Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-05-01

merchants have not been to their advant-
age, declaring in turn that the commits
sion men of northern cities will 20 to ex-
ira trouble to obtain the best prices and
grading on truck, fruits and grain. The
other cause has been due to the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, and il alone
In repeatedly declining to supply the
growers OF the Shore with a daily night
boat from various river points to Balti-
more, it has forced these who persisted
in shipping to the Maryland city to allow
their goods reaching their destination in
the middle Of the day long after the
markets had finished business for the
days sales This necessitated the truck
and fruit, both perishable, to wilt on the
wharves until the next morning, when
their value would be considerably reduc-
ed Poultry met the same fate and. with
out food and water, so fell off in weight
that the returns would be disappointing
and discouraging.
LIGHT FREIcHTs NOW.
A decade ago every steamboat running
between the Eastern Shore and Baltimore
was loaded to her gunwales during the
fruit and vegetable season Now min
imum of freight of this class is carried.
Finding that their fruit would not pay,
owing to the low prices il brought i'll a
glutted market, many Of the fruit-grow-
ers Of the Eastern Shore pulled up their
big orchards and gave over their land to
the raising of wheat and corn, staple
products that could be little injured by
freight delays and which were practical
ly sure to command paying prices in any
city.
And. as with truck and fruit. so has it
been with other farm products, including
poultry and live stock. These, along
with fish. crabs, terrapin-the delectable
diamond back-wild ducks, oysters, etc,
have all drifted off to tickle the palates
Of Northern consumers, while the Balti-
more epicure has sighed for plentitude
of the good things that formerly made
the table of even humble home groar
beneath their weight.
This has been demonstrated by the
continuous rise in the cost of meats, fish,
fruits and vegetables. Ten years ago,
Maryland, aside from being one of the
most delightful, was also one OF the
cheapest states to live in Her farm and
water products spread far and wide the
fame OF her edibles, while her liberal
Southern hospitality made the visitor to
her shores long remember with delight
the grand time he enjoyed and the luxu-
ries spread before him.
HAS NATIVE PRIDE.
To this fame, the Eastern Shore has
contributed in no small degree. Her
hospitable doors have ever stood open
to the visitor and not one who has ever
been entertained in her homes has ever
been able to say ought against her-ex-
cept that she might have had better trans
portation facilities.
As with every native Marylander, there
has ever lurked in the hearts Of true
Eastern Shoremen that pride in native
heath that comes of many generations
engrafted into the loyal support, life
blood and success Of the State. Here has
been, and is, the home of romanticism-
the garden spot where sentiment -four
ishes-and forth from these nine counties
has gone the flower Of our manhood and
womanhood to nourish and ennoble the
moribund decadency of more than one
urban center.
We have cause to be justly proud of
the Eastern Shore and what it hes given
to the world. And, in maintaining that
pride, let us join in faithful bonds to win
for the Peninsula an enduring system Of
modern transportation that will bring
home to all the State the realization of
our importance and the necessity OF aid
ing us to develop what is destined to be
a rich and fruitful section.