Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-02-02
STATE AID PROPOSED TO SOUTH
ERN MARYLAND.

ERN MARYLAND.
The political condition Of Southern
Maryland las long sngrossed the
attention Of The Legislature to tie
exclusi, of = y Sufficient cousidera-
ton Of its material condition. The
present Legislature will he asked 70
take some steps toward the material
improvement Of that interesting
$ ction OF the State. t. his final
message to the Legislature Governor
Crothers re mmendr y e appto-
priation Of 100000 u he us,d in
road Improvements IN those 'sunlies
in addition 10 their share IN the gen
eral road taut Seua or Frere. Of
Charles couuiy, has Ir-paIei a JHl
to ut the former Governors Re com
mendaton into effect TIL. hi J
mikes an an -prialipn u $500 900
TO be employ, 4 il ron improvement
in the COUNTIES OF Calvert, Charles and
81. Mary 70 be appoIIined according
to the relative road mileage Of the
respective counties. It is understood
that Mr.. Crothers hal these three
counties in mind when he made tie
recommendation The other two
Southern counties have already re-
ceived special appropriations-Anne
Arundel for the Baltimore Annapolis
road and Prince Georges for the
Baltimore Washington road
Senator Frere, of Charles county,
who is thoroughly acquainted with
the conditions and has always been
loyal to the interest Of his section,
believes that the main reason why
these counties have Jagged behind
the other counties Of the State in
growth Of population and wealth is
their isolation and the lack Of proper
avenues Of travel. Later on it is
likely that railroads will be built
where they are surely needed. The
State can give no financial aid to
railroads, bat 1t can build highways.
Senator Frere believes that as soon
as there are good roads in Charles
county automobiles will be employed
and the magnificent building ,ites a.
long the Potomac and its inlels will
attract the attention of settlers.
In an interview in TnE SrS some
time ago Congressman Thomas Par
ran said that be expected regular
automobile line wouid e established
10 run between a station on the
Chesapeake Beach railroad, in Cal
vert county, and Prince Frederic +,
the county town. The State commits
sion is now engaged in improving
that road
The Southern counties are tbinly
populated, and the census show that
the population Of Charles and St.
Mary's was less in 1910 that in 1900
The increase in Calvert county in 10
years was Just 102. White there las
been small gro yth in Calvert and
St. Mary's the aggregate population
Of the three counties is smaller now
than it was by the census of 1900,
In the 10 years since that census
was taken there has been aprodigious
growth in the population of every
other section Of the State. There
mnst be some special reason Why
these counties have gged behind,
and Senator Frere is perhaps right in
ascribiug it to isolations. 1t is not
that there are fewer natural attrac-
tiong. 1t is the duty of the Legisla-
ture to make every effort to promote
the prosperity Of this most beautiful
portion Of Maryland. 1t is a land
which will produce all the food stuffs
that are now in SO great demand in
the cities. The soil Is easily improv-
ed and the climate is mild and
equable.-B Baltimore Sun.