The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-06-28

The writer, former resident
% this city, and known to many
of the older generation. as well as
some of she younger men and wom-
en- of Keg West. spent the early
part of his life among the bsauti-
sul charms o. this Island City.
Like many former residents have
done. he left to explore other ter
ritOry end 60 the things he felt
would gle him experience as well
as a better livelihood.
He has this to say about the
future benefit this beautiful Island
City will receive from the open
ing Of highway into the city:
Like the stream of men and
women tlat raraded north to the
Magic City. Miami. when that beau
tifui spot became famous after tie
national highway made it possible
FOR peoDle from the north TO mo-
tor down into the tropics, ta9sa
same men and women who decsFt-
ed Key West-not because of
dislike sdt because of opportunity
and to better their incomes for
liveliheoG TO overcome the sad mis-
fortunes that overeame them
when the proud city was left desti-
tnte,-ag in viii turn about and
trek back home when the Over
seas Higaxxy is completed
krow OF no other spot in the
world that can surpass its beau
~ and natural advantage to the
sportsman, the health seeker OF
the investor and the latter MIST
make his choice early, for when
this highway is ready for traffic,
there viii he a grand rush for real
estate There IS only so much and
no more. and the S.R.0. sign viii
be hanging cut before they would
realize xlllt had happened O.
course, there viii be resaIes and
Improvements and better values
vii make it possible for more
real estate trading right along.
But the opportunity has come,
and KEY West, as We say, Is
Made"
1t toos a terrible Florida hur-
rieane TO bring this about, and
as the verdict was written, "An
act Of the elements Of nature and
God" The hundreds of souls who
persisted in that severe disaster
sacrificed themselves, so to speak,
bUt might have been here TO enjoy
what viii come.
Every Key Wesser should feel
happy today. Taeir beautiful lit
! tie city, full of historical praise
and adventure. viii be "the end
of the trail of beautiful florida. y
Nowhere ma oaa find the Pic
turesque scenes to be found here,
making one think he has left Flor
ida or America upon entering the
quaint historical sight. But Key
West was IN important center
and more of a part of Florida in
years gone by than many of its
larger and more progressive young
cities ever we're. feel certain
that only through political blind
ness that the most strategic point
in the United States south, LOST
its significance in government
planning cnd Improvement. II
stiIl stands today and always will
as the "G.bralter" of America
and no matter how many million
dollars srent for fertilization OF
less important cities along the
coast, in q "pineh", and as a last
resort, during q foreign invasion
you will find Uncle Sam resting
his ships in its snug harbor, which
is second to none. The army and
naval air forces will make this
their jumping of point. for, aft
er al, Key West should be today
one of the most important eli
ports, and naval ports, along the
entire Atlantic border. Congress
knows this. but where do We
stand politically? 1t came tC
light in the recent World War
and it viii again be recognized a.
the most strategic point Of defense
in a foreign invasion.
But now we are to be a pro
gressive tourist center. They cam
stop us iris time, with that road
coming down the line, linking
those many beautiful keys to
gether and making it the mos
picturesque and the creates
oversee highway in the world
There is no other like it, there
will never be another ike it. II
just can't se had any other place
and the Iteome viii mean million.
of tourist in a period Of years