The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-07-12
GOOD AND BAD PUBLICITY


kinds of publicity, good and bad. Al good
example Of bad publicity appeared in a
Miami newspaper Monday morning. The
article in question stated the Overseas
Road and Toll Bridge District was facing
receivership.
The strange fact is the idea back of
this piece of unfortunate publicity was to
create sentiment in favor of an appropria-
ton by the highway commission for good
publicity. No one would expect Mark
Byron III, son-in-law of Governor Cone,
and, by act of the bridge commission, pub
licity director of Overseas highway, to
sponsor such bad publicity. It seems
obvious the article was inspired by Byron's
friends who want to see him get along in
the publicity world.
However, the article attacked Man
ager B. NJ Duncan of Overseas highway.
It implied he was opposing large pub
licity program which, it was alleged,
would bring in all the cash needed to keep
the highway on an even financial keel.
The Citizen does not know all the facts,
but can state positively Duncan has never
given any surface indication of his OPP
position to publicity. Rather, he has
courted it and has said he favors an adj
vertising campaign when the commission
can afford it and when it would do most
season.
In this connection, If Duncan is OPP
posing Byron's publicity program, why
doesn't his father-in-law remove him?
Governor Cone can do that very thing by
accepting the signed designations of the
members of the bridge commission which
he obtained when he appointed them, if
they don't remove Mr.. Duncan. Probably
the governor realizes that Duncan has the
confidence of the federal lending agencies
at Washington and is powerful factor in
creating favorable sentiment at the CAPT.
tai for development of the Florida keys.
While the newspaper article to which
we referred gave the impression the an
nual oprating costs of Overseas highway
totaled 1929, 900, the fact is the total even
including a principal payment of $4,000
not due until 1910, will amount to $274,-
600 annually. This expense does exceed
by $4,000 the revenues reported for the
year ended March 81, 1899.
Overlooked was the fact the bridge
commission now has surplus repeatedly
in excess of $4,000. It is estimated the
surplus will be about twice the semi-an-
nual interest payment of $4,000 when it
becomes due Sept. L. There is a substan-
tial sum for surplus every 80 days even
though traffic is below normal this sum-
mer. This surplus will enable the bridge
commission in 1910 to pay interest of
$4,000, principal of $4,000 and oper-
ating expenses of about 100000, even
though the revenues do not increase SUBJ
stantially.
There should be an increase rather
than decrease in highway traffic next
year for two reasons: First, the world
fairs will not be competing for summer
tourist business; second, the bridge commits
sion plans fair publicity campaign next
fall and winter.
Publication of false or misleading
stories indicating the bridge commission is
facing receivership is harmful to. Key West
and Monroe county. It cramps the efforts
of the state road department to enlist fl
nancial assistance of the u. S. Bureau of
Roads in extending the highway from Big
Pine Key to Key West, and the Aqueduct
Commission in its bid for money for a
water pipeline from the mainlandA
We urge our civic-minded citizens and
the public officials to do all they can to
induce the bridge commission to put on a
substantial publicity campaign, even if it
be necessary to increase the highway tolls
But for the love of Key West and Monroe
might delay or kill further federal aid in
extending the highway and in building
water system We need good publicity,
Al ....i.l.o.A.-