The Key West Citizen Newspaper, October 1, 1954, Page 1

Let's All Go To The Free Fish Fry—It’s Ferry Fiesta Time! Wey Wesi, Florida, has the most equable climate in the country, with an average range of only 14° Fahrenheit on e Key West Citis THE Mrs. W. J. Palk, of Gainesville, Texas, will be the first American the “City of Key West” onto Cuban soil Saturday. first Florida vacation, heard about the proposed ferry in his hometown. He wired Palk, an oil amber of Commerce and thé result was that he received an invitation to make the @ guest of the ferry company. It'll be his first trip to Cuba.—Citizen Staff Photo, County To Take Legal Action To Collect Fees From Airline NAL Officials Continue Refusal % yD. Be q ‘ a he _ToPay Laniding Fees At Meacham Leg ion will be taken against National Airlines if a $5,244 bill is not paid the county today. The county commissioners voted to take this action ata special meeting yesterday.afternoon. What form the légal action will take was not revealed. / Presumably, the county eould evict NAL from the pbuilding the line occupies at Meacham Field. Or, the county could attach one of the airline’s planes. The $5,144 bill — for NAL’s use of the field from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 — was handed NAL’s Trepre- sentative on Sept. 16, Former Warning ‘When Gerald Saunders, chair- man of the board of county com- missioners, handed the bill to Alex- ander Hardy, NAL vice president from Washington, D. C., he told him the county would act to bar NAL from Meacham if the bill was not paid by Oct. 1. At yesterday’s meeting, Commis- sioner Joe Allen wanted to put off action until the commissioners talk- | ed with J. Lancelot Lester, NAL attorney here. Allen put this suggestion in the form of a motion. His motion was followed by a dead silence. After a few minutes, Saunders announced that the motion died for Tack of a second. Referred To Atty. Commissioner Frank Bentley then moved that the matter be re- ferred t. the board's attorney, Paul Sawyer, “if the money is not re- ceived by tomorrow.” The motion passed. unanimously. | Earlier, Allen spoke out against NAL, saying the airline wanted to block expansion of air facilites here. “National Airlines,” he said; “knows that if another airline comes in here and promotes Aero- vias Q traffic to Havana, it will kill National’s Miami - Havana traffic. National is primarily in- fic, not Key West - Havana traf- fic.” 9-Month Struggle | The move to take legal action against NAL is the latest step in ja nine-month-old hassle between the county and the airline. It began Jan. 1 when the coun- ty put a 50-cent charge on each Passenger landing and taking off at Meacham Field, Aerovias Q has paid the charge. NAL has not paid the county a penny since Jan. 1, refusing to go along with the 50-cent fee. At the Sept. 16 meeting, Hardy offered to pay the county $350 a month from last Jan. 1 until the new facilities at the field are ready to sue. A&B Lobster House NOW OPEN Serving From 11:30 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. Seafoods terested in Miami ~ Havana traf-| Overseas Highway Is Free Of Debt Ahead of Schedule MIAMI ® — Florida’s famed Overseas Highway was free of debt today, 14 years ahead of schedule. No ceremonies attended the cancellation of $1,255,000 in bonds at the Florida National Bank here. Holders received their orig- inal investment plus 1% per cent interest. Tolls were lifted on the high- way April 15 when the State Road Department took it over. The process of liquidation has SOUTHERNMOST NEWSPAPER IN THE KEY WEST, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1954 Fiesta Schedule . Today 4p. m. — Fish fry and open house aboard ship at dock, Du- val St. 8 p. m. — Tom Moore's “True or False” radio show at Key West Kennel Club. 9p. m. — Ball, crowning of Queen at Kennel Club. Saturday, October 2 8 a. m. — Motorcade down Duval Street to ferry terminal. 8:15 a. m. — Addresses by dignitaries at dock. 9 a.m. — Sailing of ferry, accompanied by water parade of small craft. All of the events are open to the public. : Possible rain this evening won't affect the events on the Fiesta schedule, Lovis Car- bonell, general manager of the Key West Kennel Club said to- day. ‘ He pointed out that there is plenty of shelter at the Kennel Club and that the radio broad- cast and the Ferry Fiesta Ball will go on as scheduled — rain or shine. Aerovias “Q” | Ferry Company The Caribbean Ferry Ser- vice, operators of the “City of Key West,” today re- ceived a warm letter of con- gratulations from officials of Aerovias “Q”, an airline op- erating between this city and Havana. 