The Key West Citizen

City Should Take Maue's Bight Plan, Says King, Between Greetings

Dave King, former city manager, stood on the City Hall corner this morning smoking a pipe and wearing a blue T-shirt and light tan pants. For half an hour or more he was occupied in conversation as old friends came up and shook hands.

"You look good and healthy," said one Key Wester. "Sure, feel it," replied King. "Put on about 15 pounds. I keep pretty active, and don't put on too much here," he added, patting his stomach.

King said he is raising oranges and grapefruit at Naranja, near Homestead, and having the time of his life. He is visiting at the home of Mrs. J. J. Marks on Roosevelt Boulevard for two or three days. He said he hoped to see his old friend, W. Gregory Maue, of the Maue Oil Co., New York.

Unfortunately, Maue is in New York for a short time, although his wife and daughter are here.

"The city passed up a good deal when they didn't accept Maue's proposal to develop part of Garrison Bight," King said. "Maue handed the city something on a platter and the city passed it up. Maue has the backing for something like that.

"Key West needs somebody like Maue, who has had experience in yachting and knows what the fellows from New York want. One yacht here is worth more than 1000 tourists because they stay here all winter, bring in friends, have their boats repaired and buy entirely from local merchants.

"I know that for a fact because I put in docks at Harbor Springs, Mich. I know what it means to a community. Those docks were 550 feet long and 50 feet wide and paid for themselves in the taxes paid by the yachtsmen."

"That's the sort of thing Maue wanted to bring to Key West," the former city manager declared.

King made his observations between numerous handshakes with passing acquaintances.