The Key West citizen., 1952-07-24
Observations
Of An Adopted
"Conch"
BY cemdr. Ray W. syrns Retire,

More about the Dog Racing
Track and q Little about the
grabbing of the Bay Bottom Lands.
A Restaurant owner friend of
mine who operates one Of the nj
Ger medium priced eating places
in Key West, and whose patrons
in the winter months are about 10
percent tourist, said to me the 9TH
er day II like your views on the
dog racing track question" He
was referring to my article that
appeared in the Citizen on July
18th.
what, I replied, land you a
restaurant man."
Eyes, he said, and then went on
somewhat in these words. i.
"You see, when I take my vaca.
ton trip with my wife / 60 to the
Bank here in Key West and buy
some travellers checks equal to the
amount that / feel l can afford
to spend on my trip gasoline, no.
tel and eating expenses etc, both
going and returning. When my
checks begin to run low I return
to Key West"
And So", he continued 81 fl
gure it is the same with the tourists
who come to Key West in the win
ter months and from whom l de-
rive good business. They are not
the loud sporty kind of people,
flashing lots of dough, but in the
main they are plain every day
Americans like my wife and my
SELF family people. They also ira
vel as l do with a fixed amount of
Travellers Checks in their posses.
sion to cover the cost of their
once a year vacation. II We have
a dog track down here operating
during the Tourist Season, these
people. who, like myself, are not
addicted to habitual gambling but
like to take chance now and then,
viii be enticed to the Dog Track.
Ii they should drop $40 to $4,000
which they can i'll afford to lose,
they will Immediately cut their
Key West visit short and start for
home, Just as I would have to do"
WELL" said /, "you have GER.
tainly brought forth a good angle.
Sorry / didn't think of it when I
wrote my article. but I was think
ing more or less of the effect the
dog track would have on the take
home pay Of our people and the
losses to our merchants.
But liked your appraisal" he
replied, The moral issue has lit
tie appeal TO me-" And then he
continued You see il is this way.
l personally see no more wrong in
placing bet over the phone than
going in person to the mutual
window at the track and placing
1t. But as a Key West businessman
depending to big extent on the
fal and winter tourist trade, I am
concerned about the possible loss
to my business during the racing
season. The track doubtless would
operate at a time when I am TAX
ing in the most money"
Logical, and food for thought.
Don't you think so?
And another. believe, worth
while conch observation. The loss
OF some Of our North Beach water.
front and now the new encroach
ments on Roosevelt Blvd.
What about IT. Isn't Il time for
m aroused citixenry and our City
Council TO do something Isn't II
possible for the City officials. il
they have nos already done 50. 10
take immediate concerted acton
and obtain the States approval 10
sell no more Roosevelt Blvd and
Garrison Blight bottom lands TO pri.
vase parties thus preserving our
dwtndlIng Gulf Of Mexico water
frOnfs
Or failing in this method. 50 into
cuzrs ard use every legal means
TO stop further enrroachmenis And
cf mere importance, 10 stop the
further filing 10 cf Garrsson Blight
ard Roosevelt Blvd waserfruns
land 70 aryore having already