date of April 10, 1876, writes, in answer to the question, what time is the best for northerners to come to the bay? “The charm and chief merit of this locality is its equability of climate. The months of May and June I was at and near ADDISON’s; there was no night that I did not use my blanket, and frequently my double blanket, and I learned from all sources that the only perceptible difference in the seasons was more northers in the winter months; they usually last about three days. Hence I would say any season was desirable. Of course it is hot, but the constant sea breeze makes it invariably pleasant. The bay is the sanitarium, so to speak, where the garrison at Key West was sent every year to avoid yellow fever, and if it were made accessible, I do not see that there would be any comparison between it and Long Branch and Newport, in regard to the natural attractions and advantages. And here should be the location of the “National Botanical Garden,” referred to in the pamphlet I sent you to-day. At Addisons’ you can wade out half a mile before you get overhead, over a bottom of clean, white, smooth polished rock, and certainly no more delightful bathing can be found winter or summer. There is nothing in the masses of rotted seaweed, grass, etc., that line the shores of this entire region, and Indian River, to create malaria. At least the same is found wherever our troops were located, and they never got sick from any such cause. Besides, if a settlement were made, this mass would soon be utilized by applying to fruit trees, gardens, etc. Our tents were pitched upon beds of it, and the only injurious results, if any, were increased voracity of appetite! Added to the natural beauty of the bay, are the colors of the water, from the transparent crystal to every shade of the rainbow. The latter is produced from alternate banks of sea-grass, saw-grass, minute shells and black and brown rock. Game is abundant. Except the ten days we were in the everglades, we were hardly ever without fresh venison and fish, and soft-shell turtle always. On the bay, salt water fish of all varieties

; mullet, bass, trout, sheephead, carvalho, pompino, grunts, flounders, and in a pretty little creek of fresh water that runs into and out of Addisons hammock (and which is the water station supplying the Keys above and below in dry seasons), can be found bream, trout, etc. At Black Point, about twelve miles below (I believe) may be found any quantity of large fat oysters and clams, the largest I ever saw; Col. WILLIAMS says the best he “ever ate.” In speaking of other attractions for the mere tourist or invalid, Mr. W. says: “A sail also over to the light-house, among the cocoanut and other fruit trees, then up to the north end of the bay, 15 or 25 miles; or stop at Miami River. At the mouth of the river are two of the finest locations in the world. The site of old Fort Dallas, with its fields of guavas, bananas and cocoanuts, that fringe the shore, in all stages from the bud to the ripe fruit.”  * * * *  In the four months time we were in the vicinity of the bay, in and through hammock, marshes, prairie, or otherwise, we did not see a rattlesnake, nor did we see but three moccasins. The presence of so many deer and hogs, who are their natural enemies, may account for this.” Mr. SWAN also writes: “It is not usually known the full maturity, size and flavor of the Florida pine-apple, as compared with those of other markets, such as the Bahamas, etc. A judicious placing in market of the Florida pine-apple and banana, would secure for them a preference over all else, and establish a reputation that would enhance their value, and stimulate there production to a great degree, as well as bringing this portion of the State into that prominence which its merits so demand.” Again he writes: “They tell me here that two men, with mule and cart, usually make one hundred dollars per month, gathering and preparing the coontie for market. One hand gathers twelve barrels of the root, which makes about one and a third barrels of marketable coontie or what is known as Florida arrow-root. The roots much resemble the Rutabaga turnip. It is washed and ground, then put in a stand, and water applied, stirred thoroughly and left to settle about two hours, or until the starch “thick as soft cheese” settles to the bottom. Then draw off all the water and change to another stand, separating the light coontie which collects on the top, leaving the pure article in the first stand, to which sufficient water should be added to give a consistency thin enough to facilitate its passage through the finest sieve or strainer. Place it in dryers containing twenty-five pounds each. In two days of good weather it is ready for market. The refuse or “mash” is fed to stock: horses, hogs, poultry, all thrive well upon it. By boiling the skimmings, a substance as hard as bread is produced, which keeps well, and fattens hogs for market as readily and as well as corn.” A small saw mill is also suggested on the point of economy, if nothing else, that you might have your own lumber sawed on the spot, for your cottages, besides the necessary boards for paling, wharf, etc., thereby saving the risk and freight in shipments either from Jacksonville, Key West or New York. As I before mentioned, lumber is from thirty to fifty dollars per thousand at Key West, and you could manufacture and sell all you did not want for your settlers to the settlers between you and the Miami as well as on the Keys. Timber (pitch pine, no sap) is abundant, and right at hand. Attachments could also be fixed for running coontie, sugar, and grist mills. A great drawback to settlers will be the inconvenience of procuring lumber. When the war in Cuba is closed a great demand will spring up for cross ties; and as this is the nearest point to Cuba (about 200 miles) a decided advantage is gained by a party engaging in the business here. The quantity is inexhaustible and just the size suitable for this business. A small stock of goods, would be indispensable, as the nearest store is at Miami, and it would pay in supplying the large number of small coasters, spongers, etc., almost constantly in the Cove; coming in for water, etc., as also for the convenience of the laborers and settlers on the mainland and Keys. Everything in the line of poultry, eggs, vegetables and fruit, finds a ready market at Key West.” In compiling the foregoing facts, there may appear to be something like repetition; but it is owing to the endeavor to give reliable testimony, which is of course cumulative in its nature; and being from different and disinterested persons, touches upon the same point oftentimes. One objective point is to induce, if possible, a goodly number of families of culture and refinement, who are desirous of seeking new homes to join us in forming a settlement upon our grant. We do not wish any to go who expect that there will be no discomforts to encounter, or that they can at once step into the enjoyments of all the comforts of a luxurious home without working for them. Neither should any go (unless in the employ of others)