The Key West Citizen Newspaper, May 3, 1954, Page 9

activity in promoting ‘ Papy, Road Dept. Engineers Study Layout From B. C. To Summerland There is good news today for Keys bridge fishermen. State Representative Ber- nie C. Papy, along with two engineers from the State Road Department began yes- terday a preliminary sur- vey of .keys bridges from Boca Chica to Summerland Key as the latest step in pro- viding the catwalks for use by fishermen. The next step, Papy says, is the drawing of plans by the road de- partment and a call for bids. Monroe County residents may see actual construction begin sooner than they think. And with them will come the end of a hazard which has long been a _Sourcé of concern to motorists along the Overseas Highway. Keting Governor Charley Johns two weeks ago in a speech at Ma- rathon promised keys residents that he would intercede with the State Road Department to obtain the catwalks. Last week, Pap; ap- peared before the Road Board and obtained an appropriation of $50,- 000‘for the catwalks. The Overseas Road and Toll Bridge District then appropriated $83,000. Yesterday's survey covered an area south of the: Big Pine Key toll gate and was of a prelimin- ary nature. No data concerning the actual details of the place- ment and construction have been released although tentative dis- cussions indicated that 300 feet of catwalks may be placed on the Boca Chica Bridge — 150 feet on each side. The 50-thousand dollars that the Road Department has to spend should furnish a total of two thou- * sand feet of catwalks, it has been estimated. Preliminary plans call for the catwalks to be constructed of steel. The weather bureau has been consulted for tide data to aid in the placement of catwalks, Pa- py said. : Surveys. were made at bridges up the keys including Harris Gap Channel, Kemp Channel Viaduct, Lower Sugar Loaf Key and the Bow Channel Viaduct near Sum- merland Key among others. Engineers Kirby Storter and H. P. Williams conducted the survey. E. F. DeVries of Chicago, Ili- nois, a Key West winter visitor fishing from the Kemp Channél bridge yesterday summed up the reaction of fishermen this way: “It’s the best news we’ve heard «in a long time. We come to the keys for two months every winter and love to fish from the bridges, Now we can relax—it’s a bit dan- gerous now.” aS TO THE VOTERS. OF MONROE COUNTY: Herewith are reproduced a few of the Many Stories showing my our Hometown NEWSPAPER, The Key West Citizen KEY WEST, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1954 Survey Starts On Catwalk Project For Keys Bridges KEY WEST, FLORIDA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 2%, 1954 Papy To Meet With State Road Board State Representative Bernie C. Papy announced today that he will meet with fhe State Road Department Wednésday and Thursday in Tallehassee as the first ‘step in obtaining a series of catwalks on bridges along the keys for use by fish- ermen. “Recent accidents involving fishermen on the bridges have pointed up the need for seme action. I’ve been trying to get something done for years and now it looks like we are going to accomplish something,” Pa- py said. Papy was assui red by Acting Governor Charley Jehns Satur- day that he would personally intercede with the read depart- ‘ment on behalf of keys resi- dents in obtaining the bridge catwalks, Menroe County's State Rep- resentative added that he was net sure how many catwalks he can obtain en this trip, but said that “I'l get all | can — V'll_be in there fighting.” KEY WEST, FLORIDA; FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1953 Papy On 7-Key House Committees |Roosevelt Bou BERNIE C. PAPY Affecting Monroe County Affairs Heads Resolution Committee And Is On Roads, Health, Military Groups State Representative Ber-| nie C. Papy has been nam- ed to seven committees of the_House meeting in Talla- hassee, most important of which is his chairmanship of the vital Resolutions Committee. ‘The Monroe County represen- tative has served longer in the House continuously than any eth- er member but one. His 20 year terms is the longest of any mem- ber except Elbert Stewart of Henry County. The legislator will be in a key position to guide all bills for the state as well as the county as.chairman of the House Resolution committee. In addition to this post, he was appointed yesterday to serve with six other committees. On the Salt Water fisheries com- mittee Rep. Papy will start work on bills controlling the fishing in- dustry and promoting it in Mon-| Toe County. On the Pyblic Roads and High- way committee, he will study leg- islation on the Oversegs Highway and the bridges of the highway. His work on roads in the .past years have been notable, according to the amount of money Monroe County has received for roads. OF equal interest to natives, and tourist business leaders in Key West, is Rep. Papy’s ap- pointment to the Public Héalth and Safety Committee. It is this group which will pass on the Proposed $1,500,000 statewide an- ti-mosquite legislation, The Keys ¢an leek forward to active help frem the state en the béttle against the insects if the committee’s prepesed meas- ure is passed. The Public Héalth group alse studies and acts upon measures te improve safety the highways. 