The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-01-07
DEMERITT GIVES
ADDRESS CITING
WATER ROUTE
INTERESTING TALK HEARD
AT REGULAR MEETING OF
COUNTY BOARD CONDUCT.
ED LAST NIGHT

w AA1AdIAl w CC1AAOAAtes
tendent of lighthouses addressed
the meeting Of county commission
ers last night and gave. an inter-
esting tax on the advantages of
the intracoastal waterway in the
event it was extended from Bahia
Honda, its present termination, to
Key West.
During his elaboration of the
effect on traffic between Miami
and Key West the extension of the
canal would have on Key West
and intervening territory between
this port and Miami, Mr.. Demeritt
cited instances where his depart
ment's tenders had been held up
because of weather conditions,
and in one instance tender had
been forced to remain weather
bound for IL days.
Stresses Need
He stressed the need of imme-
date action on the matter, point
ing out that with congress in SEES
sion it would be possible to secure
the cooperation of Co'onel G. A.
Youngberg, U. S. Engineers, re
tired, who has displayed a keen
interest in the development of
the waterway to Key West.
Colonel Youngberg was at the
meeting of the Florida Inland
Navigation District commission
held in Key West on December /
and at that time said that "He
could see no real obstacle to the
realization of this, desire on the
part of Key West and its inhab.
itants, but knew that to bring
this about would require unceas.
ing work and continual applica'
ton to the furtherance of the
ideavsaforesthe desired goal coulC
be reached"
Further along in his talk or
that evening when he was heard
by a large group of Key Wester'
and his associates. the colone
said, while he felt that the ex
tension of the waterway would be
eventually accomplished. he die
not believe it could be done unles:
the city or county could provide
certain funds, as he did not re
call one instance where this wa
not demanded by the govern
ment."
| Continuing Mr.. Demeritt salt
that should Colonel youngsters
services be secured at this time
and he be furnished the neces
sary data he believed the prelim
mary survey could be made ant
the necessary action be gottel
through at this session TO con
gress.
| Mr.. Porter agreed with Mr.. De
merit and said that in his opin
ion the time was ripe. for concert
ed action in this matter and hav'
all plans under wav at once.
In Hearty Accord
He recalled the fact that Colo
mel Youngberg had expresses
himself as being heartily in &C
cord with the movement and wa
ready to undertake the survey an
other preliminary work wheneve
he was called upon to do so.
Continuing Mr.. Porter said tina
if the commissioners were thor
oughly in accord with the ide
and were eager to have the mat
ter carried through to its final
ity, he believed he could arrang
the loan for funds to be place
: at the disposal of Colonel Young
berg with which to make the in
itial survey and get it in shap
for presentation to congress.
He. then thanked Mr.. Demerit
for his talk and evidenced desir
to cooperate to the fullest exten
} and in any way possible lend hi
assistance in furthering the CON
pletion of the waterway to he
West. In conclusion he said tina
Mr.. Demeritt had, because of hi
/ position, become thoroughly az
quainted with every phase of tn
work and knew more about wha
is necessary than any other pei
son and his knowledge had bee
! gained by study and experience.
Mr.. Demeritt was rendered tn
congratulations of the board an
/ a vote of thanks given for his II
terest and assurances of coopers
= ton:
l This morning Mr.. Demeritt sal
1 that he has a great deal of dat
which had been accumulated b
the captains of the tender
: soundings and depths of waite
! the topography of the canal an
many other data relative to tn
4 waterway which would be of il
: estimable interest to Colon'
a Youngberg when he started tn
survey.