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Editorial
February 11, 1956
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
The editorial advocates for building roads on the Florida Keys to spur development, referencing past figures like T. T. Thompson and Charles Pent, and highlights the Monroe County commissioners' plan for seven lateral roads connected to the Overseas Highway, predicting growth on islands like Big Pine Key.
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BUILDING OF ROADS ON THE KEYS MEANS STEPPING-UP DEVELOPMENTS
The late T. T. Thompson, at one time a one-third part owner of The Citizen, often said, "Developments follow the construction of roads."
But that saying was not new with him. It has been said in that way or in different ways by many another man. The late Charles Pent, former Key Wester, who was county clerk of Hillsborough up to the time of his death, put Thompson's statement in another way, but with a similar implication.
Pent owned a tract on Key Largo, and had been trying for many years to have a road built to it. The county commissioners were willing and anxious to construct the road, but several owners of intervening acreage refused to give the county the right of way. Pent said: "I own that tract, but of what good is it to me without a road running to it?"
He had intended to build on his acreage as soon as negotiations had been completed to construct the road he had proposed. At present, scores of owners of land on the Keys, now cut off by woods from the highways, will be ready to construct buildings as soon as roads are built to their properties.
That was good news in The Citizen Wednesday that the Monroe county commissioners had decided to build seven roads on the Keys. Those lateral roads will be connected with the Overseas Highway, and you may be sure that their construction will result in developments.
Consider Big Pine Key, the second largest in the group of Florida Keys, with comparatively high land except in a few minor instances. Were a score of lateral roads built on it lending to the highway from the Gulf Stream and Florida Bay sides of it, within a few years it would have many times more buildings on it and a far greater population than it has today.
What is true of Big Pine is also true of Keys generally in the lower and upper chain. The growth of those Keys depends primarily on the construction of roads.
Much has been said about the coming of the time when many villages or small cities will dot the Keys, but that time will be slow in coming unless more roads and still more roads are constructed.
"Developments follow roads." Give the Keys more roads, and developments are bound to follow.
The late T. T. Thompson, at one time a one-third part owner of The Citizen, often said, "Developments follow the construction of roads."
But that saying was not new with him. It has been said in that way or in different ways by many another man. The late Charles Pent, former Key Wester, who was county clerk of Hillsborough up to the time of his death, put Thompson's statement in another way, but with a similar implication.
Pent owned a tract on Key Largo, and had been trying for many years to have a road built to it. The county commissioners were willing and anxious to construct the road, but several owners of intervening acreage refused to give the county the right of way. Pent said: "I own that tract, but of what good is it to me without a road running to it?"
He had intended to build on his acreage as soon as negotiations had been completed to construct the road he had proposed. At present, scores of owners of land on the Keys, now cut off by woods from the highways, will be ready to construct buildings as soon as roads are built to their properties.
That was good news in The Citizen Wednesday that the Monroe county commissioners had decided to build seven roads on the Keys. Those lateral roads will be connected with the Overseas Highway, and you may be sure that their construction will result in developments.
Consider Big Pine Key, the second largest in the group of Florida Keys, with comparatively high land except in a few minor instances. Were a score of lateral roads built on it lending to the highway from the Gulf Stream and Florida Bay sides of it, within a few years it would have many times more buildings on it and a far greater population than it has today.
What is true of Big Pine is also true of Keys generally in the lower and upper chain. The growth of those Keys depends primarily on the construction of roads.
Much has been said about the coming of the time when many villages or small cities will dot the Keys, but that time will be slow in coming unless more roads and still more roads are constructed.
"Developments follow roads." Give the Keys more roads, and developments are bound to follow.
What sub-type of article is it?
Infrastructure
What keywords are associated?
Road Construction
Florida Keys
Development
Infrastructure
Big Pine Key
Overseas Highway
What entities or persons were involved?
T. T. Thompson
Charles Pent
Monroe County Commissioners
The Citizen
Big Pine Key
Florida Keys
Overseas Highway
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Benefits Of Road Construction On Florida Keys For Development
Stance / Tone
Supportive Of Building More Roads To Promote Growth
Key Figures
T. T. Thompson
Charles Pent
Monroe County Commissioners
The Citizen
Big Pine Key
Florida Keys
Overseas Highway
Key Arguments
Developments Follow The Construction Of Roads
Owners Of Land On The Keys Will Build Once Roads Access Their Properties
Monroe County Commissioners Decided To Build Seven Roads On The Keys Connected To The Overseas Highway
Lateral Roads On Big Pine Key Would Lead To More Buildings And Population
Growth Of The Keys Depends Primarily On Road Construction
More Roads Are Needed For Villages Or Small Cities To Develop On The Keys