3 The letter, presented personally to N. C. Hines, executive vice pre- sident of the ferry company, by gone on since then. The Overseas Highway was built on the right of way of the old Florida East Coast Overseas Railway which was knocked out by the disastrous Labor Day hur- ricane of 1935. There was serious talk after the storm of evacuat- ing Key West, leaving it a ghost city, but President Roosevelt made the highway a works pro- ject and Key West has flourish- ed. Another Motion To Dismiss SRD Suit Filed Today Another motion to dismiss the State Road Department’s suit against three individuals and a bonding company in the toll dis-/| Attorney Ralph E. Cunningham, ; Jr., of Marathon, filec the motion to dismiss on behalf of D. M. An- |drew, former Overseas Road and Toll Bridge District employe. On Wednesday, similar motions were filed by the bonding com- pany, The Fidelity and Deposit Co. | of Maryland and by Alonzo Coth- {ron, a contractor also named in the | suit. | | The road department is seeking | ‘an accounting of about $250,000 in | toll district funds which the de. | |partment says was misspent, | The others named in the suit are | Brooks Bateman, former general | |manager of the toll district, and | Floyd Lamb, owner of the Floyd {Lamb Construction Co. | | OPEN ALL SATURDAY MORNING Sinus Lanier 120 SIMONTON, near City Mall! | i | | | |hour. We very much hope that the trict controversy was filed today, | the figure would be about 90,000 : Nationalist news agency said today Julius F. Stone, attorney for the | airline, said: “Please permit us to welcome you to the Key West - Cuba trans- portation service and to wish you all best luck for a most successful operation. Your service will round out the transportation picture to Cuba in a way that should satis- fy every thourists taste and bring many, many. more travslers into this area. “We regard your service as com- plimentary to rather than compe- titive with ours. Obviously, we can- not transport automobiles any more than you can carry people | between Key West and Cuba in less than three - quarters of an 1 fact that the tourist can get back quickly, if necessity arises, will be a help in getting business for you. “Don’t be discouraged if things go a little slowly at first. In our | first year of operation, 1947, we! carried only 26,631 passengers, but | the business has steadily increased until this year it looks as though Passengers. DESERTIONS TOLD “Again, welcome and good luck.” | TAIPEH, Formosa (P—A Chinese | more than 100 Chinese Communist | militiamen deserted Sept. 19 near Lukfung, 90 miles northeast of | Hong Kong on the China mainlani. | Congratulates: | HE'S THE SKIPPER—Captain George H. Reid, of Miami, will command the “City of Key West” slated to stert Key West-Cuba ferry service tomorrow. The 30-year-old seaman sea for 14 years, “His j>evious experience inch ; the Caribbean in command of another’ ESM- U.S. A. Fa Quick Communication, Use CLASSIFIED Ads! You'll Teach buyers and sellers— tenants or workers . . . Just DIAL 2-566] of 2.5662 Today of the “City of Key West.” tion history. erately high winds and oc- casional showers.” Small craft warnings were hoisted today but by tomor- row, the weather bureau said, they would probably be lowered. Dignitaries Arrive Meanwhile, scores of Aterican ferry will leave Key West on Tuesdays, Thursdaysand Se‘urdays and return from Cardenas on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays REAL OLD SOUR—Rafael Ferrer (otherwise known as “Mr, Grass”), proprietor of Pepe's Cafe, toasts the “City of Key West” with a cup of Cuban coffee—which Pepe's is serving today to Ferrer also has displayed in front of his establishment several jugs of Old Sour in various stages of Considered Key West's ranking expert in the prep- aration of the concoction of key lime juice and salt. some of the Old Sour displayed dates back to 1951. Sept. 15 in Miami—with a bottle of Old Sour.—Citizen Staff mark the Ferry Fiesta. maturity. Photo, Don Pinder: Ferry was christened Sailor Esca pes Death In Wreck William A. Krall, 24-year-old sailor, rode his car on a i67-foot flight early today but escaped death, About 6 a. m., according to Patrolman Brian K. Lloyd, Krall drove his car off Roosevelt Blvd. | and into a canal, sustaining @ severely cut right arm. He was taken to the Naval Hospital. Later measurement showed the 1949 Ford sedan traveled 167 feet before landing upright in five feet of water. 