The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-07-08
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90
/ A friend from the west, visiting
in Flo-ide, for the first time,
complained to me that "While
Florida IS nice, it doesn't have
any mountains. She said she
would hate to live in country as
flat and level as this state.
While ] had to admit that we
didn't hare anything like the
Rockies or Sierra Nevadas to
which we ould point with pride,
explained that we had some right
nice little foot hills in Leon, Her
nando, Lake, Polk and few 9TH
er counties.
We may be a bit short on sky
scraper moantcins, but we've got
a network of beautiful stream,
lakes ard rivers, and while you
can't sprain your ankle climbin'
lem or enjoy thousand-foot fall
from slippery ledge, we do have
glorioas time expIorin' EN- in a
pleasure boat, stoppin' every now
and then to snag Big bass or go
/ go for swim.
And speakin' of lakes, rivers
and boating, ! wonder if many
Floridians themselves really APP
preciata what a wonderful asset
this state has in her marvellous
waterways and what it would mean
to US if thew were developed and
connected in one great statewide
system so that the thousands CT
pleasure boat enthusiasts of the
nation could travel about on our
waterways with the ease and COM
fort that the motorist now travels
our highways.
The completion Of the east
coast canal, providing protecting
waters for yachtsmen, immediate
lly brou. hit the nations finest
lpleassre craft to Florida waters
Ia class Of tourists that it is
mighty profitable to entertain.
The opening Of the Okeechobce
canal makes it possible for these
folks to cross the lower part Of
| the state and will bring many
yachtsmen to the west coast.
Moore Haven and other Lake
points are gettin' a taste Of the
| beneficial results that followed
the opening of a new waterway,
for the Democrat reports that
many yachts and small craft
Itrevarsing the new route are stop
4 ping over and always manage to
leave sizeable gobs Of cash with
merchants for supplies and equip
meht.
Il The tourist travelling by water
differs materially from the aver
age rail or motor traveller, for
| they are not in a hurry. They
have plenty of time and plenty OF
money. They buy supplies and
equipment all along their route.
hire guides for fishing trips, stop
over at larger centers to take
motor trips to points Of interest,
and in many other ways contri-
butte 20 the financial advance
ment of the communities they
visit
! Impressed with the advantages
Florida offers the pleasure boat
owner, many end up by securing q
desirable waterfront home and, as
Floridians, become interested in
THE Industrial and agricultural
/ opportunities that exist here and
invest their capital and effort in
/ upbuilding the state.
The next important step in
IF1orida's development should be
/ the completion Of her inland wa
terways system, so that visiting
pleasure craft can find navigable
waters connecting both coasts
with the wonderful lakes and riv-
ers Of interior Florida.
4 Nature has given us 3 perfect
framework upon which to buEd
such system and a little intel
lirent planning backed by our
united efforts should result in
giving Florida the most complete
and comprehensive network OF
| protected waterways to be found