The Coral Gables Times

2 CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, October 25, 1962

Smathers Tells Gableites Berlin May Be Hit

By JUNE GRAY Woman's Editor "Russia will probably attack Berlin if its ships which are now heading for Cuba refuse to be searched and we are forced to sink some of them," Sen. George Smathers told Coral Gables Junior Woman's Club women yesterday (Wednesday). Speaking by long distance phone from his Washington office, to which he had been called back by the crisis, the Florida Senator continued: He believes Cuba is valuable to Khrushchev only as a bargaining device, and in the event of an attack Khrushchev would agree to leave Cuba if the U.S. and her allies will do the same in Berlin. When Senator Smathers was asked why the President declared quarantine instead of sponsoring a Cuban-led invasion, he replied he could not speak for the President. "There was some discussion," he said, "among top Congressional figures about an invasion but those who knew Khrushchev said he was a volatile man, and his first reaction would have been to combat force with force, involving us immediately in a thermonuclear war. "For this reason, the blockade was announced to the American people three days before it became official to give the Russian leader time to talk with his advisers. "We knew we had this much time before the Russian ships could reach Cuba and we also wanted the approval of the Organization of American States. "Furthermore, we know that given time for forethought, the Communists will not engage in any conflict which is not to their advantage. "But if they stand to profit they will fight regardless." The Senator denounced those who have attached political significance to the President's move so close to the Congressional elections (Nov. 6). "When you are in the lines you do not turn to the man next to you and ask is he a Democrat or a Republican. One's blood flows as freely as the other," he said. The Senator pointed out that pictures taken four weeks ago indicated missile bases were being constructed on Cuban soil but the type was uncertain. The pictures taken 10 days ago, showed a different type was being built. Senator Smathers said he did not think South Florida is in any greater danger of attack than Chicago or any other city reachable by the missiles, whose range is up to 2,200 miles. "Furthermore," he continued we do not know if they have the equipment to fire these. The Russian convoy may be carrying these. We know the bases are a Russian enterprise, where the Cubans are not allowed. "This morning the Russians were working in their uniforms instead of their customary work clothes. "We think as long as these bases are manned by the Russians, they will not use the missiles, because they have had for quite some time long-range missiles which they could have fired on us from their own territory." The women met at the club-house next to the Library on East Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

CG Commissioners Have Mixed Views On Service Plan

The proposal to create a large service area with Coral Gables as the nucleus met with mixed acceptance from City Commissioners this week. Recommended by the Metro Planning Board and Department, in a 170-page report released last week, the move would increase the area to be serviced by Coral Gables through annexation or by agreement with the residents of the unincorporated area. None of the Commissioners contacted had seen the text of the report, but this is what they had to say about the general proposal to create 17 service areas in Dade County. "I think there are some good things in it," said Mayor Robert L. Searle, "but it needs study in some areas." "I very much favor people paying for their own services," he said. Whether they do so as part of a municipality or by arrangement is irrelevant, Searle said. He saw the provision of fire, police, trash and other services to the unincorporated areas by municipalities as a complicated arrangement with many problems. But, he indicated, it could be worked out satisfactorily. Commissioner Joe Murphy said what he had learned so far seemed to please him. "The service area idea makes sense to me," said Murphy. "It's a good plan." Commissioner George Wilson said he favored outright annexation over the Gables merely providing services to unincorporated areas. "I'd prefer our City to take over those units," Wilson said. Wilson said he even would go along with annexation of the unincorporated areas along the Tamiami Trail, if that became necessary. Commissioner's C. L. Dressel Jr. and Franklin Evans could not be reached for comment.

The Provisions

Here are the basic provisions of the Metro Planning Board's recommendations: -Annexation of the unincorporated parts of Service Areas by the major city in each of the 10 service areas that currently contain cities. -Incorporation of new municipalities of the five Service Areas now entirely unincorporated. This would create 17 Service Areas in Dade County, most of which would be composed of one or more municipalities and some unincorporated area. Most of the undeveloped or sparsely populated areas would remain outside Service Areas.

