The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-08
KEY WEST IN NATIONAL LIMELIGHT

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published the story in Tuesdays issue, and
this is another benefit this city is receiving
as the result of the national defense plans
now being inaugurated in Washington,
which is recognizing the Importance of
Key West as Naval base when exigencies
may require its operation. In referring to
this brighter outlook for Key West, the
Jacksonville Times-Union, always ex-
hibiting friendly attitude toward this
,, community, has the following comprehen-
sive editorial which undoubtedly will be
eagerly ready by the readers of The Citi-
zen:
Among the many benefits that will accrue to
Florida communities from national defense plans,
which are being conferred to noticeable extent on
the Sunshine Peninsula, will be the new lease on
life they will give Key West
While plans are proceeding with speed to-
ward establishment of the Naval Air Base at
Jacksonville, with auxiliaries on the Banana
River, near Cocoa, and at the mouth of the ST.
Johns River; the Army Air Base at Tampa; the
Army Air Corps Proving Grounds at Valparaiso
the new National Guard Training Station in the
vicinity of Keystone Heights, other features of
the program also will aid this State.
An order has been issued by the Navy De-
partment to reopen the Key West Naval Station,
as another measure toward guarding the neu-
trality of the United States in the Caribbean 1t
is not unlikely that the defense program
tinues to expand and become stabilized the future
will see further broadening of facilities at Key
West, including Strengthening of facilities at
Fort Taylor and adding to the scope of the Naval
Station there.
That location would excellent
jumping off place for planes and naval vessels
operating in cooperation with those to be sta
toned at Puerto Rico in the event that exigencies
necessitated or required such action in dealing
with foreign craft that threatened the territory of
the Western Hemisphere.
Such concentration of forces on the Island of
Key West would mean much to the people of
that community who have been seriously hit dur
ing the last two three decades.
Key West first was recognized i'm
portant point in American defense plans when
warshps of the Nation were based there in 1922.
Subsequently it became of the most i'm
portant of all u S. Naval Stations. It was cap
tured by the North during the War Between the
States Again it was used as an important base
during the Spanish-American War, and again dur
ing the World War During the latter period it
was the base for submarines
Throughout this period the cigar manufac-
turing industry there was conducted on a scale
that gave employment to thousands of workers.
Prosperity was enjoyed by the people who num-
bered several times the present population.
Then came the curtailment of the Naval Base,
which was an accompaniment to the removal of
most of the cigar factories to Tampa, and the
terrific blow suffered during the early days of
the depression. Finally, in 1882, the Naval Base
was virtually abandoned-at time when it was
needed most, and had it not been for aid extended
by the Federal relief agencies, the people would
indeed have been in dire straits ~ $fN
Construction of the Overseas Highway which
made use of the old road bed and what was left
of the bridges of the Florida East Coast railway
that was destroyed by the hurricane of several
years ago, served as the first step toward a new
lease of life for the Key West community. In
crease of defense facilities will bolster this to
extent that brings encouragement to the people OF
the city.
Lions Clubs of Southeast Florida have set an
example which, if followed by others, would go
far toward the development of a cooperative
program of aid that would mean much to the Key
Westers Representatives of IA clubs met at
Pigeon Key recently and voted to cooperate in
plans for sending down the Overseas Highway
and through Key West many delegates and
others attending next years Lions International
convention at Havana as they possibly can. A
committee was named representing the IA clubs
to work out publicity program and cooperate in
the effort.
Between $4,000 and 10000 persons are
pected to attend the convention. Everyone sent
via Key West will be that much more toward