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1661-5 Seaport _ .. .. CX . . • . ,r , . Shall Miami's Only View OftheOce:nBeSold ? r , . .-• o i . . . . .. . .,. . , .. ( By E. G. S E W E LL, President of Miami Chamber of Commerce . ' t7 1 . f A SUBJECT OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO EVERY LOYAL M IAM IAN It O 5., - c Repriiitfrom the',MIA MIAN",September,1924 . i * . • r . i 1 .,. rj tt 4 • 4t Shall Miami' s Only View of the Ocean Be Sold ? By E. G. SF.WELL, Presideni Miami Chamber of Cosimerce ' HALL the 75,000 citizens of the city of Miami sit idly the expense of 75,000 at present and will damage the other by while a few smart realty promoters carry out a plan hundreds of thousands that are to make this great city which means that Miami's only view of the Atlantic their future home. !' ocean will be obstructed by the building of an island or To fill that area opposite Norris Cut means to obstruct the extending of the island of Virginia Key northward the free flow of the tides and in case of storms a serious nearly to the Miami ship channel and thereby closing en- condition might occur from the obstruction created by the t! • tirely the view through Norris cut, the only view of the proposed 438 acres of land where there is now 438 acres F Atlantic ocean from the city of Miami? of water, except a few sand flats which appear when the htide is very low. -' The citizens of the city of Miami are now expending �' approximately two millions of dollars on the creation of We would not object to a reasonable fill along the 4 a new Bay Front Park and we all anticipate that it will island of Virginia Key of say 100 acres,as such a fill could be the most beautiful park in America. be made without any material damage to the interests of the people of Miami. Why will it be beautiful? We are located in the sub- Miami Created the Values tropical zone and we can grow the most beautiful palms, `ti flowers and shrubbery here that can be grown in any I would like to say something right here about the part of the world. people and the interests of the people of the city of Miami. We are over 500 miles south of Los Angeles and that If it had not been for Miami there would be no great de- 1 is why our climate and beautiful tropical scenery excel velopments going on around Miami. There would be no ' all sections of the United States, and it is believed that values to the Bay bottom and the State Officials could not 1 all that is beautiful in tropical shrubbery will be shown in even give it away. There would be no demand for lots 1costing people • and the promoters could not sell their lots. There would 4 this• wwonderfulo Bayo Front Park,which is our • be no demand for houses and there would be no houses two millions of dollars. built. But that alone is not the reason that this new park Please show me one subdivision that has successfully will be beautiful, pleasant and attractive to all our greatsold out a fair portion of their lots, that has not sold a • s throng of visitors and to our home people. It is because large proportion of them to people in Miami, permanently =` this beautiful park will front on Biscayne Bay with its it or temporarily. wonderful marine panorama. World travelers have en- thused about the wide reaches and broad expanse of Bis- Please show me one prem 1 cayne Bay, comparing it to the Bay of Naples and other vision within ten miles of Miami that has not relied on I i world-famous protected natural harbors. One may sit in the new Bay Front Park and enjoy the Miami for a large proportion of his customers, and in sell- ing at a distance from Miami, cashed in on the fact that his property was near Miami, in order to sell it. - sight through Norris Cut of seeing hundreds of coastwise Again I say it has been the Miami people and the and trans-Atlantic ships passing, there being 23 lines of I. ships which pass close in to shore going south at this pmoney with which the Miami people have backed the oint Chamber of Commerce that has created a great city here; to avoid the Gulf Stream. Now with all the great ex- that has created great activity here;has made values here; panse of land in this vicinity, and with all the ocean front that has brought the people here who have created the property at Miami Beach and north to the state of Maine, demand for more buildings in and around Miami for 25 and with all the islands that are being built north of the miles; and has made Miami's name famous all over the Miami ship channel in Biscayne Bay and with the thous- world. ands of lots which have been subdivided and have not yet been built upon—why is it necessary to close the only view It has not been easy for the Chamber of Commerce which this great city has of the ocean itself? officials to collect this money from the people, nor has it i been easy for the people to meet the demands ofthe Why should this "Wonder City" be ruined? Chamber of Commerce, and it was especially so when we Why should the breeze be obstructed by heat-producing were a very small town eight or nine years back. Some + buildings on an island? of us went out on the streets two and three weeks at a Why should the oceanview of this city be taken for time, going from business house to business house and i money's sake by a few smart promoters? from hotel to hotel and to the professional men and to the realtors collecting the funds that were to put this town What do these promoters care about the interests of going at a speed that no other city has ever traveled. - the people who are living in Miami and making it a great Many Miami citizens made great sacrifices in those days city? What do they care for those who have produced to help advance the city's interests, and it is the values 3 the conditions which enabled them to succeed? What do created by this expenditure