The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07
EASTERN MARYLAND
GETS NEW MARKETS
Will Give Boost TO Traffic on
Chesapeake Bay.
MEANS MUCH TO WASHINGTON
Freight Service Link in Chain of
Great DeveIOpment-InInn Water
way May Rise to Importance of
Baltic, China Sen. or Mediter-
ranean in Worlds Trade.

Announcement made during the week
OF a new line OF freight service between
the Eastern Shore OF Maryland and the
markets OF Baltimore and Washington
fits into the view expressed IN these col
umns several months ago that Ches-
apeake Bay would in time occupy some
such relation to the trade Of the United
States as the Mediterranean Sea TO that
OF the states Of Europe. Asia. and Africa.
In considering any such possibility It
must be kept steadily in mind that ches-
apeake Bay Is much smaller than the
Mediterranean. that it IS not the link
between two oceans, and that II IS not
part OF the highway OF the seas between
the Occident and the Orient
But the Chesapeake does occupy a
vastly important position with reference
10 the trade OF this country. II has the
great city OF Baltimore al It's head. al
ready one Of the important trading, man
ufacturing. and shipping ceNters on tho
Atlantic Seaboard At its foot the Ches-
apeake has Norfolk and that chain OF
cities which are coming into prominence
as rivals OF Baltimore.
Washington n Factor.
Up the Potomac is Washington. capital
of the nation. and city Of nearly $1,000
people. with trading and Industrial am
billions. Up the James River IS Rich
mond one OF the big manufacturing and
business centers OF the South.
Along other tributaries Of the Ches
apeake are growing towns. ready 10 take
on new life and power In the Industrial
world Back OF all is one OF the richest
agricultural territories in the United
States. The eastern peninsula OF Mary
land. that Of Virginia. the western shores
Of the Chesapeake and both banks Of all
the big rivers draining into the Ches-
apeake are garden spots capable OF pro-
ducing probably loo per cent more food
than they now do. What is wanted is
markets and the trick is turned.
II requires no stretch OF the magma
ton 10 perceive the great importance Of
providing two new markets for the prod
ucts Of the Eastern Shore OF Maryland
II the plans OF the new steamship com
pany and those OF the Washington. Bal
timore and Annapolis Railroad viii
reference 70 handling the freight which
may be diverted this way are realized
a new and powerful force will be added
TO the agricultural development Of the
farming region bordering Chesapeak,
Bay.
VIII Feed Two Cities.
The new freight service has its motive
In feeding the cities Of Baltimore and
Washington. The distance TO market
this way is a shorter haul for the prod
uce than by rail northward 10 Phil
adelphia. The freight rate is the key
TO the situation, other things relating tc
shipment being equal 1t stands 10 rea-
son that the freight rate to Washington
and Baltimore can be made less than tC
the northern markets because OF the
shorter haul. Questions Of terminal IA.
cillties and prompt transit are important
but are such as will readily yield a sat.
isfactoTy solution. Possibly demand ii
the newly created markets is the maIr
thing. II fruits. vegetables. and poultr,
from the Eastern Shore can compete n
price with that from the South and from
Virginia the price to the producer on tn,
Eastern Shore will be an incentive L
send his produce hither
1t all means a larger market for thu
Eastern Shore, larger supplies for Wash,
ington and Baltimore, and perhaps a 1T
tie cheapening Of the high cost OF Twins
to the consumer of the two cities More
over. Ii is link In the chain OF devel
opment Of the Chesapeake region whicl
viii one day invest it with the import
ance in trade Of the Baltic, the China
Sea- and the Mediterranean
One Of the encouraging features OF IN,
situation is that the trade bodies of bctl
Washington and Baltimore are taking
lively interest in the problem with
view to the permanent establishment OF
the new freight service on a proftabl,
basis.