Evening star., 1934-07-15
KEY WEST LOOKS
TO FINER FUTURE
Government Plans Trans
forming Island Into
a Bermuda.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
KEY WEST, Fla, July 14.-This
island city, home of 1900 persons
who have surrendered self governing
powers to a friendly receivership by
the Federal Emergency Relief Admin
istration. presents a study in con-
traSts.
Similar resolutions by the city
council and Monroe County Com
mission told of a high percentage of
unemployment and distress resulting
from loss of industry and COM
merce.
Gov. Dave Shotz declared a
state of emergency" and called upon
the F. E. R. A. to take charge of
rehabilitation of the city. Plans
have been made by that organization
to transform this island into the
Bermuda of Florida"
The shuttered homes and balconied
clubs of old Havana here have as
neighbors the latest in American
style residences and Office buildings.
Spanish Much Spoken.
And Spanish may be heard in shops
and homes as often as native English,
1t is a pleasant city, where people
have not forgotten the restfulneSs of
the midday Siesta. and where social
customs and manners retain old
world grace and charm
Key West is primarily port be-
side a great natural harbor Is miles
long. miles wide and with a depth
nowhere less than 80 feet.
The island upon which the city is
built $50 miles southwest of Miami
is the largest of the unCounted string
that drops from the Florida mainland
and reputed to number more than
10000.
Although the greater part Of the
industry moved to Tampa years ago,
enough cigar makers ply their trade
here to impart to the air the pun
gent odor of fine tobacco.
A few spongers still dry their soft
sheep wools" in the sun. and fisher
men bring their catches to market,
displaying multi-hued tropical speci-
mems that rarely reach Northern
tables
The towering skeletons of the Navy
radio station are a constant reminder
that the yards have been closed
A corporals guard mans the Army
encampment. Fort Taylor and a
wstchmans force makes the rounds
at the Navy's base. coaling station,
marine railway and shops and the
S2,500000 submarine station.
Busy Street Scene.
But along DivsI street, spanning
the business section of the city from
water front to water front, Key West
presents the busy street scene Of the
average American city of its size
Within a hundred years Key West
skyrocketed from an uninhabited is
land, sold by its Spanish owner for
50 001 TO a New Jersey merchant trad
ing in Havana, to one of the South S
chief ports-and then slowly declined.
Development of giant airplaneS and
fast steamers caused tourists and
business men to use Miami and
Tampa as bases for trips 10 Havana,
90 miles across the straits OF Florida
from Key West.
improvement of diving equipment
gave impetus 10 inroads made by the
Tarpon Springs Greek colony on the
Key West sponge industry and caused
its virtual abandonment here.
Sea trains, operating from guilt
ports, carry much of the freight that
once passed through Key West TO and
from Cuba Oil burning ships churn
past the vast docks where vessels of
the world coaled as they moved
through the straits of Florida.
Fire in 1885 destroyed many of the
principal cigar factories and led 70
exodus OF the manufacturers TO
Tampa.
But Key Vests eitizenry. trying 70
ignore the past that is ever-present
in the deserted buildings which housed
great industries. looks toward a fu-
tIre aS the "Rerun6a Of Florida"