The Key West Citizen Newspaper, May 29, 1954, Page 6

ity Electr : Number Of Customers And KWH _ Per Customer Both Increase 4 : By DENIS sNEicn / You might not know it, but i¢ you live here you are part owner of a real going, growing business. _ This business has never cost a taxpayer a penny from . the time of its purchase by the city until now. And from _ the way it is growing, it will never need any tax money. The business in question is the City Electric System. » As to how it is growing, take a look at these figures. They show you the number of kilowatt hours of electricity @ in the month of May for the following years: 1954 — 38,460,049 1958 — 8,259,965 1952 — 2,482,777 1951 — 2,110,818 1950 — 1,775,672 per, you (and the editor) will be asking plaintively. Didn’t the city gain any new customers? ‘The answer, of course, is yes. When the City Electric System ee of the city | closed their books in April, 1953, : oe poyplyonipwapebs: 4 there were 7,432 customers in the try to pave a street or even hire a | city limits. They were burning 3,- contractor to lay a swer line —| 247,965 KWH of juice. -- but not your electric system. But look at the picture in April, It continues to grow and give | 14 more people better service. ong you probably are ask- Recsoss For Growth There are several reasons, Here are a few: f "The business development in Key West. New and bigger and better, and more modern shops. The development, along the east ~ side of Roosevelt Blvd. Gain Is Shown ‘The customers numbered 7,854 in the city and they were eating up 3,809,618 KWH. Just for exercise, you can do your own substracting to learn the However, you might say that with more customers the system The Navy housing at Sigsbee |Would naturally sell more electri- That isn’t necessarily true. It is not in the case of the City extension of Electric System. Today more elec- tore Sees That toate a tricity is being used per custom- 7 * Up “1953, the City Electric Sys ey. ers than this time a year ago. that one factor for example.| To Prove it, have some more fig- close of business injures: Custemer Average customers on the Low-| In 1953, each customer averaged er Keys who were using 12,000/495 KWH. This year, each user month. oF trryi HURRY! S00 Ret . Y ROBERTS OFFICE MACHINES and EQUIPMENT 128 Duval Street TELEPHONE 2-564 -Javerages 490 KWH. same area fo-| The answer? People are becoming more con- scious of electricity and the con- venience that goes with it. Push a-button and you can cook, heat. water, turn on lights, or start the air conditioning or fan. ‘Thére’s another job of electricity done with the flip of a switch. Chamber of Commerce — doesn’t care for you to mention this, but when the weather is cold a click of a Switch will start an electric heater, (That’s a joke, Laubscher.) | Future Prospects That's all very well for past and present, but how about the fu- ture? ‘The system just has to get big- ger. New business is coming into Key West all the time. Homes, apart- ments are being built all the time. And, if what we hear is true, the Navy is going to expand here. All that means more users and more electricity. The Keys now have water and power. That’s all those islands ever needed to start and continue their growth. And you can continue to look for that growth to continue. Even the new sewer system which has caused so much beefing is going to up the consumption of electricity. The mew and better Pumps are going to need more Power—perhaps as much as 50 per cent more, one source says. Lower Prices But with all this expansion, you — the customer — are getting your juice at a lower price. Since the City of Key West bought the system on August 16, 1943, there have been two rate re- ductions. The last reduction was in October of 1953. Before the city bought the con- cern, it was known as Key West Electric Co. That company was formed in 1859 as the Key West Electric Light and Power Co. Even before that, the Key West Gas Light Co. had been organized Page 6 THE KEY WEST CIT IZEN Saturday, May 29, 1 HOMES FOR AMERICANS ‘DO LITTLE LODGE is the architect’s name for cabin which has a large living in kitchen at one end, a bunk g aie