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Page Four The Miamian sr?frmber,192S
such a fill could be made without any material damage to will happen unless you investigate this unfair proposition
the interests of the people of Miami. and rise up and oppose it with all your might.
Miami Created the Values Some months past the State Trustees sold to the owners
I would like to say something right here about the of Virginia Key some 438 acres of Bay Bottom. This sale
people and the interests of the people of the city of Miami. was opposed by your Chamber of Commerce,especially that
If it had not been for Miami there would be no great de- portion cf the bay bottom lying west of and in front of
velopments going on around Miami. There would be no Norris Cut. Still the sale was made. Now I am informed
values to the Bay bottom and the State Officials could not that it is proposed to fill all that area in front of Norris
even give it away. There would be no demand for lots Cut, and the only way it may be prevented is by your
and the promoters could not sell their lots. There would appeal to the War Department, as no submerged land or
be no demand for houses and there would be no houses body of water may be filled without a permit from the
built. Board of Engineers of the U. S. War Department.
Please show me one subdivision that has successfully It is the law and the rule of the U. S. Board of Engi
sold out a fair portion of their lots, that has not sold a neers that they appoint a time and place and give a public
large proportion of them to people in Miami, permanently hearing on all matters of this kind which are so vitally
or temporarily. important to all the people.
Please show me one promoter of a town or a subdi- I understand that the owners of Virginia Key will ask
vision within ten miles of Miami that has not relied on for a permit, or have asked for one, and that they have
Miami for a large proportion of his customers, and in sell- requested that hearing be held during the month of Novem-
ing at a distance from Miami, cashed in on the fact that her, 1924.
his property was near Miami, in order to sell it. Citizens Should Protest
Again I say it has been the Miami people and the Now every citizen of this City has the right to make
money with which the Miami people have backed the a protest against this proposed Island fill and the despoil-
Chamber of Commerce that has created a great city here; ing of Biscayne Bay and this protest may be made at any
that has created great activity here; has made values here; time in writing to the District Engineer who is Colonel
that has brought the people here who have created the G. A. Youngberg, Jacksonville, Fla
demand for more buildings in and around Miami for 25
miles; and has made Miami's name famous all over the The official hearing will probably not last more than
world. one day and everyone who is interested could not go on
It has not been easy for the Chamber of Commerce the stand and testify, and for this reason I would suggest
officials to collect this money from thepeople, nor has it to all who are interested in the future progress and pros-
officials perity of this "Wonder City", write to the District Engi-
been easy for the people to meet the demands of the neer of the U. S. War Department at Jacksonville, Fla.,
Chamber of Commerce, and it was especially so when we
and protest against the filling in of any island west of
were a very small town eight or nine years back. Some
of us went out on the streets two and three weeks at a and in front of Norris Cut in Biscayne Ba_y and give your
time, going from business house to business house and reason for protesting against said fill.
from hotel to hotel and to the professional men and to Please remember that this permit to fill is only a step-
the realtors collecting the funds that were to put this town ping stone to a greater calamity in store for the citizens
going at a speed that no other city has ever traveled. of Miami unless this scheme is nipped in the bud.
Many Miami citizens made great sacrifices in those days Will Try to Bridge Ship Channel
to help advance the city's interests, and it is the values
created by this expenditure and this unselfish work that The next step will reach out further than to the Citi
on for zens of Miami. It will reach the growers and shippers of
these smooth promoters hope to seize and "cash in"
themselves. southeastern Florida as well as all shippers and consumers
When these funds were collected then the work had in the City of Miami. That will be the plan to bridge the
just begun for some of us. Results had to be obtained Miami Ship Channel. If this be permitted and the further
and it took hard study and good judgment to make every development of the Miami Harbor on the Miami side of
dollar do the duty of ten or a hundred. A total of $828,- Biscayne Bay be killed, and it would be if this plan of the
000 has been collected and expended through the Chamber Peninsular Terminal Company of Miami Beach and their
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-
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.
The exception would be less than 3% who inhabit the
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
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 and
has made a success of his promotion and I will show you islands to provide facilities to secure your freight, and then
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.
Atlantic Ocean that the people of Miami have. We should worry about the breeze across Biscayne Bay
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 what (Continued on page fourteen)
----7 ,101
•
•
Page Twelve The Miamian September,1924
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This map shows how Miami is to be robbed of her only view of the Ocean if the plans of the owners of Virginia Ke:
mitted to succeed. The present size of Virginia Key is shown in black lines. The Chamber of Commerce directors opposei
of any submerged land that would be nearer than two miles at the south end of same from Point View, and two and a 1
from Point View opposite the Virginia Key northern boundary, and one mile south from the shin channel. Circle with arrc
the northern point that was acceptable to the Chambsr of Commerce. Had this plan been followed the view through Norris i
not be changed and the beautiful sweep of Biscayne Bay scarcely encroached upon.
The crosses show the land the State Improvement Board sold Virginia Key as a start toward filling up Biscayne Ba;
the Causeway. The promoters have applied to War Department for permit to fill said area. The proposed ftll'comes mo
. .
Septymber_1914 The Miamian Page Thirteen
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r the distance across Biscayne Bay from Norris Cut. It grabs two-thirds of the open water just south of the Causeway oppo-
tr Island and contracts by that same amount the free and open movement of the tide water through the Government Cut, and
iently this would greatly increase the tide currents flowing through this channel, thus making it much more difficult for
9 pass through.