and this unselfish work that i '1,_;- they care about the view or the breeze in our two-million- dollar park? It is very apparent that money! money! is these smooth promoters hope to seize and "cash in" on for themselves. ' all they think of and all they want. They would sell When these funds were collected then the work had Miami's birthright of beauty and attractiveness for a just begun for some of us. Results had to be obtained mess of pottage. and it took hard study and good judgment to make every Money is not everything in this world, and even if it dollar do the duty of ten or a hundred. A total of $828,- tk� were, this scheme is unfair as it will enrich a very few at 000 has been collected and expended through the Chamber • t .,. I of Commerce in the last nine years, $502,000 of this sum, associates succeed, then every carload of freight received more than half a million dollars was raised by public sub- or shipped to or by the citizens of Miami and all of south- h scription. eastern Florida, will pay an extra toll of from $20 to $50 Promoter's Success Due to Miami per car for freight incoming or shipped from Miami Beach. III The exception would be less than 3% who inhabit the 1 Again please show me most any amusement or out- peninsula east of Biscayne Bay. It will mean an extra door sport that is going on within ten miles of Miami that haul of approximately six miles which every truck will does not depend on obtaining 85% of its financial patron- have to make across Biscayne Bay and return. That is i • age from the city of Miami. not the worst of it, friends. You will be asked to vote ' Again show me any big promoter around Miami who bonds to build more bridges, viaducts, causeways andil I has made a success of his promotion and I will show you islands to provide facilities to secure your freight,and then I a man who can thank Miami for 75% of the success of his you will be called upon to build some more causeways, project. Still—the promoters of Virginia Key have the bridges and viaducts to the realty development of Virginia nerve to try to fill up half way across Biscayne Bay and Key so that the promoters will have more easy money with now have their plans for cutting off the only view of the which to go to Europe. I Atlantic Ocean that the people of Miami have. We should worry about the breeze across Biscayne Bay i • Now friends, I have seen behind the curtain and I in the summer time if we had money and went to Europe know what is coming, and it is my purpose to enlighten every summer. • the people of Miami and give you fair warning of whatHow the Scheme Is Worked I will happen unless you investigate this unfair proposition and rise up and oppose it with all your might. You older Miamians will remember how this game is worked. Some months past the State Trustees sold to the owners ' of Virginia Key some 438 acres of Bay Bottom. This sale First: The promoter interests a few prominent citizens II was opposed by your Chamber of Commerce,especially that or sells them some stock or lots at a very low price. • i' portion of the bay bottom lying west of and in front ofSecond: They begin to place great advertisements in c Norris Cut. Still the sale was made. Now I am informed the papers about how valuable this new development will ` that it is proposed to fill all that area in front of Norris be to the public. Cut, and the only way it may be prevented is by your appeal to the War Department, as no submerged land or Third: Then they all begin to bring influence to bear body of water may be filled without a permit from the on the County Commissioners for a Bond Election. Board of Engineers of the U. S. War Department. Fourth: They persuade the public that they should • have a roadway or a bridge through or to the property. It is the law and the rule of the U. S. Board of Engi- They make wonderful promises of what they will do for neers that they appoint a time and place and give a public the community. For example start propaganda that Miami hearing on all matters of this kind which are so vitally needs a bathing beach or ocean front park of her own, and 11 important to all the people. they paint a gorgeous picture of what their scheme will •• I understand that the owners of Virginia Key will ask accomplish. There is always some joker in the deck or for a permit, or have asked for one, and that they have the string breaks and the fish escapes. requested that hearing be held during the month of Novern- • Fifth: The public is busy with its own business and no , ber, 1924. one thinks much about it and the interested voters and Citizens Should Protest . their friends vote "Yes". The majority stays at home and I Now every citizen of this City has the right to make the taxes increase. . a protest against this proposed Island fill and the despoil- Sixth: Then the sleepy public wakes up and finds that ing of Biscayne Bay and this protest may be made at any where they thought they had a wonderful scenic park or time in writing to the District Engineer who is Colonel road, or at least had paid for the building of a road, such G. A. Youngberg, Jacksonville, Fla. say along the ocean front,the property owners had decided The official hearing will probably not last more than to change the route after the values had been created one day and everyone who is interested could not go on through the expenditure of public funds. Then the public the stand and testify, and for this reason I would suggest must travel on a back.alley. to all who are interested in the future progress and pros- Now friends, do you believe in repeating a bad bargain? perity of this "Wonder City", write to the District Engi- if not, then wake up and study this question and then act. neer of the U. S. War Department at Jacksonville, Fla., and protest against the filling in of any island