Livias Reom (Weiser £ sums... toom with fireplace and a built- room and a bath withia glazed outer door so bathers can seach the shower without entering the house. A total floor area of only 504 economical construction. This architect, 360 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 1, Il. of logs, log siding, or wide planks are feetenvisions Paul Haagen, exterior is Plan 149 is suggested. (Further information and blacprints aveilable from architect) NEW YORK ly — Diversify — and beat. the rap\in the next re- cession. } Cities and whole regions are try- ing it today. An increasing number of industrial corporations are try- ing it. Variety as the insurance of pros- perity is a goal now — ‘even in cities that still relish being called the Auto Capital or the Steel City. The movement has been under way ever since World War II in some cities. and in many big con- cerns. + But it took this recession to point up the virtues — or the need. in 1883. Four years later — in 1887 — the company changed its name to the Key West Gas and Electric Light Co. to get into the then re- latively new electrical field. The two companies competed un- til about 1906 when Stone and Web- ster ‘ees Kiet and operated until the Cif t the com: in August, 1943, aes Solid 1-Piece Oak Stem Frames & Stringers of Alaskan Yellow Cedar aranteed Against Breakage FOR MOTORS OF M% TO 33 HP. Now Available At Moderate HURRICANE provide top 1116. EATON STREET Key West Outboard Asks... WHY BUILD A KIT BOAT? THE NEW GQ DEVIL sumr ar Bic copprrr xey is CHEAPER anv BETTER ror THESE waters Prices From $189.00 Financing Can Be Arranged HURRICANE "14" __ A Smartly Styled Outboard Runabout Prices ... The advanced design and rugged construction of the Performance with comfort and safety. FISHERMAN "14" AT LAST—An Outboard built in the Keys for Keys Fishing. The big. roomy 14-foot MAN has more available space than many 16-footers. with ample freeboard for KEY WEST OUTBOARD %-Inch Botto: Boat Grade Mering” Plywood Fast Semi Vee Bottom — Very Maneuverable In Sharp Turns ROOMY 5 FT. BEAM FISHER. Ocean fishing, TELEPHONE 2375 Business Mirror By Sam Dawson The community with mafy tources of income often fared bet- than the oneindustry town. it’s because the postwar pattern ha& been for first one and then anolher industry to adjust—that is, slow\down and then recover. The\city with its economic eggs in maty baskets usually had only one or two factories. down at a time — jot all of them shut, 4s in some onéindustry towns. It makes a lot of difference, 7 Corporations had the same ex- Perience. Those with many pro- ducts often fared better than those with just one, when customers proved fickle. Many cities these days are offer- ing inducements to corporations to open new plants. Some, notably in the South, have i offered tax concessions or have floated bond issues to finance the building of new plants. More, however, have tried other measures: surveying for possible industrial sites, rezoning to en- courage them, providing transpor- tation for materials and highways for employes’ cars, Planning the || social and physical services: need- ed by new factories, new families, Diversification is taking many forms — replacing ow in- dustries, luring new , adjust- ing to the cold w: ‘the coming atomic age. New England, facel with closing textile mills, has atdently wooed metal - working afd electronic firms. It is nourishing entirely new. industries, many bom in test tubes in New England’s research labora- tories. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is proud of its steel afd coal indus- tries, but has a great drive on now to diversify. Nonmetal working types of factories até being court- ed. “We can use $0ft goods in- dustries,’ ‘they tell you there. In the South the dive is to turn a once largely a econ- omy into one where industry and farming balance as? all the re- gion’s resources are used. Textile mills capture the beadlines, but the South is weléming many ORIGINAL ILLEGIBLE . lc System — ytLOW City Permits Hold Steady During Week . Jj. J. Yaccarino Plans $20,000 Home On Flagler City building permits held steady this week with the largest