The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-18
BOAKE CARTER IMPRESSED With KEYS
I Return Within Two Months; Yachting Possibaitie.
FISHING; ISLANDS PUBLICITY NEEDS

'esssssssssssssssesss.sss
America, in particular, have you
realized that lone islands existed
within our own national borders,
which Guido the South Seas?
A-No, l never did. America
has the South Seas within her
own backyard and apparently
most Americans don't know it.
Q-How do you like the small
islands located on the cean side
! of the Keys?
Aft they are all like Cook
Island then can realize how
dumb our city slickers are most
of our lives. Here one can live
simply, get our own food for
which you pay fabulous prices up
MOI tn, cook it yourself, eat it,
swim in crystal waters, shoot,
hunt, explore and drop your cares
and worries. 1t only goes to show
that the more we over-civilize
ourselves the more expensive it
is for everyone to live. and the
more the government must Dor
row or tax to pay for more people
on the WPA.
Q-Do you expect to come back
again?
Airy and keep me out!
Q-Have you anything else to
ay or suggest?
Ayes. l think the Federal
Governments lighthouse and
geodetic bureau in conjunction
with the u. S. Army engineers,
Should work to provide a network
of passable channels between the
Keys and the islands on both sides
of the Keys. For the reason that
this would encourage many fish
ermen to establish more camps,
attract more people, sell the
Keys, provide revenue, which in
turn would provide an increased
percentage to the Federal Gov
eminent, to repay part of the
cost. 1t would also encourage
yachtsmen to bring their vessels
INTO good anchorages, free from
open waters. This again would
encourage buyers to purchase
land and so pay taxes. The chan
nels should be marked by buoys
and coast guard patrol estab-
lished along these channels. But
the main thing is that Key West
should appropriate as much as it
can spare, even though increased
if needs be, to put on a publicity
campaign across the nation to at
tract people to the Keys. These
people would return revenue to
the city and permit the relaxation
of the increased taxes for pub
licity. America is merchandise
and promotion conscious. The 160
years history of the u. S. has
been simply promotion. Even
Barnum and Bailey said there
was one born every minute, and
got away with it for half CEN
fury. Key West has something
to sell. Let it do a good mer-
chandising job and it'll be sur
prised to see how many people
come to look around, And their
coming will or should, force local
merchants. financiers and city to
build better hotels, houses, stores
and attractions. Start the ball
rolling in one direction and the
rest takes care of itself. And if
mother city tries to undermine
Key West-by spreading false
rumors, for instance, about Key
Vests water supply-let Key
West not shrink but seize the OPP
portunity-make a huge row
about it-call the other city a liar
or words TO that effect-denounce
the tramps in the other city and
make publicity issue out of tbs
whole thing-which will cause
other newspapers to pick the
argument and write about it for
all to read. Be talked about. Put
on ballyhoo stuff. Pay good
publicity man, even at the ex-.
pense of the taxpayers, which may
make them zap. but so what?
Either sell Key West or let if die.