The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-02-19
P. MORAN WRITES CRITICISM OF
REPORT MADE TO UNITED STATES
COURT4BY RAILROAD OFFICIALS

means through the many agen-
cies at hand?
Paragraph GIL: in re cost
of building Suffice it to say that
responsible bidders are at hand
who will rebuild damaged portions
of the railroad estimated in your
report value at one and eight
tenths millions and two and "a
hundredths millions, for the
amount of one half million doi-
lars.
Paragraph 10: What connec-
ton exists between the present
rebuilding and the earlier costs
of damage? This reference nei-
Their adds to nor detracts from
the said RR to Key West and the
benefits to be derived by your
people. If federal aid is needed
to support this benefit to your
people is it no less valuable than
that other public buildings which
all the people pay for? After all
it is the peoples property which
furnishes the revenue base for
taxation. Corporations merely
serve the public by delegated
powers derived from the consent
of the governed. If the corpora
tons were properly controlled.
for the benefit of the public, in
stead of granted special priv
ileges, the profits should not be
so great on account of the money
invested.
paragraphs 1916: 1t is true
that competition has crept in and
due to the depression there has
been a noticeable fall in all lines
of business. This ought not to be
held as the fault of Key West or
lack of business from Cuba. On
the other hand, we must advise
that with the present reciprocity
treaties between our Island Re-
public and the United States,
there is to be greater business
than ever sprung up. The tourist
business from the states to Cuba
has not been crippled because of
internal strife in Cuba, but be-
cause of lack of money in the
states, for the support of touring
In the argument in Paragraph Is
presented, the effect on the sit
uation in Key West is hard to see,
il it ever would have come
through that port. Also the
shrinkage noted in Paragraph Ia,
is admitted. but why the falling
off? The business in the United
States fell from 105 billions dur
ing the same period to about half
that amount, and every railroad
lost business in the same time but
they still had the same overhead.
In Paragraph Is. it is hard to see
just how the I. C. c. rulings
would initiate against the outlet
of goods shipped from Havana to
Key West, which will give at least
10 hours quicker delivery than is
possible now.
Paragraphs 1920: 1t viii be
noted that from 1890 to 1900 the
population of Key West reached
over 1900. The beginning OF
the extension in 1905 was deem
ed advisable and was not complet-
ed until late in 1916. Most of the
extension, claimed as so very
heavy a burden of upkeep, was
completed after the chief indus
tries left. The change in trade re-
lations caused most of the slump
in business relations, but since
the reciprocity, mentioned above
is in force, the former business
will be resumed. Tourists will in.
crease in ever larger numbers as
the "hard times" leave under the
New Deal, and IL Paragraph q
states the truth, the fact that 9TH
er more expensive travel finds il
profitable to carry passengers to
Key West, why will not the F. E.
C. RY. reap the benefits of those
by carrying them to Key West
We might go on indefinitely max
ing statements for the purpose OF
creating suggestions as to the flu
ture possibilities, but everything
considered we know mere state
ments do not make truth MOI
strengthen argument. Opinion:
without facts to support them. Oh
half facts. fan in line with mis-
representation. 80 f-z7
"The literature published and
spread broadcast as to the rayag
ing beauty and scenic grandeur OF
| nature along this Keys route doe:
not do justice to the real beauty
as enjoyed by the people who have
travelled over it i'm the past years
Either the F. E. C. did advertise
this as the most wonderful stretch
| of sightseeing, or it did not. II
it did so inform its patrons as te
this magnificent trip, it was Ell
Their a stretch of the imagination
m. n xxrns +ho roo1 %r,,%h We cor