2 Rep. Papy’s fifth committee ap- Pointment is to the Social Seeuri- ty group. Here he and his collea- gues will try to write a better law on the~ amounts paid to elderly People, and will try to prevent state agencies from cutting down the monthly payments to them aiter the legislature has adjourn- ed. He will alse serve on the Mili- | tary and Veterans’ Affairs cgm- B.C. Papy Has Never Sold Monroe County Short He Is Always Fighting For The Best Interest of Monroe County (Paid Political Advertisement) mittee. His inclusion on this committee is attributed to the fact that he represents this coun- ty which has such a large Na- val and Air Force installation. Finally, in recognition of Rep. Papy’s long standing efforts for better relations with Latin Ameri- ca, he has been appointed to the Interstate Commerce and Reci- procal Trade committee. A glance at these seven com- mittees reveals that the legislator is serving on the main committees t affecting the social and economic ! welfare of the county. ERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS the interests of Monroe County, clipped from Respectfully Yours, BERNIE C ‘PAPY Cemetery Improvement Bill Is Introduced By Papy In Legislature Measure Earmarks $50,000 In Cigarette Tax Revenue THE FACTS ARE TRUER THAN FICTION KEY WEST, FLORIDA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1953 f.. tzvard Bridge To Be ‘ A local bill which earmark a total of $50,00 te be spent in.the next five years for the improvement of the City Cemetery was introduced in the legislature in Talla- hassee yesterday, it has been announced. Replaced By State Road Department Papy Announces Contract To Be Awarded Dec. 22 A wooden bridge on North Roosevelt Boulevard, near Sigsbee Park, will be re- placed shortly by a modern | concrete structure. KEY WEST, FLORIDA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1953 Contracts To Be Let On SI Bridge, Road= Rep. Papy Tells Good News Of Four-Lane Highway And Bridge Following SRD Meet Contracts to widen Stock Island bridge to four lanes and to éxtend to four lanes the two miles of highway from the bridge to Boca Chica bridge will be let in 90 days, State Representative Bernie C. Papy told . The Citizen today. The legislator returned from yes-_ terday’s meeting of the State Road Department in Tallahassee. He said that both contracts for the widening will be let at the same time. The expansion of U. S. 1 lead- as well as to the throngs of tour- ists whe now must jam their way into the two lane strip at present. The bridge is being widened out of primary system funds, Rep. Pa- Py said. It will not cost Monroe be a boon to regular commuters State Representative Ber- nie C. Papy made that an- nouncement Tuesday in a phone call to The Citizen from Tallahassee’ where he has been conferring with of- ficials of the State Road De- partment relative to the pro- ject. The néw bridges will cost the county nothing, Papy sgid, since tained approval for the bridge and a two mile strip in the budget of the State Road Dept. The two miles of road from Stock Island Bridge to Boea Chica Bridge may require some participatien on the Part of tax payers. Rep. Papy was ene of twe leg: islgters who appeared at the Tal- lahassee = meeting yesterday. Chairman of the Board is Rith- member of the State Road Board for this district, headquarters Fort Lauderdale. “I'll continue fighting for more bridges and more roads for Mon- ing in-and -eut of Key. West will County a cent. The legislature ob-' ree County,” Rep. Papy said. it is financed by the state oyt of their “primary read furide”™ instead of the county budget er secondary read fund. Papy added thet contracts for the work are being called for and that they will be awarded on De- ‘cember 22. Actual construction work will begin shortly thereafter. Cost of roject will. be about. $100,000, said. : County Commissioner Jee Allen teday hailed . the .an- Reuncement that the bridge will be replaced as a “big improve. ment.” Commissioner Frank Bentiey was alse enthusiastic in his ap- proval of the news that thé bridge: Is géing te be feplaced. The commissioners also expres- sed appreciation that the work wilt be paid for out of state funds. The parr 4 annually pays for some road building out of their, regular budget in addition to the work fi- nanced by their secondary road fund, which comes from the gaso- But since the state is paying the bill for the Roosevelt Boulevard project, they are being saved con- cern over a $100,000 chunk being removed from their annual budget. KEY WEST, FLORIDA, WEDNES- DAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1954 $100,000 IS EARMARKED FOR KEY VACA BRIDGE The county commissioners last night appropriated $100,000 te match ¢ like sum frem the state te build a bridge at Key Vaca. It will be 2 400-feot concrete bridge with catwalks for fishing. Bernie C. eG state ard H. Simpson. Tom Manvel is |- State Representative Bernie €, "| Papy introduced the bill which was authored by Harry Pritchard, le- cal funeral diréctor. According to thé provisions of the measure, funds am ftom Cigarette Tax receipts to be spent solely for the “betterinent, im- Provement and fencing of the city cemetery.” The bill was intreduced with e clause which will require # te go before the city’s voters In a tye @rendum which will undoubtedly dents. First improvement expected to be made under the program is 44- equate fencing to prevent vi ism, such as happened about months ago when $38,000 in daii- age was done by night marauders. Two Navy men, now stationed in Norfolk, have since admitted that the beautification program. The move will relieve a drain on the city’s genéral fund by mak- ing use of the cigarette tex money which brings about $140,000 inte the city’s colfers each year.