The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-04-06
new OVERSEAS HIGHWAY IS
READY FOR TOURIST CARAVAN
By HUGH KANE
I'm Cleveland (Ohio) News of March 30l

You can tell the real Mccoy"
in old houses easily down here.
They need paint and need it very
much. The salt spray has wash
ed away whatever paint was
originally on these old houses.
The upper crusts" have gone in
for painting and repairs. This is
a pretty good sign of new wealth
or a new owner. The islanders
don't go in for these airs very
much. AS for a chimney? That's
just showing off.
Today Key West is making a
struggle to attract new industry
the tourist trade. But struggle
is not unknown TO this island that
came from the sea. Its history has
been one of conquest and defeat.
One hundred years ago this
small spot in the Atlantic was
rated as one of the richest sea-
ports in the new world. In 1884
Key West was the most destitute
and helpless city in the United
States.
1t was at this crisis that Uncle
Sam took a hand and sponsored
a plan to rebuild Key West The
overseas highway is the major
link in this program. Without
the highway and bridges to sthe
mainland, Key West seemed
doomed Today tourists are
making the l60-mile drive down
from Miami.
Each morning you find these
visitors strolling the streets, visit
inc the worlds only tropical
open-air aquarium, which is real
ly worth the drive if Key West
had nothing else to offer. You
are then at the fish docks when
the deep sea fishing boats are
bringing in their catch. You find
them at the sponge auction
when the sponge boats dock to
sell their cargoes.
At evening you find them in
the little cafes in and around Du-
val st.
Key West is a mixture of New
England, South Carolina, Cuba
and the Bahamas. This mixture is
reflected in the cafes. The ma
jority, however. are Spanish or
Cuban. Here the competition IS
most keen for trade.
Sometimes you can tell the diff
ference between the Cuban and
American coffee. If you can stir
it. the chances are il is Ameri-
can. The Cuban is different You
can slice it. These little cafes
will not remind you OF Monaco's,
Allendorf's, Fisher-Rohr's or
Stouffer's back home. The at
mosphere is more on par with
Bill LAWYERS late Hole in the
Wall.
Before Going TO Key West
Brush UP on Cycling
If you are planning a trip TO
Key West and intend TO stay a
little while, be sure you brush up
on your cycling. Your bicycle Is
as important as your bathing suit
and is more useful. EVERYBODY
pedals along here. Not on the
sidewalks. but in the streets, and
motorists must watch out for the
cyclists.
You can rent a brike for an
hour or a month il you do not
want 20 buy or bring one. But
cycle you must. II takes q motor
vehicle. boat or plane 10 land you
here. but after that you can get
around this small island very well
II youth pedal just a little. and
you'll see more than you will In
your car
Key West Is dreaming again OF
q great day. II has dreamed be
fore. but is dreams have met
with disaster u Is forgetting
the days when IL was q great
army base. Il Is forgetting the
rich salvage cargoes Of silks. sil-
yer. china and art treasures. TAX
en from ships that went down on
the Keys.
II IS forgetting the onee-thFiv-
ing sponge industry ~ this port
the pineapple industry which
sent It's products al over the
world It is forgetting the boom
days Of its cigar making era, but
IL Is reminded 81 these BY the
empty shells 81 ghoSt-iike fac
tories which today stand aban-
eloned II b. forgetting the dream
Il dreamed when FlsgleT pushed
his railroad rails down over the
coral reefs and trains came 70
Key West When the storm wasb-
~ oIt the rallruad the island saw
its last hope blasted
The travel folders Y0a pick up
around Miami tell you mat Key
West is past 675 miles further
south thsn q ioEn 10 Egypt
known IS Ca.ru The travel fold
ern missed the guess ~ about 100
miles. bat 4 you roll into Key
West At abeat ; O'Clock O.
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