The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-07-02
History Of The Overseas Highway
(COntinued)

CeutTale0 cIIofJ required over
two months.
On the evening Of Monday
October 10th. 1882, the prcsenta-
lion having been finished during
1rat day the committee left for
1he National Capital; and at 9
O'Clock on Wednesday morning,
Columbus Day, October 18TH,
made formal application for the
Overseas Highway bridge loan to
fHr total Of Sl0,750.000
The bridge corporation was in
fte position either from a legal
nr q financial or an engineering
.aeHp point to answer every ques-
ton that could arise during con
Liberation Of the application
While il was pending the Corpor-
alton gained influential support
from Edward T. Gam, husband
Of the half-sister Of Vice Presi-
dent Curtis. and E c. Finney,
olcltor Of the Department Of the
Interior Mr. Gam, a lawyer Of
I.fe agreed to represent the Cor
poratIon legally before the Re
construction Finance Corporation,
and Mr. Finney said ne would
heartily support the application
stsa % anne to MS department.
Purposes of Corporation
iu MS articles Of incarceration
TIE purposes Of the bridge cor
pofation were set forth as fol
lows.
10 own and construct toll
irdges over the long water gaps
81 the Overseas Highway
TO purchase and sell real cs-
tate and personal property.
To borrow money from the
United States and from the State
~ Florda
TO exercise all rights i'm any real
state acquired
To carry on a general merchan-
alslng business.
TO acquire real estate and toll
bridge franchises and to general
Iy perform - make contracts of
any kind to obtain the detectives
~ the Corporation
The principal office Of business
was authorized to be in Miami
with the privilege Of having
branch offices within or without
the State.
Only IN one respect did the
Overseas Bridge Corporation meet
with opposition. That was from
George J. Rosenthal Of Chicago
who some time before had been
granted a franchise or a franchise
option by the Commissioners Of
Monroe County That option with
several extensions or renewals
covered period of over two
years and was dated to termi-
nate December 81, 1892.
Before the last renewal had ex-
pred Mr. Essential filed with
the county commissioners a pa
per which he called a bond made
in the sum OF $500, 600, and he be
gan action 10 have declared in
valid the franchise the State
Road Department had granted
the Corporation.
Mr.. RosenUhal was successful
IN the first case but the Bridge
Corporation returned the fire and
instituted quo warranto proceed
ings IN the Supreme Court to
have the option declared null and
void Handing down a decision
five 10 one, the Supreme Court
found the Rosenthal option in
valid and the Chicago man step
ped out Of the picture and was
not again heard from. SO far as
the construction of the projected
long bridges was concerned.
Roosevelt Takes Helm
BY that time things we're NOV
ing swiftly in Washington Frank
iin d Roosevelt had been inaug-
urated President and he showed
in a brief time that ne was a man
81 action who wanted action In
the program he and his advisers
had prepared with the objective
81 putting an end 20 the depreS-
sion
Basis az that program lay in the
creation Of q Board of Public
WORKS NTH an arD-.t,ri.t,,., ,f