The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-06-18
BILL HOWARD
EAGER TO GET
BACK TO HIS
MINE AND POOL
BY SUSAN MeAvoY

More and more Floridians are
turning their eyes southwark to
the Isle of Pines, 80 miles south
of here, the island tie size of Rho
de Island which boasts marble
mountains, as well as the Carib-
bean sea and some of the best
fishing in the West Indies.
Bill Howard, pioneer citrus grow
er, gold mine executive and a bus
mess leader of the Cuban island
arrived in Key West yesterday
with his bride If a month Edith
Howard.
Checking in at La Concha, BlPs
long time favorite, the Island lead
er is enjoying MS brief visit but
eager to get back to the Isla de
Pinos, where he built himself the
showplace Of the Island.
II miss that daily swim in my
thermal spring pool" said the
hale, white haired Lancastershire-
man. That's what keeps me fit
and I'll sure be glad to get back
to IT,"
Former part owner of the ia
nous black sand beach on the
north coast Of the Isle Of Pines,
Howard has been turning over
more of his holdings to the young
err generation so that he can en-
Joy life on his royal.palm studded
estate.
His grapefruit interests are ma.
naged by his nephew Tom Howard,
who operates the busy packing
house at Santa Barbara, is miles
from Neuva Corona, capital of the
Island. The Isle of Pines gold
mine however Is still a major in
terest of Howard's.
Nov that we have a new power
plant we expect to get going agin. :"
he said enthusiasm showing in his
sharp blue eyes.
The Cuban Government has in.
stalled the power plant as part Of
its rural identification program,
Howard said. II has also built a
hard surfaced road from Neuva
Corona almost 70 the mine. Mine
engineers and employees live at the
gold mine which is at Los Indos,
beyond Santa Barbara.
While Howard, a Britisher, has
been letting go some Of his hold.
ings, Key Westers and Key resi-.
dents have been catching on.
The fabulous old Santa Rita ho-
tel has been recently purchased by
a Cuban magnate for whom Al
Mills has been doing the removal.
Ing and reconstruction.
Mills, just returned from the Is.
land, said that the hotel is now
ready for the coming season. He
and his hacker have. called it
Santa Fe," the original name of
the hotel.
Vic Barothy. Keys fishing guide
had booming season at his HUI.
caro- fishing lodge on the Island.
Howard said
The Isle Of Pines Hotel. right in
the heart of Neuva Corona also
doomed.
Sylyio Gargnlio, largest fruit ex,
porter on the lslano and close
friend Of New Yorks Mayor Vim
cent Impellitterri, has recently
bought 200 600 acres Of the virgin
South Coast OF the Island, To over
come the barrier Of swamps which
make South Coast Inaccessible hy
land. Gargulio has built a landing
strip on the South Coast aud keeps
sn 81 feet hoat eaa0y fay the trip
iragn north b. soUtn coast.
Il lis off the South Coast that
world famous fishermen claim is
the hess fShJH2 ii lhe West IN
dies. How ard says G&ggugia. who
is Howard next do0r Beighhog st
Santa Barbara has not as yet
started developing tie miles of
while sand beach Instead he flies
down with his irseada or cruises
Ia Its yacht fer plsasadahls 1syy
of fishlas,
Mrs Howard. . New EHslandef
nsae hec tafss iSip to 'ae island