one being issued for a $20,000 concrete- block residence. The permit was issued to J. J. Yaccarino for the home at 3640 Flagler Avenue. No contractor was listed on the permit. Other permits on file this week were; G. W. Bonniwell, 530 White, re- Pairs, $100. ener Muniz, 3410 Duck, fence, The Lower Keys Property Own- ers Association has drafted an open letter of protest against the leasing of lands in the lower Florida Keys ts the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv- ice. The land leasing has been sug- gested in order to protect the “Key deer,” a species which the Proper- ty Owners Association takes the stand does not exist. The letter explaining their views follows: “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: “We, the members of the Lower Keys Property Owners Association wish to announce that the Associa- tion is not in favor of Teasing lands in the lower Florida Keys to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The Fish and Wildlife Service is at this time endeavoring to lease lands in the lower Keys for the pre- L. Pinder, 1523 Flagler, wall, $250. Dr. Armando Cobo, 1500 White- head, garage, $500. Mrs. Pearl Curry, Grinnell, repairs, $150. Robert Evans, 812 Galveston Lane, repairs, $200. A. Menendez, 1901 Flagler, re- Dairs, $25, Sam Goldsmith, 511 Caroline, re- pairs, $25. . Mitchell Tours, 925 Truman, air condition, $1,000 installed by Park- er Refrigeration. Hilton Sundry Store, 715 White, air condition $1,000 installed by Parker Refrigeration. L. Gwynn, 1426 Ashby, utility Toom, $150. M, Edwards, 800 Elizabeth, re- pairs, $100. L. Allen, 418 White, fence, $75. Bethel- Johnson, 2416 Fogarty, pare, $586, by Crown Fence Co., c. A. G. Brontrager and Gallo, 809 Virginia, fence, $519, by Crown Fence Co., Inc. M. Varela, 1111 Georgia, repair roof, $75. c Ae Aronovitz, 525 Simonton, paint, Blue Marlin Motel, 1320 Simon- ton, repair roof, $140. Gates Tin Shop is the contractor. C. Ferguson, $28 Johnson Lane, bathroom, $800. L. Milord, Jr., 2423 Patterson, ad- dition, $500. the Manufacturers Assn. of Syra- cuse boasts most of its imposing list of smaller firms, ranging from makers of candles to washing ma- chine manufacturers. Diversifica- tion helped cushion the: shock of business adjustment in Syracuse. They'll tell you the same thing in New Orleans and Kansas City, The nation’s military program and defense problems play a role. Take Seattle. Its two big Boeing aircraft plants are a mainstay for the merchants — and a worry for the military lest they offer a con- centrated target for the enemy. Seattle tackles the problem this way: it’s busily looking for new industries, but a survey has un- covered many sites, well scattered but still accessible — with the transportation systems the city promises. Seattle’s twin solutions: diversi- 5 and prosper; disperse and sur- ive. For A Quick Loan $25 TO $300 ‘ See “MAC’ 703 Duval Street TELEPHONE 2-8555 The Maxwell Co., Inc. COMPLETE HOME FURNISHINGS Custom Made Venetian Blinds (FAST DELIVERY) Ouidoor Aluminum and (To a fatio Furniture Apariment - Motel - Hotel Supplies “(DECORATOR SERVICE) Bar and Restaurant (COMPLETE LINE) ~ servation of the so-called “Key Deer”, The service claims that this deer does not reach a height of more than twenty-six inches at the shoulders, that it is a dwarf animal and that it is tiny and unique. The Key Deer as described by the Fish and Wildlife Service does not exist in the lower Florida Keys. “We believe that the deer which inhabit the lower keys are the same deer which bit most of South Florida. The L. K. P. O. A. has in its files many signed state- ments by people who have seen and hunted these deer in the past, which bear this out. The Associa- tion also has on file a number of observations of the deer on Big Pine Key by the Federal Warden who visits the Lower Keys. His statements give several of the deer which he has seen a heighth of 36-38 inches at the shoulders. The Association does not believe that there is anything tiny or unique about a deer of this size. Many Northern deer are no larger. These deer are well fed and healthy and they are not being molested by man or beast. If