The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-01-20

Public Resentf1l ToDard
Many Acts OF Vandalism

Under the authority of the WPA and sponsored
by the Key West Garden Club and the Key West
Womans Club, a Identification Project was begun
in Key West which had for its object the establish
ing in streets and parks of the most glorious col
States
No city in the country can vie with Key West in
this particular 1t is our peculiar advantage and with
our climate but very few years need eapse before
we can command the admiration of the world
Thousands of dollars have been expended and
expended with degree of efficiency not often ex-
perienced in projects
of the work Miss Parker has passion for growing
trees and plants and her generous contribution of the
contents of her nursery, gave Key West wealth of
material which would not have been within its reach
under the required proportion of expense to be
divided between labor and material if it had been
necessary to purchase it. @A
All this has been subject to destruction by van
public print The mental and moral status of a
creature who from utter wantonness would ruin a
mahogany Ponciana which in few years would
be pride to the neighborhood can not be COM
pretended by decent people.
With satisfaction it is noted that the sheriff has
now offered reward of $4,000 for the detection of
the public enemies who have done this damage to our
city When the offenders detected their punish
ment should be adequate to put stop to this out
rage.
In editorial printed in The Citizen on De-
cember o. protest made against this reprehen-
sibe vandalism, and by request the editorial is re-
printed below:
'1t is bitter and humiatng confession make-that
we have in Key West certain persons a low and
coward mentality that they wuy destroy young
trees and up-root valuable shrubbery.
"There is but way that redeem our city from
the reproach of harborng such vermn that by
ing absolutely clear to them the world
they will be sought out and given ample opportunity
realize that there no place for vandas civilized
munty
f they merely destroying priceless thing we
call beauty there might be those among u.s. sharing
estimate of the worth of beautiful things
that defacing work of art matter; that the
only things that the things that
in dollars and
"But by the standard of that can be as
certained at public auctions, this destroying
planted along the streets of the city, may be costly
people the crime Of and should be sernly
pressed.
Here in Key West we have caught the vision of city
of streets uncovered in long, shaded
which be found that luxury Of shade and breeze that
be found nowhere else in the United States which
will add hundred-fold to the summertime living
this favored island This ideal being realized
planting being done a scale before
tempted and which, in this climate will within the space
few years show results that elsewhere could be attained
within a generation
eve call the city authorie to guard the interests
entrusted them, exercise whatever be required of
special vigilance put definite stop to the eprehensble
wealth and dprecatng the value those individually
ed properties located where their contemplate
ried
TOO much il at stake to permit of remaining inert
and supne while element worthless and vicious at
naugh this phase of the regeneration Key West
item its claim the regard the American
public the country lovely place of abode
we'll a winter
Compare the value OF residence bleak, unshaded
and similar residence approached by glorious
Royal Poncianas MahOganes join The C
its determination protect public and private values
in Key West"