Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-09
MEN TO BUILD GREAT
FLORIDA KEYS ROAD

NEW YORK, December s.-Hun-
dreds Of men are being rushed south.
ward to work on the completion OF
the great Florida East Coast Rafi-
way. following the decision OF Judge
Hough Of the United States Circuit
Court. in dismissing. as without cause
OF action, the so-called peonage cases
that had been brought by the Unitet'
States Government against the labor
agents of the railroad.
While these actions were pending
in the courts the men in charge OF .ne
construction work on this sea-going
railroad. which is to be Henry NJ.
Flagler's greatest achievement. were
loath to push forward with the same
amount OF energy that had been dis
PLAYED prior to the action OF the At
torney General in taking cognizance
Of the charges OF labor slavery thai
had been made. Every effort TO maze
up for lost time now will be put for'
ward by Vice-President Joseph X.
Parrot, who has been in charge per
sonally since the work began In June
of 1905. Fully 1000 men now are EN-.
ployed south Of Knights Key ana
more wOrkmen are being sent to the
to the field of operation each day.
Vice-President Parrot, who now is
in New York on business connected
with the great extension which is
jumping over a stretch Of thirty miles
of open ocean and over thirty miles
more Of submerged KEYS and lagoons
to connect Key West by direct line
with Miami. now estimates that this.
one Of the most novel engineering en-.
terprises Of modern times. will! be
completed and trains running for its
full length within a year.
Trains Running.
Already the line Is completed and
trains are running for eighty-fonr
miles south Of Miami, right down to
Knights Key also is being pushed
forward from Key West up and over
forty miles OF roadbed has been con.
structed by the gang that are work
ing northward to meet the other
workmen who rapidly are moving
south. This means q total Of 12f
miles has been completed out Of the
1856 miles OF road surveyed from
Miami to Key West. The greatest
OF all the engineering fa's On this
wonderful line, however. is vet 20 he
completed. This II the eleve,-mi'e
gap from knights Key to Bahia
Honda where the line Is being csrri' d
, over the open ocean on concrete
arches.
, The effect Of the graf evtcns on on
: traffic to Havana, hovev"- r;roH6r
has been felt because now tie steam.
ers for Havana meet the trims al
Knights Key and take rasse,~c-s ard
. freight from that point 20 the Cuban
capital instead Of eieh'y-four miles
north at Miami. When tie inc Is
! completed to Kev West h-gr raj rnad
. car floats will take entire trains
/ across the Florida Straits ~ Hsr>rs,
distance Of ninety miles. vi hort
compelling passengers 20 leave their
car seats or sleepirg-csr hrrths and
wiihop; the necessity Of breaking brik
on q single consignment ~ freight.
! This will mean that IRE Quinn snrsr
: planter will 70 cnab,ed IN 'oai rs
: product on freight ra~ si'etr,ct0f
at his plantation have the car hsu'ef
! by rail to Harana. fioa'd &c Key Wes:
and then ra'lhsuled rieSt 20 New
York OF any other point without any
Of the expense. trouble or damage
: dangers Of q second handling.
Most Expensive Ever.
This great project. which Is being
, financed. from beginning 10 end. by
Mr.. Flagler personally. generally is
regarded b. engineers n the most eS.
/ pensiye stretch Of railroad ever built.
the average cost Of construction.
from end TO end, exceeding $1,000 600
. mile. while the additional capital re-.
qu.rements for docks. channe1ing. car
floats ard equipment Will bring tho
total cost approximately 10 $1,000