Newark post., 1911-10-25
Peninsula Possibilities
Told by the Railroad

Farming Possibilities Of the Delaware
tIaryland- Virginia Peninsula," lis the
title of an interesting publication just
issued by the Pennsylvania railroad and
il IS one which ought to accomplish i'm
mense good for that section, Delaware
included.
In describing the section the book
says:
There is no more ideal section for
agriculture on the Norlh American con-
tlnent than the Delaware -MarylandVir-
ginia Peninsula.
This conclusion has been reached not
because the most luxuriant crops are al
ways produced there, but because at the
present tine the peninsula offers the
best all around advantages for farming.
by the best all around advantages for
farming is meant, not only fertility u
soil and convenience to markets, but
also the price OF land together with
those elements which make life agree
able - delightful climate, hospiIable
neighbors, modern improvements, schools
and churches. Nowhere are all these
things so happily combined with moder-
a,e prices.
The fertility Of the soil is unsurpass-
ed; the peninsula is dotted with or
cnards and farms from which the yearly
product amply sustains this statement;
farms which in many cases are not for
sale or which bring the highest prices.
But for reasons which will be explained,
there is an enormous quantity of equally
good land to be had at a very reasonable
Ggure-in some cases as low as ten dol
lars per acre.
THE population CT the peninsula is
one of the oldest and most typically
American which can be found in any
section of the country. For long time
the people were suspicious of strangers
and jealous of new blood. Now, however,
all that is changed. The inhabitants
realize the necessity for foreign capital
and labor in the development of the re-
g.on. They are extending the hear.iest
invitation to useful and Industrious peo-
pie to settle among them. The induce
ments they have to offer to the home
seeker looking for small farm, the
farmer with larger financial resources,
and the invester cannot be duplicated
elsewhere.
The Delaware Maryland Virginia pen
insula reaches out between Delaware bay
and the Atlantic ocean on the east and
Chesapeake bay on the west. 1t COM
prises practically ali of DELAY are, nine
o. the most productive counties in Mary
land, and the southern end is tipped by
two counties of Virginia.
'lThis situation between two llrge
bodies of water tempers the climate in
winter, and as the peninsula ranges from
five 20 only fifty miles across at its wild
est poinI, ii is constantly played over
by cooling breezes in summer. Latitu-
dinally it could noI be more fortunately
placed; it is far enough south to insure
large percentage Of sunny weather in
winter, but not TOO far to preclude the
growth of any fruit or vegetable COM
mon 20 the temperate zCne, AL of watch
flourish in its kind and varied soil.
Its entire population is 1885, and
its area is 6,119 square miles. Almost a
fifth of the population is centered in
Wilmington, Delaware. By far the great
est part OF the remaining four -hfths live
in cities and small towns, so chat the
real density OF the population through
out the agricultural districts will rur
from twenty-five to fifty persons tht
square mile.
within 500 miles fthis garden spot
are 35,000,oOO people, one-third Of The
total population Of North America
Within a circle of this radius, with the
peninsula as the center, are the riches
cities in the country, including Ney
York, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburs
Baltimore, Washington, Providence
Hartford ottawa, Toronto, Toledo, De
troit, Cincinnati, Louisville, Columbus
Harrisburg, and hundreds of others
Here is a market crying out for frui
from the peninsula, and ii can not
present be supplied At every shippln
point the buyers from thees cities BIZ
against each other to get the fruit 10
their territories. The situation has
signifcance that should appeal to ever
snrcwd agriculturist
Take, for example, the statement tha
the peninsula is the home OF nearly a.
the products of the temperate zone
statement chat can be very easily SUB
stantiated This includes strawberrie;
blackberries, raspberries, grapes an
many other small and tree fruits, ilk
peaches, apples, pears, figs, cherrle
ounces and plums; all of these are pre-
duced in enormous quantities and OF IN
best quality all of these are within eas
reach of the richest markets IN III
world, where the demand for penlnsul
fruit is greater than the supply.
preference freight service as fu
nished 10 the peninsula is the last woI
on speedy transportation of perishable
Peach trains go rolling over the Penn
sylvania Railroad to the markets OF u
North South, East and West. Sol
trains of refrigerator cars loaded WI
luscious strawberries go out daily
the season. Sixty-four carloads we
out from one station in a single day.
the fall and summer heavy trainloads
apples are sent to all parts of the CO
tinent The early apples are the fine
grown in any part Of the world.
ION Manhattan Island and across t
river are 3,958,000 people. Draw ciri
fifty miles in diameter from City Ha
New York, and you put line arou
100000 people-as many as you
find in all the states of Nebraska, NOT
nd, Co1n rod WvnmtY