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