'V.F.W. Clubhouse Is Robbed Again A man found sleeping behind the VFW clubhouse is being held for investigation of a robbery, there early today. It marked the third time in less than a year that the club has been ; entered. According to the report of Pa- trolman Mario Santana, he notic |ed a rear window on the clubhouse }open at about 3 a. m. Investiga-| tion revealed that the glass on the | window had been smashed. He also |found a partially filled case of} whiskey under a nearby automo- bile. | When Grady Wood, manager of} the club, arrived on the scene, they | discovered that a pinball machine had been smashed and an estimat- ed five dollars in change was miss- ing. Further investigation uncovered a sailor identified as Robert K. Huffman, of the USS Blair, sleep- | ing near the smashed window. He was taken into custody and | under questioning at police head-/ quarters, said that he had been making the rounds of the bars and | had fallen asleep on the way back | to his ship. his “True Or False” quiz program from the Key West Kennel Club at 8 p. m. A “Ferry Fiesta Ball” will be held immediately after. Miss Lona Allen, lovely “Ferry Fiesta Queen” will be crowned at that time. The affair will wind up Satur- day at 9 a, m. when the ship leaves on its maiden voyage bearing more than 200 invited guests. The sailing will be preceded by a huge motor- cade down Duval St. at 8 a. m. Scores of small craft will escort the ship to the sea buoy. All of the events are open to the public. There is no charge. Cubans Arrive The influx of officials visitors for the event began this morning at 10 a. m. when Colonel Sinesio Cuesta, representing Havana's Mayor Louis Pozo arrived at Mea- cham airport. Other Cuban officials slated to arrive this afternoon include Or- encio Nodarse, president of the Cu- ban Tourist Commission. He will be accompanied by Mariano Dom- ingo and Juan Sabates, also of the tourist commission. - Other dignitaries included Mayor Abe Aronovitz, of Miami and Dan- te B. Fascell, Democratic nominee for the Congress. Ferry Officials Officials of the Caribbean Ferry System operators of the ship, also arrived shortly afternoon in a ten- car entourage. They were led by Senator Robert R. Reynolds, pre- sident of the company, The group included N. C. Hines, executive vice president; Dr. George Geller, treasurer; Dr. Frank Lipsett, Blaine. Willenborg and Alex Balfe, directors. Acting Governor Charley €E. Johns was forced to make a lost- minute cancellation of his schedul- ed trip here because of a bout of illness. Senator Spessard Holland also is unable to be present for the | | same reason. News Coverage Also schedule to arrive today was a corps of newsmen and tele- (Continued on Page Seven) | | PRICE FivE CENTS Ferry Festivities Begin Despite Shower Forecast Enthusiastic Throngs Hail Advent Of Ferry Activity By JIM COBB “Intermittent showers” forecast by the weatherman failed to dampen the enthusiasm of Key Westers as they began a two-day celebration marking the maiden voyage The city displayed a definite festive atmosphere and Weather Bureau Chief Sam Goldsmith said that pros- pects are good for clear weather when the ship leaves its mooring tomorrow bound for Cardenas, Cuba, on a voy- age which will open a new era in Key West’s transporta- Goldsmith said that to- OR ret Rs: night there would be “mod- Big Water P. arade Schedule Set Lt. John Hayes, commandant of the Coast Guard base, today issued last minute instructions to all boatmen taking part in the water parade marking the sailing of the Marathon Man Lauds Beginning Of Ferry Here — Even Marathon, normally thought of as competing with Key West for tourist business has join- ed in congratulating the operators of the Key West - Cuba ferry. In a telegram to the company, Joe H. Wildermuth, of Marathon and Gary, Indiana, said: “May I add my congratulations to you in the historic inauguration of ferry service between the Flo- rida Keys and Cuba. The Keys, enjoying the finest climate in con- tinental America, and being the only tropical American maintand islands, are fast taking their pro- per place as the foremost resort section of the country. It is inevi- table they should and it will. rot be long until they supplant the Palm Beach - Miami areas as the finest playground in the world. “This ferry service is another step in the advancement of these keys to their enviable position as the center of the American resort section and I convey my heartiest congratulations to you and regret we are unable to be with you to- day.” FLAME RESTAURANT Opening Tomorrow (Saturday) NOTICE The general public is hereby notified that — absolutely no the entire ength of Duval Street, beginning at 6 A.M., Octo- ber 2, 1954, and continuing until 10 A.M., October 2, 1954. Cars parked in this area during the said hours will be moved at the owner’s expense. By order of: BIENVENIDO PEREZ, Chief of Police.