The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-04-30


feed the hungry"
And Florida the Ugly Duck
ling with her scarcity Of railroad
facilities, her sandy soil, millions
Of mosquitoes and sand spurs,
which tried the souls and tenlpers
of the early settlers what had
she among her brilliant sisters to
offer? A warm, delightful climate
and a few oranges, but what of
that? California had both, even
better, so her advertisements read,
and best of all she was sold to the
public. Clearly Florida had moth
ing to exult over or about which
to vaunt herself, and like the
other Duckling she became melan-
choly and hid her head beneath
her wing.
Years went by, a few settlers
added their number to the hardy
pioneers who had survived the
various and sundry warfares.
Eventually an OCCASIONAL one went
back to his Northern home, but
only for visit, for (let me whis-
perl he who gets Florida sand in
his shoes will always return.
These praised the land of flowers
SO enthusiastically that each sue
ceeding winter saw the quota Of
tourists steadily increasing.
Splendid schools and colleges
began to spring up all over the
state. Garden trucking became
one of the leading industries the
produce finding a ready sale in
Northern markets. With the adj
vent of capitalists, huge quantities
of phosphate and fuliers earth
we're mined and exported. Orange
groves were planted in steadily Inc
creasing numbers. Larger and
finer cigar factories were built.
Thousands Of Cubans coming from
their native isle to manufacture
cigars, settled in Tampa and Key
West.
And then the master mind Of
Henry M. Flagler conceived a won
derful dreamsa dream Of con-
structing a railroad from the
Mainland, carried across the Keys
with the terminus at Key West.
Having the courage Of his con-
victions, Flagler began this eighth
of the world, and, despite
almost insurmountable difficulties,
and at cost of $40, 900, 900, car
ried out the work, and on the 22nd
day Of January, 1912, the train
steamed triumphahtly into Key
West, and the dream Of Florida's
greatest builder was an accom-
plished fact.
With the advent Of the railroad,
tourists began to arrive in large
numbers. Word went forth that
the finest climate in the world
could be found in Florida, free
dom from snow and the slavery Of
the furnace.
A tremendous boom struck
Florida steadily increasing until
during the winters Of 1924 and
1925 a rush took place that paled
into insignifcance the days Of 40
in California, or the mad rush for
the Yukon. Millions arrived by
auto, train and steamer. Land
values touched the sky, sub-divi-
sions were laid out and hungrily
annexed BY the incoming hordes.
Magnificent residences, lofty sky
scrapers, expensive causeways, and
island sprang up as if by magic.
Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp
seemed abroad in1the land. Men
became millionaires in day--a
week -or a month.
Then the Dixie Highway put out
to sea, an automobile road con-
Meeting the mainland with Key
West, where It is summer all vim
ter, began the process Of construc-
ton. The eyes Of all the world
were turned to this land Of eternal
sunshine and perpetual summer.
Florida and its marvellous climate
was sold to the great American
public!
But what was this it saw mir
rored in the eyes Of the people
II beheld its own image, and LolI
1t was no longer Florida, the in
significant q misfit among its
sister states-but a swan.
And seeing it stretched its
great wings triumphantly, raised
its beautiful neck and lifting it's
voice cried rejoicingly from the
depths Of its heart:
I NEVER DREAMED OF so
MUCH HAPPINESS WHEN /
WAS THE UGLY DUCKLING.