The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-08-22
THE NEW KEY
WEST EXTENSION
LINE WILL BE MORE INTEREST
ING TO RIDE THAN ANY OTHER
IN THE WORLD.

A recent issue of the Miami News
contained the following relative to the
extension of the Florida East Coast
system to Key West:
Much has been said in the Florida
papers, especially those of Miami and
Jacksonville, about the extension OF
the Florida East Coast Railway over
the Florida Keys to Key West, and
much more probably will and can be
said for, to say the least, it will he
rather a unique piece of work in the
way of railroad construction.
While this piece Of road will not
cost as much as some roads have that
have run over or through mountains
it still will be quite expensive, though
not so much so as to claim any great
attention in that regard, but the parti-
cular feature is that it will be built
over a line of islands in the ocean
and across shallow parts of the ocean
itself and in two or more places, over
comparatively deep water, where the
waves of the Atlantic will beat with
their full force against the roadbed.
This is the only road in the world
TO be built over such queer and rath-
er dangerous right of way, but, from
the manner in which it will be built,
about if not quite all the danger will
be eliminated, and a piece of track be
constructed over which it will be
more pleasant and interesting to ride
than over any other piece of the same
length in the world.
As to the man who has made this
road a probability, he should be given
all the praise that is justly his due.
No fulsome fattery should be indulg-
ed, nor should he be accused of doing
it from a p:rely philanthropic spirit,
for all such would be very wide OF the
mark.
H. NJ. Flagler, by a personal visit 20
Lake Worth, saw that 1t would pay to
build road to this point, ard he built
IT, Then, by personal investigation
he also saw the possibilities of Miami
and at once extended his road to that
point. Now he sees the immense adj
vantages of a road TO Key West and in
spite of the many and great engineer
ing problems to be overcome, he goes
ahead to build this road.
These facts show, we think, that
H. NJ. Flagler is, withoutout doubt,
one of the most far sighted business
men in this or any other country to-
day and his immense wealth enables
him to carry out his plans and put mis-
roads where needed without floating
bonds or stock or calling on any out
side capitalists for help in any way
whatever. Mr.. Flagler has simply
seen what was needed, where it was
needed, that it would pay, and has
gone ahead quietly yet persistently
and energetically and carried out mis-
plans, to his own profit and renown
Though the latter he has not sought
for) and to the great benefit of every
section that has been reached by his
roads, and of the country at large.
The full extent, of the possibilities
and probabilities of the Key West ex-
tension Mr.. Flagler may not even live
to see, but he is going ahead to build
the road knowing that its hereafter
is assured though he may not live to
see it. When this extension is com,
pieted the Florida East Coast Railway
will be of as much or more political as
well as commercial Importance as any
road in this country, if not the world
and no man probably is better aware
of this fact than H. NJ. Flagler and
consequently he deserves all the credit
for comprehending these facts and for
building the road.