protection were needed they would not have ' sur- vived the hunting, fires and storms of the past. “Inasmuch as these deer are not being molested’ and do not -need feed or water other than that which is ebtainable’in their natural habi- tat, the Association believes that a game preserve is unnecessary. “The Fish and Wildlife Service obtained ‘theAssociation’s tentative approval for the procurement of leases in 1953. They intimated at that time that they would not try to procure the land by purchase or. by condemnation. According to the last Progress Report by. Mr. James Silver, Regional Director for the Fish and Wildlife Service, they are now hoping to get backing for leg- islation to procure 3,000. acres in the Lower Keys for,a permanent refuge. The Progress Report calls 3,000 acres a ‘‘small tract of land”. It is the opinion of the L. K. O. A. that the lease deal: was only a foot in the door to lead to theactual pro- curement of land for a refuge. “The Lower Keys Property Own- ROBERTS — Royal Typewriters Portables and Standards SALES - SERVICE RENTALS Equipment Telephone 2-6031 ecord Growth Lower Keys Property Owners Assn. Protests Land Leasing — ers Association urges all property owners to not become involved in any deals which would cloud titles) and discourage progress in the! Lower Keys. We believe that a pre.’ serve would lower land values and discourage development. The 3,000 acre preserve would in all prob. ability, be a mosquito breeding area. We are trying to eliminate such areas in the Keys’and not en- courage them. “Monroe County cannot afford to lose any more land from taxation, If the land for a preserve was ac- quired in the same manner in which, the land for the Everglades National Park was acquired, the people who have paid taxes on their land for many years, and who now have hopes of realizing a fair and decent price for their land, would suffer great financial loss. “The Lower Keys Property Own- ers Association endeavors to pro- tect and increase land values, as well as to encourage development, and to obtain improvements such as roads, power lines, ete. We be- lieve that we are acting in the best interests of all property owers and business people in Monroe County when we recommend that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service be pre- vented from obtaining land in the Florida Keys by lease, purchase, or condemnation.” Cabinets - Counters - Book- cases - Etc., Custom Built FLOOR COVERINGS Free Estimates KEY WEST HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY 515 Front St. Tel. TOOL TIPS t B AP Newsfeatures AFTER FILING aluniaum, brass and other sift metals the teeth of a file become packed. Clean the file with wire brush and wipe it light- ly with the cloth moistened in light oil to prevent rusting. Swick Elected MIAMI BEACH ®—The Florida Meat Packers Assn. elected J. J. Swick of Alachua president at the opening of a convention here yes- terday. D. B. Gardaer, Tampa, was elected vice president; Ralph G. Gee, Orlando, secretary, and Frank Rosenblatt, Tampa, treas- urer, Moose are the largest of the World’s antlered creatures. TV_ANTENNA and ACCESSORIES FOR SALE 826 Duval Street TEL. 2-8511 SALES and INSTALLATIONS Clearview Aluminum Jalousies (Reg. Trademark) Storm-Stop Awnings — Aluminum or Fiber Glass Jalousie Doors — Glass or Aluminum" Miami Awning-Type Windows Superior Casement-Type Windows Canvas Awnings and Canopies Venetian Blinds — Aluminum or Wood Drapery Cornices Fol-Doors by Holcomb and Hoke Warren Folding Doors Ra-Tox Folding Doors Builders’ Hardware Patio Furniture Repairs and Renovations Key West Venetian Blind Co. S. R. Silberman, Owner 716 DUVAL STREET A 9'x 12’ FLOOR 132 Duval St. Only $24.30 And we have all types ‘of tile, linoleum and trim for her to choose from: asphalt, cork, plastic and rubber tile; : felt base | linoleums, inlay and battleship linoleum; plastic'wall tiles; sink rims; Formica; all types of aluminum trim. We Supply The Materials... You Install Them Key West Floor Covering Co. M.E. STUTZ PHONE 2-5531 Yes, it's s0 easy to install your own floor tiling that even the lady of the house can do it! IN PLASTIC TILE . Tel. 2-2512