The Coral Gables Times

The Hovels Called Home in Our Town

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter Debris, junk and garbage littered the outside of the dilapidated frame shack called home. An old spring scale, its numerals partially obscured, hung from the front porch ceiling. Stacks of empty soft drink bottles gave further indication that some sort of business was being carried on here. The inspector flashed his badge to the lady of the house and she reluctantly motioned us in, muttering something undiscernible under her breath. We entered the cavern-like interior, illuminated only by an unshaded electric light bulb. The woman shamefacedly led us through the house. If the outside was repelling, the inside was appalling. Dust-laden cobwebs hung from ceilings, windows, doors and what passed for furniture. Filthy clothes were thrown everywhere and cleaner clothes were piled. The floor, covered with trash, clothes and paper, creaked under our feet. We were careful not to touch anything. But it was the odor that was most offensive. It was heavy in the nostrils and made it difficult to breathe. The bathroom — a place to wash — was greatly in need of cleaning itself. Ten toothbrushes, lined up in irregular rows, above a dirty and stained sink, indicated the number of human beings crowded into the hovel. Everywhere, electrical wiring hung loosely from walls and ceilings as if an afterthought. We fought our senses and entered the kitchen. The rest of the house, as bad as it was, was no match for the place where the family's food was prepared. Flies fed on decomposing fish heads lying on a piece of paper on the floor. Garbage lay in leaking bags on the floor and in the sink. Dirt and filth the kind accumulated by years — was everywhere. (See THE CITY, page 2)

A PART OF GABLES WE DON'T LIKE TO ADVERTISE

WHAT'S HIS FUTURE HERE?

Coral Gables TIMES

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL Vol. 37, No. 3 Thursday, Feb. 22, 1962 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

Due for Enactment Sunday Selling Law

A Sunday closing ordinance is scheduled to be considered in two weeks by the City Commission. An ordinance was discussed at Tuesday's conference meeting of the commission, but commissioners decided to await reaction of the Chamber of Commerce committee headed by Fred Hartnett before placing it on first reading. It would set aside Sunday as a day of rest, not on religious but practical grounds. The ordinance also incorporates the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions recognizing the right to discriminate on the types of businesses allowed to stay open on Sunday. City Commissioners back in November asked Metro to adopt a Sunday closing ordinance that would cover dade.

Money Returned

The City received $500 Tuesday from the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Christmas Decoration Committee. The committee, represented at the meeting by Frank (Mort) Guilford and Al Jacobson, was paying back the City's contribution which helped make last Christmas display at Merrick Park possible. A total of $8,829 was collected by the Committee to pay for the dazzling display. Merchants and professional men contributed. The project is scheduled to be repeated next year. WANT ORGANIST St. James Ev. Lutheran Church is searching for an organist to replace Arthur Mullen. Mrs. Elinor Johnson, church member, has temporarily taken over the position of organist.

Water Books' Audit Could Affect Rate

Editorial on page 4 An audit of Consumers Water Cos. operation in Coral Gables was ordered Tuesday by the City Commission to determine the firm's financial status. The action, Commissioners indicated, will determine if the utility is as bad off financially as it claims and if it could stand a possible reduction, such as was granted to South Miami. The move followed a meeting last week between City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr., City Attorney Ted Semple and representatives of the water company. Consumers recently lost a suit filed against South Miami after that municipality lowered the firm's minimum charge from $1.50 to $1.40. The decision of Circuit Judge Joe Eaton, based on an area-wide basis, rather than on a city-wide basis, raised the question of its applicability to Coral Gables and the unincorporated area in which Consumers operates. Coral Gables' minimum is $1.50. In 1959, Consumers asked the Gables for a 17 per cent increase in rates, but the City Commission balked. The matter never came to a head because of a subsequent move by Metro to purchase Consumers and other General Waterworks Corp. subsidiary water firms in the County. But, that too, never materialized and everything was at a standstill until Judge Eaton finally ruled for South Miami after a three-year court fight. Tuesday's move by the Gables City Commission to authorize Internal Auditor Paul Gleman to study the water company's records will cost an estimated $340, according to Robinson. Finance Director Kenneth Allyn, who recommended the move, said Gleman, with part time assistance, can do the job. Gleman in 1960 audited the records of Doctors' Hospital to determine its tax exemption claim. The audit is expected to take a month. Last week's meeting with Consumers officials, Robinson said, showed that the company paid no dividends since 1956 because of improvements to the system. This included $114,000 just spent for improvements in the Le Jeune Road area distribution system. Consumers pays $26,600 in realty taxes annually; plus six per cent of its gross, less taxes, of $15,500; and an administrative fee of $4,000 for a total of $46,100. Company officials told Robin- (See WATER, Page 2)

Mr. Million for Dade? Why He's a Gableite!

Dade County can have its millionth resident but the real million is right here in Coral Gables. His name is Cline L. Million and he lives at 4406 San Amaro Dr. with Mrs. Million. "We think it's as close to heaven as you'll ever get," Mrs. Million says of the Gables. Her husband is a retired Indianapolis restaurant owner. Although he's 67, he still does lawn maintenance work and has one of the few backyard gardens in Coral Gables. There, he has 1,000 strawberry plants, beans, carrots and cabbage. And a dozen or more mango trees. "We had a wonderful crop of tomatoes," said Mrs. Million, who helps out, but would rather tend to her house and do hand work. The Millions came here 11 years ago at the urging of her brother, Walter Thrane, 1429 Garcia Ave.

'Such A Response!'

"I had advertised in other papers and got no results," says Mrs. Norman Rachlin, 100 Miracle Mile. "I was overwhelmed with calls from The Times and The Guide." GOOD TYPIST General office work Mornings, 5 day week. Miracle Mile HI 4-7559 Mrs. Rachlin is finding out what thousands of our readers already know. Call HI 3-1661 for classified service for $1.

THE MILLIONS HAVE A THOUSAND STRAWBERRY PLANTS