Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-08-08
RAILWAYS WILL
AID GOOD ROADS
Grant Lower Rates On Crushed
Stone. Commission Gains
Important Concession.

The railroads which gridiron Mary
land will do their part in building good
roads by granting reduced rates on all
carloads of crushed stone TO be used in
constructing permanent hard roads in
the state. The railroad companies
were quick to grasp the benefits which
they would derive through freight rates
and through more prompt delivery of
freights if the roads leading to and from
their stations are hard and durable. d.
Hence. their ready compliance with the
request of the state roads commission
for lower rates than the average.
II was rather difficult problem which
the ratemakers of the railroad com
panies confronted when they were asked
to grant a reduced rate on crushed
stone. II the cars hauling the stone
had to pass through another state. as
would be the case, for illustration. in
transporting stone over the Pennsylva-
mia railroad from both Port Deposit and
adjacent quarries to any county on the
Easteyn Shore. except Cecil. the In
terstate Commerce Commission would
have to be consulted and would have to
give its consent. after a notice of 30
days, to the requested reduction. since
the cars would have to pass through
another state, Delaware. additional to
Maryland.
These special freight rates cannot be
secured for the Eastern Shore without
the consent of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, which we believe can be
obtained, and, if not, the Eastern Shore
can get its stone from Port Deposit by
boat. 70
In the confines of Maryland, however,
the railroad and steamboat companies
are not hampered by the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the reduc-
tion in rates for crushed stone can be
at figure which will cover the cost of
transportation.
When the State Roads Commission
started on its nilsson to build permanent
highways it recognized the necessity of
low freight rates in order to bring the
building of roads within reasonable
cost. Chief Engineer Crosby was in
structed to secure from the railroad
companies AS low rates as possible
Governor Crothers, President John
NJ. Tucker and other members of the
Roads Commission. are convinced, how
ever. that while the railroad rates are
reasonable and just. water transporta-
tion will be used whenever possible. the
many inlets of the Chesapeake Bay, it
is claimed, making the water routes far
more cheaper and more desirable. Ii is
proposed to use the steamers of the
State Fishery Force as tugs to tow
barges loaded with crushea stone to ac-
cessible points on the Eastern. Shore
and in Southern Maryland.
"Will the Eastern Shore and Southern
Maryland counties, which have no stone
quarries within their boundaries, be
provided with stone roads,"
Not altogether" said Governor
Crothers, to whom the question was
directed. The exclusive use of crush
ed stone would be so expensive that
fear the counties, which are so far dis
tant from the quarries. would not have
sa many miles of improved roads as
they want and need We must fine
some cheaper material in order to pro-
vide as great mileage as possible for
each county. OF course. we can distrib-
ute some crushed stone. despite its
great cost. The best thing to do is to
use stone for those roads in greatest
use and to use some other less expen-
sive material for roads not so much in
use