The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1911-05-12
Friday, May II, 1911
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
CAPITAL AND IMMIGRANTS.

0A1SSAAo 1A-oOJ
the development of the southern
counties on the Western Shore
of the State, which is advanced
by Governor Crothers, is an in
teresting one and once more
directs public attention to the
great opportunities of this
section.
For various reasons which are
apparent to those who have
studied conditions these southern
counties have Jagged behind the
other portions of the State in
improvement and wealth, says
the Baltimore Sun. Land is
worth less than it was a half
century ago, and there has been
little increase in population ex-
cept in the upper portion of
Prince Georges, which is near
the District of Columbia and has
ample railroads, and the part of
Anne Arundel which has rail-
roads and is close to Baltimore
and Annapolis. The population
of Calvert county is slightly
smaller than it was fifty years
ago, and it has increased less
1000 since the first census was
taken 12O years ago. The popu-
lation of Charles is less than it
was fifty years ago, and is less
than by a, 228 thanit was in 1880.
In the past 10 years St. Mary's has
gained nothing, and the increase
in 120 years has been only l, 476.
These counties were the only
ones in Maryland absolutely de-
pendent upon slave labor, and
the proportion of slaves was
larger in them than in any
others. The main dependence
Of the people was in the cult
walton of tobacco, a crop peculiar
byadapted to slave labor because
it requires work in every season
of the year. 1t is a crop which
demands more labor, and more
constant labor, than almost any
other. After the emancipation
a system of renting land to the
negroes grew up, and under
their cultivation the farms got
poorer instead of richer. There
seemed to be nothing to hold
the young men of the white pop
ulation, and it became the Gus
tom for them to emigrate. That
explains the lack Of growth in
the population. In recent years
there has been improvement, that
in Calvert county being more
marked than in the other coun-
ties. Lands are commanding
better prices, farming has i'm
proved and there has been more
prosperity among the farmers.
Perhaps the advance would be
greater if the cultivation of crops
other than tobacco could become
general. A crop for which the
returns would be more speedy
and which did not require so
much labor would be better suit
ed to the conditions. There is
no better region to be found both
as to soil and climate for the pro-
duction of fruit and vegetables.
A change in methods of agricul-
ture could best be brought about
by bringing in a good class of
immigrants who understand
farming.
The country is greatly retarded
by bad roads and lack of rail-
roads. No portion of it, it is
true, is remote from navigable
water, and there is cheap access
to market, except in time of ice
blockades, but the communication
is not sufficiently speedy nor
frequent. Good roads are
urgently needed, but there is no
stone in that section, and to
make stone roads is very ex-
pensive. A cheaper road and
one that would perhaps answer
every purpose has been tried in
South Carolina and, indeed, in
Southern Maryland. That road
is made by proper grading and
by mixing sand and clay, both
of which are close at hand on
every road.
How the general Assembly |
would regard the suggestion
made by Governor Crothers of |
special appropriations from the
State treasury for road making
in the southern counties there
is no way of ascertaining until
the session begins. Anne
Arundel, Calvert, ST. Mary's
and Charles counties have an
asset which, if properly utilized