The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-07-10
Porter Feels Bridge Matter
Should Be Part OF Program
In Key West Rehabilitation
Chairman OF Overseas
Road And Toll Bridge
Commission Heard On
Subject

OuDyeCt
William r. Porter, chairman Of
the Overseas Road and Toll Bridge
commissiOn, who has been in
WAshington for the past several
weeks in the interest of securing
loan for the proposed project.
arrived in Miami yesterday to
confer with other members of the
commission. including Henry H.
Taylor, general counsel for the
organization.
Mr.. Porter is represented as
having said that "Key West as
the American Bermuda can be-
come a reality by completion Of
the Miami to Key West section of
the Overseas Highway"
Mr.. Porter, a member of the
Monroe County Board of Com
missioners, voted in favor of the
federal emergency relief adj
ministration taking over Key
West for rehabilitation purposes.
While in Miami, he will also con-
fer with Frank B. Shuts. another
outstanding member of the bridge
commission.
Much In Need
CONSTRUCTION of the bridge is
necessary if the federal emer-
gency relief administration plans
for Key West are 70 be success
full" Mr.. Porter said. He pointed
out that the bridge viii complete
United States Highway number
one from Calais, Me-, to Key
West, and will afford motorists
an opportunity to proceed to Cuba
through use of the ferries now in
operation.
SIN the course of time" he ex-
planned, "this highway will be the
Eastern branch of the Pan Amer
lean highway. II will be CON
tinued from Cuba to Yucatan and
through the Wayan country to the
Central American countries and
the Panama Canal, there to join
with the highways of South
America" Mr.. Porter added that
the Panama Canal will be 1.60O
miles closer to Washington by the
Eastern branch of the Pan Amer
lean highway than by the Western
branch going through Texas and
Mexico.
T Referring to the bridge. he
said: "This project of ours is alb
solutely a sound one. We have
had the plans and estimates re-
vised and instead of seeking a
loan Of about 81. 100000 we will
submit one for $4,O0O.OO0 and one
for SIS, 100000. Under these plans
the bridge will not be as massive
as provided by the original plans
but one which certainly will last
beyond the life of the bonds and
beyond the period Of showing the
necessity for such a bridge.
"The engineers in Washington
now are preparing the new plans
and they will be submitted within
the next week or 10 days"
OF Great Value
He continued: "The project I'M
questionabIy will pay out The
investment in the Overseas high
way will be of more value to the
people of southern Florida than
expenditures of millions in direct
relief. The scenic route contem-
plates three long bridges connect
ing the highway already built,
which now is served in the water
covered areas by ferry boats"
Mr.. Porter pointed out the present
handicap in reaching the lower
Florida keys by highway because
of ferry costs and loss of time. He
said seven hours now is required
to traverse the 156 miles between
Miami and Key West, and that the
ferry charges total from 81 to
$3.50, depending upon the size OF
the automobile"
"All that remains now" he
continued, Ito obtain favorable
action is to convince the public
works administration that the use
of the highway and bridges. TO be
operated on a toll basis, will be
sufficient to make the project
self-liquidating."