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

Within the last year, conditions be-
came SO aggravating that the residents of
the Shore realized that some radical steps
for improvement must be taken. and at
once. Baltimore was awakening to the
need for decisive action to retain the
thriving trade Of the Shore and, with
spontaneous loyalty, the merchants and
buyers Of this rich section of Maryland
aroused themselves to the need OF cooper
alton.
Few indeed, are the residents of the
Shore who do not prefer their States
metropolis as both buying and selling
market and this unanimity Of opinion
resulted in opportunities being made to
the editors of county newspapers to come
out boldly and urge the need of closer
trade relations between the city and the
Shore.
1t was in response TO this public clam
or that the Eastern Shore Publicity Cam
/. paign was inaugurated, its definite objects
being to show that Baltimore had num-
erous commercial advantages that were
being neglected by the citizens Of the
Peninsula: that this fertile section had
NJ cen compelled to allow many OF its pro-
ducts 20 go to waste through lack OF pro-
per freight facilities to handle them; that
there conld be devised and put in opera
tion feasible trolley system, covering
the Peninsula and affording quick CON-
munication with Baltimore by some trans
Chesapeake route, and that the time had
come when the metropolis could no long
er afford TO remain inactive and supinely
decline to hear the urgent cry of Mary
land citizens for relief in their hour of
commercial and industrial success.
--~--''-..-- Plans Ftlh TRoLLEys.
Through the activities of the CAM
paign, Baltimore has been aroused to the
necessity for definite and immediate ac-
ton. Plans Of several descriptions for
bringing the Shore into trolley commun-
ication with Baltimore have been form
uiated and it will not be long before some
feasible system will be started in earnest.
Quick to realize the necessities of the
up the cudgel in the Shores behalf. In
B a strong and timely editorial, The Sun
q boldly declared that it was up to Balti-
q more to ''show" the Eastern Shore that
8 il was interested in its welfare and would
4 take pronounced measures for its relief
n The Sun followed this with a lengthy
article explaining FIVE reasons why Balti-
more should become great shipping
s port
The News, in its columns, and the
American, with a cartoon showing the
N PENNSYLVANIA Railroad as the route along
which the Shores trade was being di-
verted to Philadelphia also rendered val
uable aid in awakening the sentiment
Of the city to action in winning back the
IA Peninsula trade for the Maryland city.
IA And, why is this trade so valuable that
Il would benefit Baltimore so materially
>. :. g centre ! Z?
The question is easily answered. In
the nine counties of Maryland, lying on
the Delmarvian Peninsula, there is now
VI m approximate population Of $4,000
N persons; a population sufficient to sup.
port the mercantile, commercial and in
dustriai activities of city as large as
Jersey City, N. J.; and, owing to the
agricultural and fisheries pursuits, in
which large share of this population is
engaged. their purchases of supplies,
provisions. equipment and implements
are of stupendous value.
The assessable value of the State last
year was $7e4 gag, aaa, or s32o, Sag, 6ee
outside of Baltimore City. OF this sum,
S65, 8Io, 963 was the valuation OF Eastern
Shore property. The increase in value,
however. has placed this sum in the
neighborhood of SIS, COO, so it can
readily be seen that the actual value of
the assessable property on the Shore is
about $Ieo, DOC. 900.
WEALTH ON rHE SHoRR.
This does not include, however, the
immense wealth in money and its equi-
valents possessed by the inhabitants of
This section Of the State. In a recent
rating of the United States government
ION the standing OF national banks, an
Eastern Shore bank, the Centreville Ma
tional, stood second in the country, while
the baya<s in other towns on the Shore
were we'll up in the list and ahead of the
prosperous banks in Baltimore and other
cities. This showing speaks we'll for the
financial soundness of the Eastern Shore
md beiokens that the prosperity of re-
rent years has been turned to good ac-
<ount.
One of the most important factors in
the enrichment of the Shore has been
me Chesapeake Bay fisheries. It is esti-
rated that the annual value of this in