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Letter to Editor
June 13, 1938
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
Leon Saunders writes to the editor of The Citizen, urging county commissioners to delay selling the ferries until the road between Pine Key and Key West is completed over concrete railroad bridges, due to fire risks on wooden bridges that could strand tourists and harm Key West's reputation.
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ANENT SALE OF FERRIES
Editor, The Citizen:
Having read recently that the county commissioners are contemplating disposing of the ferries, I am taking the liberty to suggest that such action be delayed until the road between Pine Key and Key West is completed over the concrete railroad bridges.
The ever-present danger of the highway being closed by a fire on one of the wooden bridges, in which event the ferries would be sorely needed, makes it inadvisable, I think, to sell the ferries at this time.
It does not require much imagination to envision the adverse advertising Key West and Overseas Highway would get if the road should be closed by reason of a fire on one of the wooden bridges, with hundreds of visitors in cars in Key West with no way of getting back to the mainland except by the limited and expensive way of the P. & O. boat.
One of the ferries could be utilized in the meantime as an excursion boat on nearby waters, for fishing parties for visitors who might not be able to afford a party boat. There are a couple of large boats in Miami in similar use. In that way, enough revenue might be acquired to pay for the upkeep of the ferries. However, even if that idea is inadvisable, it is extremely advisable that the ferries be retained until the wooden bridges are displaced by concrete bridges.
LEON SAUNDERS.
221 N.W. 33rd St.,
Miami, Fla.,
June 11, 1938.
Editor, The Citizen:
Having read recently that the county commissioners are contemplating disposing of the ferries, I am taking the liberty to suggest that such action be delayed until the road between Pine Key and Key West is completed over the concrete railroad bridges.
The ever-present danger of the highway being closed by a fire on one of the wooden bridges, in which event the ferries would be sorely needed, makes it inadvisable, I think, to sell the ferries at this time.
It does not require much imagination to envision the adverse advertising Key West and Overseas Highway would get if the road should be closed by reason of a fire on one of the wooden bridges, with hundreds of visitors in cars in Key West with no way of getting back to the mainland except by the limited and expensive way of the P. & O. boat.
One of the ferries could be utilized in the meantime as an excursion boat on nearby waters, for fishing parties for visitors who might not be able to afford a party boat. There are a couple of large boats in Miami in similar use. In that way, enough revenue might be acquired to pay for the upkeep of the ferries. However, even if that idea is inadvisable, it is extremely advisable that the ferries be retained until the wooden bridges are displaced by concrete bridges.
LEON SAUNDERS.
221 N.W. 33rd St.,
Miami, Fla.,
June 11, 1938.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Informative
What themes does it cover?
Infrastructure
What keywords are associated?
Ferries Sale
Key West
Overseas Highway
Wooden Bridges
Concrete Bridges
Fire Risk
Tourism Impact
What entities or persons were involved?
Leon Saunders
Editor, The Citizen
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Leon Saunders
Recipient
Editor, The Citizen
Main Argument
delay the sale of the ferries until the road between pine key and key west is completed over concrete railroad bridges, due to the risk of wooden bridges catching fire and stranding tourists, which would damage key west's reputation.
Notable Details
Ever Present Danger Of Highway Closure By Fire On Wooden Bridges
Adverse Advertising For Key West And Overseas Highway
Alternative Use Of Ferry As Excursion Boat For Fishing Parties
Reference To Similar Boats In Miami
Limited And Expensive P. & O. Boat As Alternative