The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-06-02
Key West And The Railroad
That Goes Out Over The Sea
From The Hardware Age of May q. Written By LEV S.
Soue Editor of Hardware Age And President of
Hardware Age Publishing Co, New York;

Did you ever go to sea IN a par
lor car? It's worth crossing the
continent to do. All the ex-
periences of an ocean voyage with
out the sea sickness.
| l had asked a chance acquaint-
ance about Key West, Florida, and
he had discouraged me. "It's only
a little place" he said, with
population mainly Cubans and
negroes. It's mighty hot down
there too, and nothing to see"
What a consummate liar that
fellow was. Anyhow | had made
up my mind to go and | did. The
train left Miami at 9:10 in the
morning, and l was aboard when it
pulled out. 1t was warm that
morning, and the breeze was con-
spicuous by its absence. For the
first hour or so we passed through
typical Florida east coast country,
with little new to look at. was
beginning to think that my erst-
while acquaintance had given me
the right dope, and that | was due
for long, hot and uneventfui
ride. And then we struck the
Florida Keys and things changed.
For four hours we travelled over
beautiful coral islands, and long
stretches of concrete trestles which
linked the islands into a tropical
chain. Each island or key had
something new to offer. Some
were covered with long leaf pine
some with low dark green shrub
berry, and all were fringed with
rtately cocoanut palms. All about
us we could see islands small and
large dotting the sea. 1t remind
ed me of the Thousand Islands in
the st. Lawrence, except that the
water was salty and the verdure
tropical.
Trsstles Over the Sea
And those trips to sea over the
trestles. They are unfoTgettable.
At one time we travelled seven and
a half miles out over the ocean.
Looking out of the car Window
we could see nothing but water
and small islands. The colorings
of the sea were wonderful, dis
playing all the shades of green
and blue-dark when the water
was deep, and gray green in the
shadows.
We. could see fish of all kinds
swimming lazily in the crystal
clear water. and pelicans perched
on old trestles and pilings. Once
a baby shark, about four feet long,
played along within 20 feet of the
car window, with all the possen-
gers as witnesses.
1t was cool, and there was q
real breeze. Some of the tender
feet pulled down the windows on
tho windy side of the car. We
passed a beautiful fishing camp in
, sandy grove of cocoanut palms.
A little farther on we saw yachts
in the island inlets with fishermen
out in small boats.
And so it went-island after
'sland-trestle after trestle, and
the time passed rapidly. There was
no diner on, the train, and we were
due in Key West at 800 p. m.
The newsboy passed down the
aisles calling his wares. called
him over and asked for an orange,
but he didn't have one in his stock.
In the wonderful fruit country Of
Florida he was selling northern
made factory cookies, candies and
soft drinks. Some one has evi-
IDENTIFY overlooked a bet in the
trains of Florida.
/ Arrived on Time
We arrived in Key West on
time and TAXED to a new modern
hotel--one that would he a credit
TO any city. Ten minutes later |
had my notebook in my pocket,
and was out looking for hardware
stores.
The first one ran across was
that of Pierce Brothers, one of
the leaders in the line. 1t was
progressive and up to date. with
good stocks and diversified lines.
The brothers were cordial. and |
+ enjoyed my visit. Then one Of
them ushered me out 20 his car