Unscheduled Show Room Entry

Workman Cleans Up Mess At Ussery's —Times Photo by RAYMOND LANG. A sports car—not yet out of the show window—became involved in an accident Friday morning when a woman driver reportedly ran a stop sign, collided with another vehicle and wound up in an auto dealer's show window. Shirley Braun, 55, 1621 SW 23rd Ave., driver of the errant car, was treated at Doctor's Hospital for shock and abrasions of both knees. According to Officer John Stuart, who investigated the 7:50 a.m. accident, the woman was eastbound on Almeria Avenue, when she failed to yield the right of way to John Cole Brockway, 25, 9831 SW 166th Ter., going north on Salzedo Street. Brockway, a service manager for Bill Ussery Motors, 297 Almeria Ave., was arriving at work when he was hit. The Braun car went out of control, jumped the curb and smashed through the plate glass window and into the new Austin Healey on display. Stuart estimated damage to the Braun car at $400, Brockway's car, $500 and $50 to the new car. Damage to the building was estimated at $350 by Stuart. Several show windows had to be replaced.

You Can Hear Talks On Tuesday

Gableites will have an opportunity to hear candidates in the Nov. 6 general election at a political rally scheduled for the Coral Gables Youth Center at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The rally is sponsored jointly by the Presidents Council, the Coral Gables Optimist Club, the Young Democratic Club and Murray Solomon Post No. 243 of the Jewish War Veterans. Ainslee Ferdie, a local attorney, will be the moderator. The program will be led off by William Martin, chairman of the Dade Democratic Executive Committee, and Marcus Kyle, chairman for the GOP. In addition to the candidates, the nine proposed amendments to the Florida constitution will be explained.

PROFANITY FINE

Gloster Felton, 136 South Dixie Hwy., was fined $15 in Municipal Court Oct. 9 on charges of being drunk and using profanity.

Work Ready

Coral Gables Federal Savings & Loan is ready to go ahead with its five-story addition Nov. 1 after a long delay. The financial institution proposed back in the spring of 1961 to go up six stories on a 25-foot lot adjoining the present building at 2501 Ponce de Leon Boulevard After the City Commission pared the request to five stories, the firm decided to aquire 25 more feet.

Singer Buys 450 Ft. On Dixie at $350,000

Four hundred and fifty feet of valuable "Burdine Tract" frontage on South Dixie Highway was acquired recently by Al Singer and associates for a reported $350,000. Half the frontage was then sold for $180,000 to University National Bank for the new institution now under construction at that site. Singer and his interest acquired the land from the retirement fund of Burdine's, which held the land. Singer, owner of the University Inn a block away, says he has no immediate plans for developing the remaining 225 feet of land fronting on South Dixie Highway. The remainder of the so-called Burdine Tract, named that because that firm had once sought to build a large shopping center there with its store as the nucleus, is reportedly owned by Al Polizzi. Polizzi purchased the land from the McBride family. University National's first venture will be the one-story bank building, according to Don Wessell, chairman of the board. A multi-story office building is planned in the future next to the bank.

LOWE NAMED

Westchester Shopping Plaza Merchants Association has named Herb Lowe, 34, 14-year veteran of Miami public relations to head its promotion activities. He and his wife, Ona, live at 8470 SW 32nd Ter., they were new homes.

"Set's gone! got price"

"Didn't take long to sell" says Mrs. Grairstein. 16 piece Danish modern rattan. Also dinette set, formica top and 4 chairs $75 Comp. CA 1-0361. Why don't you dial HI 4-6844 or HI 3-3054 to place a classified ad. Spanish spoken.

Tax Roll's Up But So's Valuation

The Coral Gables $237,710,-750 tax roll is up 60.98 per cent over last year — but don't jump at conclusions. It still represents the lowest increase since 1945. Most of the increase is accounted for by the change of valuation put into effect this year, Tax Assessor T. C. Blount said this week. The story of the decline and fall of the construction industry in Coral Gables is told in these figures: Total number of buildings increased only from 9,336 to 9,-456 in the 12-month period. That's only 120 new buildings or 10 a month. Of these, 102 were new homes. Eight new apartments were added to the tax rolls, one duplex, a store, one combination store-apartment and seven miscellaneous buildings. Comparisons between the two years are difficult because of the new assessment basis Blount said. For instance, the gross tax roll last year was only $147,-665,150. This is still far below this year's net roll — $194,919,700 — after all the homestead, widow, veteran's and disabled persons exemptions have been deducted. The personal property gross is $32,894,650 and the net $26,-839,180. The real and personal property gross is $270,605,400 and the net $222,758,880. Total number of Homesteaded properties this year is 7,039, compared to 6,996 last year, Blount reported. The number of widows, veterans and disabled persons rose from 1,130 last year to 1,155 this year.

ENFORCE LAW

Get out and enforce the law, Gables merchants asked the town fathers this week. The merchants are upset over violations of the City's sign ordinance. This provides that no sign may be attached to a store window that is larger than 250 square inches.