west of Do your bit, it will help wonderfully. f and in front of Norris Cut in your and Bay Biscayne Y giveI feel that it is time that the people of Miami watch ' reason for protesting against said fill. their step on public matters as the game is such a large Please remember that this permit to fill is only a step- ' one here in realty development that very often the public ping stone to a greater calamity in store for the citizens does not realize how the influence is being handled. of Miami unless this scheme is nipped in the bud. Progressiveness is a great thing when directed in the Will Try to Bridge Ship Channel right direction. It becomes a menace however, when the re-action is against the interest of the community. The next step will reach out further than to the citi- The real estate cperator is a most important man in zens of Miami. It will reach the growers and shippers of the development of a city, as he ties the new-comer to the i 'southeastern Florida as well as all shippers and consumers city by having him invest, and I have always endeavored ► in the City of Miami. That will be the plan to bridge the due to give credit to them for their good work in the up- ! i Miami Ship Channel. If this be permitted and the further building othisorcity. development of the Miami Harbor on the Miami side of Biscayne Bay be killed, and it would be if this plan of the It is the promoter who takes undue advantage of the Peninsular Terminal Company of Miami Beach and their public who is the object of criticism. e , . i • • i a .•. .. - . • 11a, rr • s I would feel guilty when acting as President of your west causeway which would put all of our docks in the Chamber of Commerce if I failed to warn the public of the city limits of Miami in a compact area. All these plans P great damage that will be done this City if the plan of have been approved by the directors of the Miami Chamber closing Norris Cut and the plan of bridging the Miami of Commerce, a former City Council and high Govern- ( Ship Channel are allowed to go through. ment officials, and our plan will stand the acid test. The Board of Directors of the Miami Chamber of Corn- The pending Rivers and Harbors bill in congress pro- • coerce has gone on record as opposing both of these vides that the Federal Government will construct a channel i schemes, but we must have the backing of the public in 200 feet wide and 25 feet deep across Biscayne Bay to the O.. general if we thwart these well laid plans. The project Municipal basin, and without a doubt that bill will be • r.! has millions back of it and the promoters expect millions passed at the coming session of Congress. We are also out of it. I do not see how any Miamian could favor assured that Miami is entitled to and will receive support these projects unless he was financially interested. in getting a 30 foot channel with 300 feet width across 1 Now as to the proposition which I understand that b1 r. Biscayne Bay soon as the 25-foot project is completed. • Carl G. Fisher made to the Miami city commissioners a I wish to call your attention to the map accompanying t few weeks ago in regard to his company being willing to . this article, which shows the location of Miami's •new i advance one-half of the money necessary to dredge a $2,000,000 bay front park and the boulevards along the 25-foot channel into Biscayne Bay. city of Miami. You will please note that in looking east- The "joker" in this proposition is that I understand ward across Biscayne bay that the citizens of Miami now have a very plain view of the Atlantic ocean through that Mr. Fisher only proposed to assist in securing this channel to his own docks, and that would leave Miami in Norris Cut, the opening through this cut being 1,500 feet as bad a predicament as she would be without the channel, • in width. This is the only view which the citizens of and in addition the city would be out the money expended. Miami have of the ocean. Ships passing along their lanes / .r close in shore are in very plain view. It is my opinion that it is just another scheme to try and kill the Miami harbor. In other words Miami is asked You will please note the area marked XXXX, which is to buy the rope to hang herself. the proposed fill in front of Norris Cut. This is the area i which we are objecting to being filled. ._. _. 3 The U. S. Government will dredge a ship channel to the ' Miami municipal basin just as soon as a river and harbor You will also note the proposed location of the 10-acre legislative bill is-passed,and we have every assurance from island west of Virginia Key proposed fill, and lying ad- i Washington that this bill will go through in December. jacent to the East Coast ship channel, which acreage the 1 state is proposing to sell to Brown & Company. However, Miami Dock Plans Are Adequate this proposed island fill is in the same class with the The plea is made by the promoters that Miami needs Virginia Key fill and all Miamians should protest against ' • this island dockage development for her future shipping the location of any islands, and unsightly warehouses at facilities. Please remember that Miami's future harbor this point. development can be amply cared for in the plan as out- I stand ready to explain any of these important sub- lined in the June number of the "Miamian." This plan jects to any committee or body of Miami or Dade Coudty - 2— 4 would provide 31/2 miles of clocks which would take care Citizens. r r of about 75 ocean-going ships in addition to our present Yours for a greater Miami; a greater Southeastern docks and room for an additional pier on the mainland. •Florida and an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean. -1.The plan for the new clocks calls for a'fill at the bend of . E. G. SEWELL. . 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