Somewhere just to the west of this proposed Virginia Key fill the State proposes to sell ten acres to Brown & Company for
tnd warehouses or any other purpose. This will be only the entering wedge to the sale by the State, and, if permitted,the fill-
of all that beautiful area of water now known as Biscayne Bay that presents a wonderful view from the Causeway and frcm
s new $2,000,000 park.
ifpage Fourteen The Miamian September,19S4
Shall Miami's Only View The "joker" in this proposition is that I understand
that Mr. Fisher only proposed to assist in securing this
of the Ocean Be Sold? channel to his own docks, and that would leave Miami in
(Continued from page four) as bad a predicament as she would be without the channel,
and in addition the city would be out the money expended.
How the Scheme Is Worked It is my opinion that it is just another scheme to try
You older Miamians will remember how this game is and kill the Miami harbor. In other words Miami is asked
worked. to buy the rope to-hang herself.
First: The promoter interests a few prominent citizens The U. S. Government will dredge a ship channel to the
or sells them some stock or lots at a very low price. Miami municipal basin just as soon as a river and harbor
Second: They begin to place great advertisements in legislative bill is passed,and we have every assurance from
the papers about how valuable this new development will Washington that this bill will go through in December.
be to the public.
Third: Then they all begin to bring influence to bear Miami Dock Plans Are Adequate
on the County Commissioners for a Bond Election. The plea is made by the promoters that Miami needs
Fourth: They persuade the public that they should this island dockage development for her future shipping
have a roadway or a bridge through or to the property. facilities. Please remember that Miami's future harbor
They make wonderful promises of what they will do for development can be amply cared for in the plan as out-
the community. For example start propaganda that Miami lined in the June number of-the "Miamian." This plan
needs a bathing beach or ocean front park of her own, and would provide 31,4 'miles of clocks which would take care
they paint a gorgeous picture of what their scheme will of about 75 ocean-going ships in addition to our present
accomplish. There is always some joker in the deck or docks and room for an additional pier on the mainland.
• the string breaks and the fish escapes. The plan for the new docks calls for a fill at the bend of
Fifth: The public is busy with its own business and no west causeway which would put all of our clocks in the
one thinks much about it and the interested voters and city limits of Miami in a compact area. All these plans
their friends vote "Yes". The majority stays at home and have been approved by the directors of the Miami
the taxes increase. . Chamber of Commerce, a former City Council and high
Sixth: Then the sleepy public wakes up and finds that Government officials, and our plan will stand the acid
where they thought they had a wonderful scenic park or test.
road, or at least had paid for the building of a road, such The pending Rivers and Harbors bill in congress pro-
' say along the ocean front,the property owners had decided vides that the Federal Government will construct a channel
to change the route after the values had been created 200 feet wide and 25 feet deep across Biscayne Bay to the
through the expenditure of public funds. Then the public Municipal basin, and without a doubt that bill will be passed
must travel on a back alley. at the coming session of Congress. We are also assured
Now friends,do you believe in repeating a bad bargain? that Miami is entitled to and will receive support in get-
If not, then wake up and study this question anti then act. ting a 30 foot channel with 300 feet width across Biscayne
• Do your bit, it will help wonderfully. Bay soon as the 25 foot project is completed.
I feel that it is time that the people of Miami watch I wish to call your attention to the map accompanying
their step on public matters as the game is such a large this article, which shows the location of Miami's new
. one here in realty development that very often the public $2,000,000 bay front park and the boulevards along thx
does not realize how the influence is being handled. city of Miami. You-will please note that in looking east-
• Progressiveness is a great thing when directed in the ward across Biscayne bay that the citizens of Miami now
right direction. _It becomes a menace however, when the have a very plain view cf the Atlantic ocean through
re-action is against the interest of the community. Norris Cut, the opening through this cut being 1,500 feet
The real estate operator is a most important man in in width. This is the only view which the citizens of
the development of a city, as he ties the new-comer to the Miami have of the ocean. Ships passing along their lanes
city by having him invest, and I have always endeavored close in shore are in very plain view.
to give due credit to them for their good work In the up- You will please note the area marked XXXX, which is.
' building of this city. the proposed fill in front of Norris Cut. This is the area
r It is the promoter who takes undue advantage of the which we are objecting to being filled.
public who is the object of.criticism.
I would feel guilty when acting as President of your You will also note the proposed location of the I0-acre
Chamber-of Commerce if I failed to warn the public of the island west of Virginia Key proposed fill, and lying ad-
great damage that will be clone this City if the pian of jacent to the East Coast ship channel, which acreage the
closing-Norris Cut and the plan of bridging the Miami state is proposing to sell to Brown & Company. However,
ShipChannel are allowed to this proposed island fill is in the same class with the
go through• .
• The Board of Directors of the Miami Chamber of Corn- Virginia Key fill and all Miamians should protest against
merce has gone on record as opposing both of these the location of any islands and unsightly warehouses at
schemes, but we must have the backing of the public in this point.
general if we thwart these well laid plans. The project I stand ready to explain any of these important sub-
has millions back of it and the promoters expect millions jects to any committee or body of Miami or Dade County
out of it. I do not see how any Miamian could favor Citizens.
these projects unless he was financially interested. Yours for a greater Miami; a greater Southeastern
Now as to the proposition which I understand that Mr. Florida and an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Carl G. Fisher made to the Miami city commissioners a
few weeks ago in retard to his company being willing to E. G. SEWELL
advance one-half of the money necessary to dredge a (See map illustrating this article on pages 12
25-foot channel into Biscayne Bay. and 13.)