The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-05-06
DADE COUNTY
DELAYS SIGNING
ROAD CONTRACT
MONROE COUNTY DELEGA-
TIoNS EXPLAINS ROUTING
OF TAMIAMI TRAIL AT
MEETING I'm MIAMI

"The committee sent by the
Monroe county commissioners to
be present at Tamiami trail
meeting of the Dade county COM
missioners at Miami yesterday af-
ternoon, arrived on the scene in
the Magic City at most oppor-
tune time and succeeded in saw
ing the day for Monroe county IN
a splendid way said A. H. Nc
Innis to Citizen representative
today, after his arrival this MORN
ing from the meeting, which he
attended as an interested citizen.
]. Otto Kirchheiner, Hilton
Curry and Braxton Warren COM
posed the committee.
The cards seemed to be stacked
against Monroe county when the
Key West delegation arrived in
the Magic City, and only immedi-
ate, energetic and intelligent work
prevented Monroe county from
being left with the bag to hold in
connection with the matter of
routing the Tamiami trail.
Hold Previous Meeting
The Dade commissioners had
held a meeting the day before yes
terday, according to the Miami
Daily News, and |. E. Schilling, a
member of the state road depart
ment residing in Miami, had APP
peared at this meeting and told
the Dade commissioners that
'they had everything to gain and
nothing to lose" by signing the
contract sent them by the state
road. department. "To this the
Dade board agreed. except that
some thought that they would be
breaking faith with Monroe and
Lee counties and with the Chew
elier corporation, and that Monroe
would get nothing out of the bar
gain," the newspaper article stat
ed.
Mr.. Schilling, it was learned,
had also influenced the Chamber
of Commerce at Miami until that
organization endorsed the Collier
county route for the Tamiami trail
and had passed resolution asking
the Dade county commissioners to
sign the contract sent them by the
state road department. The Dade
county commissioners were to
meet yesterday afternoon for the
purpose of attaching signatures to
the state road department contract
providing for the trail to pass
through Collier county, thus leav-
ing Monroe out completely. The
telegram sent from Key West urg-
ing that the meeting be delayed
until the arrival of the committee
of Monroe county commissioners
was complied with, and they were
given a hearing eheerfully, while
Chairman Kerchhe:ner stated the
Monroe side of the situation.
The brief, but sclear and forcible
talk made by Chairman Kerch-
heiner Immediately changed the
complexion of things in general.
Mr.. McInnis stated. The Dade
commissioners then decided to
delay the signing of the contract
until the state road department
could hold another joint meeting
with the Dade and Monroe county
commissioners, said meeting to be
held a. Key West. and that at the
earliest date possible.
Explains Matters
The Dade commissioners had
not gone over the contract for
Monroe county drawn up by the
state road department, and did
not realize the gross injustice done
this county until Mr.. Kerehheiner
explained the situation to them.
They then turned and voted unan-
imously for a measure delaying
the signing of the contract and de-
manding meeting as mentioned,
in Key West.
1t had been the general impress
sion that the contracts sent out
by the road department would be
uniform and intended for officials
of all counties concerned TO sign.
But not so. There is a separate
and distinct. and widely different
agreement for each county, Mr..
MeInnis says. and that it had been
the policy of the road department
to draw up agreements suitable 70
Collier and Dade counties, get
signatures attached thereto, and
let Key West get absolutely moth
ing out of the bargain.
tut they didn't quite put it over
on Dade county" Mr. McInnis
stated. and great credit is due
the county commissioners CON-
mittee for their prompt and most
{ AFgA..tsxzss efforts as - o,~f~o,,, a =,