Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-08-21
CHESAPEAKE BAY
TRAFFIC AFFECTED
A Decision Of |. c. c. Grants
Practically All Demands Of
Baltimore Commercial
Organizations.
WILL OPEN UP COMPETITION.
Local Interest of Eastern Shore
Development Company.

Decision affecting the whole ques-
tion of competition Jf traffic on Ches-
apeake bay and its tributaries, grant
ing practically all the demands of the
Baltimore commercial organizations,
which insisted upon opening up com
petition. was handed down yesterday
by the Interstate commerce commits
sion.
The Pennsylvania railroad, accord
ing to this decree. must divorce itself
from its water lines in Chesapeake
bay. except those between Baltimore
and Love Point and Claiborne, Md,
which the commission holds are ferry
lines of the railroad which operates
to Ocean City, Md, and Rehoboth
Beach, Del. The Baltimore, Chesa.
peake and Atlantic and the Maryland,
Delaware and Virginia companies.
which are operated by the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad ownership, under this de-
cision as explained by counsel for the
commercial parties, must dispose of
their properties except as to Claiborne
and Love Point traffic. These prop
critics are estimated by counsel to be
worth about $40. 200, 900. This ruling
is effective April ], 1916.
When interviewed this morning w
Capital representative. a local official
of the "Via Annapolis Line" who is
interested in the matter, said
"The action of the Interstate Com
merce Commission in deciding that
the Baltimore. Chesapeake & Atlantic
Railway Co. and the Maryland, Della.
ware & Virginia Railway Co, both
owned and controlled by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, shall separate them.
selves from their steamboat lines on
the Eastern Shore, with the exception
of Claiborne and Love Point Ferries,
should be of the greatest importan ce
to the people on the Eastern Shore
and to the general community Of
Maryland.
The monopoly, which has been
maintained by the Pennsylvania Rail
road on Chesapeake Bay for many
years has not been TO the best inter-
ests of the public, in so far that a
grs at deal of business which naturally
should go via Annapolis and Baltimore
to Western points and Northern points
has been diverted to the main line of
the Pennsylvania Railroad to the
North. The decision of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, whereby the
Pennsylvania Railroad will have to
give up all their boat lines on the
Eastern Shore, will mean free water
competition on Chesapeake Bay to
those who wish to operate thereon and
will mean that all transportation COM
panies in Chesapeake Bay. whether
owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad or
otherwise will have the same repre-
sentation in connection with connect
ing lines that is now enjoyed by the
Pennsylvania Railroad and its afiilia-
tions. 1t should mean some reduction
in freight rates as far as the city of
Baltimore is concerned and it will
mean an active competition for bust.
ness between those owning the boat
lines and those operating railroads.
lit will mean the establishment of
new factories and better facilities for
transportation to those communities
which are entitled to the same, as COM
pcIibtOu bCbWtSti bHt water GAEEleIH
and the rail carriers will result in ad-
ditionsl customers for shippers and a
larger demand for the goods from the
Eastern Shore and elsew here.
'While il will probably take some
time before these matters are satis-
factorily worked out, the ultimate re-
suits must be of great benefit to the
community in every respect. Annapo-
lis. as we'll as Baltimore, should ben
eft thereby and the outcome of this
decision will mean increased prosper
ity to those living in Maryland, on the
Eastern Shore and on Chesapeake Bay.
The Eastern Shore Development
Steamship Company has been working
towards this result since its inception
and the benefit that Annapolis will
obtain from this will depend entirely
upon the action of the people of An
napols. and the encouragement they
will give to those operating for the
n a r n =.