The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-03-13

be cut from . hours to about
seven and one half.
Arriving at Key West, the motor.
list can go on next day to Cuba, q
6.hour trip which Ii enhanced by q
recent announcement OF the Cuban
treasury department that tourists
can bring in their cars duty free
for o period Of three months. This
concession has been made i'm view
OF the opening, in the fan OF 1890.
OF the great 700 mile long Cuban
Central Highway which In expected
to attract large numbers Of Anderi-
can motorists.
Warren Bros. American contrac.
tors who are building 500 miles Of
this great highway are making
amazing progress. This winter it
VIII be possible for motorists 10
drive for considerable distance
between Matanzas and also In the
direction Of Pinar del Rio. The
road between Havana and Matanzas
y expected to be fully completed In
May, next.
Tolls Vary With Car
The Overseas Highway. and the
Cuban Highway join up with the
Atlantic Coastal Highway, 3464
miles from Calais. Me-, to santiago.
Cuba. When the Cuban Highway
- finished 1t IL expected there will
be special auto ferries between
Havana and Key West.
Automobiles between Kew West
and Havana cost the same an n
0ne.way or round trip passenger
fare; the tolls on the ferries on
the Overseas Highway range from
$3.50 to $3.50 according to the size
of the car and are 31.OO per passen.
ger.
The Florida keys and Islands
were the scene Of much romance,
bloodshed and buccaneering in the
days when pirates were the scOurRe
Of the Caribbean. Tales Of
buried treasure and sunkeu ships
are no less common In the Florida
Keys than in the scattered islands
Of the West Indies. Along O. certaln
stretch of coast at Key Largo, an
old fisherman win tell you. Ii buried
the piundered treasure Of Lafitte:
and on the span shoals of Big Pine
Key is scattered the wealth OF two
pirate sloops that fought to the
death. A watch charm made Of q
Spanish doubloon is not an uu-
common sight: cannon, corroded
and almost eaten away by rust; and
used as mOoring posts In several
sponge fishing posts
The run by automobile from
Miami to the Southern end of Mate
cumbe key. 90 miles. can be
easily made In three hours. There
one takes the auto ferry. Four
miles before Matecumbe Key, how
ever, you pass through IsIamorada,
close to Alligator Reef where IL 70
be had some Of the most spirited
big game fishing in the world.
There Is hotel at lslamorada and
there are numerous fishing guides;
eighteen miles South il the famous
Long Key Fishing Camp. famous
for sail fish, tarpin, amberjacks,
groupers, and other great battling
game fish 1t il reached by the
Florida East Coast Railway.
Sees Islands Chain
From the automobile ferries be-
tween MatecHmba and No Name
Key, spacious comfortable boats
driven by Diesel engines and with
the whole lower deck exclusively
devoted to cars, the Snotorist lie
able to see In perspective the ex-
traordinary chain Of islands through
which he is passing.
The Gulf Of Mexico is to the
West, the Atlantic Ocean to the
East; and In between are thousands
Of tiny islands, covered with tropi.
cal vegeration and the silhOuettes
of tail cocoanut palms dOtting the
horizon around him, ana water
that changes from pale green to q
deep submarine blue.
He sees pelicans gliding I'm single
file over the Waterman O'war
birds soaring overhead, shark
basking ON the surface, and q sud.
den eruption OF the water near the
ferry that tells Of q school Of
smaller fish being pursued by
sharks or kingfish. or amberjacks.
1t In a brilliant, vital panorama Of
| life, water clear, warm sunshine,
and gigantic white clouds.
IL you arrtve at Key West IN
the afternoon, do mot fail to make
| visit to the turtle wharves.
There you will see tiny sailing
| craft that have come up from the
Cayman Islands, Nicaragua, Column.
bia, and all parts of the West In
| dies, with turtles for the northern
markets.
You with see San Bias Indians
tail Jamacians, and burly Caymon
Islanders, working over their boats,
painting them, repairing, rigging
and otherwise preparing them for
the long trip homeward. Fleets OF
| tiny fishing craft are packed be-
| tween the wharves.
Negro women, with bright ban
| danaS wound about their heads are
selling fish, crying out their wares
in high-pitched voices. The hay
| Is full OF color, rich with sugges
tons of adventure. And after sup
per, instead Of going to the movies
stroll around the town with your
eyes and ears on the alert. You
viii hear the soft tongue OF Spain
as often az English, drifting bits
Of conversation from verandas, fol
everyone lies on his veranda In
the evenings.
Song and Dance.
You will see groups of Cubans
and negroes singing and playing
| guitars and harmonicas-0ne old
fellow dancing . clog dance in an
open shop. The grouping OF build
ings and architecture, the mar
velously picturesque lighting OF the
town, the intimate little scenes oil
family life that one sees through
lighted windows that flank thu
streets make an impression which
for it's richness can not be excelled
| Ii you are determined to get tC