The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-03-11
Papy Praised
For Priority
Granted By
Defense Agency
by Susan MeAvey

Complete identification
of the Lower Keys includ-
ing Big Pine by July | is
made possible by the alum
'inum priority granted vest
erdayl to City Electric Syst
|em by the Defense Electric
Power Administration in
Washington.
Senators George Smath-
ers and Spessard Holland,
and Representative Bill
Lantaff wired The Citizen
that the DEPA had just adj
vised it has allocated "criti-
cal materials for construc-
ton of power line from Key
West to Big Pine Key"
State Representative Bernie C..
Papy, who made tive extensive
trips to Washington to press for
the priority after the initial rebuff
last April hailed the DEPA action
as the signal for a new era In the
Lower Keys.
1.-THE trips were made 10 Wash.
inqton, taking with Us brochures
Of actual need for power, the
many calls we made - all have
borne fruit" Rep. PspY told The
Citizen.
Rep. Papy and c.. A, Van Deur:
sen, general MANAGER Of City FL
ectric took with them TO DEPA
studies and pictures Of the actual
dwellings and industries on the
Lower Keys.
"The credit belongs to MIR.
Papy," said Van Deursen.
The DEPA ALLEGATION permits
City Electric System $4,000 pounds
C aluminium for the transmission
line to Big Pine Key. This material
will cost only two-thirds as much
as the equivalent in copper wire or
Copperweld wire. Van Deursen said
that aluminium was the only ma
terial available at this time and Is
being used increasingly in the war
shortaged nation.
Bids on the overall construction
jos will be advertised Immediately.
Work can start within a month c.
two months, and the building Of
the line should be completed two
to three months after that Van
Deursen said.
u will be the longest extension
Of power lines In City Electric
history. Home owners and bust.
s; ness coneeErs will get me iden. :
tiesi electric, serviee.tss DO Key
Westers, Rates will 10 scaled &C. :
eordingly. IA H% bnF y'i3 -
State Rep. Papy conferred twice
with C. T. Hurd. top man at the
DEPA urging the granting Of the
critical material.
The success was jubilantly hailed
by Lower Keys Property Owners
Association leaders who have been
pressing hard for identification
since their organization was forme,
a year ago. These landowners will
now be able to start development
of properties, long postponed be-
cause of lack Of power. c. Sam b.
Curry, secretary Of the Association
told The Citizen:
This is The most important
event In fhe history o. Lever
Keys development. New IRE Keys
cen really be epened up 10 &C.
commcdste ihe ever.srcwing per.
msnens population Of me Keys"
Homeowners who nov eat and
read by kerosene lamp or candle
light for lack OF power. viii be
able TO electrify their homes and
obtain much needed electrical
equipment for domestic use.
Contractors and builders. haadi-
capped by lack Of power, win now
be able to accelerate Their bail1iag
OF homes. service stores. and other
structures.
The area between Key West and
Big Pine Key, formerly in CON-
parative darkness. will now be-
come lighted along with the rest
of the Keys.
Utility Board members viii de-
eide today on the specific advertis.
ing Of bids fer the job.