Evening journal., 1916-02-26
PENNST Gets OFFER
FOR BAY line BOATS
Eastern Shore Company Is
Said to Be After the
Property
PRICE HELD TO
BE TOO HIGH

the nay lllt nNtdlltln' 10 ihN AAdoANih 1T
Shore points on April L. as an
nounced boy the companies controlling
them. was unchanged yesterday. The
matter was considered at a meeting
of the executive committee of the
Merchants and Manufacturers As
soc.ation. but it is said no conclusion
was reached as to the proper steps
to take to avoid the mishap.
The issue was discussed in every
phase by The committee, which finally
decided It was not ready TO act for
the association. The whole question
was then referred to a special com
mittee TO make its report at the
monthly meeting OF the executive
committee Thursday. The special
committee is composed OF Key Comp
ton, president OF the Chesapeake
Steamship Company; Carl r. Gray,
president OF the Western Maryland
Railway Company; William b. Hurst,
Robert +. Roberts and David b. Stew
art It's report may be laid before
a general meeting Of the association
and It's recommendation taken up in
detail.
The Commercial Travellers Bureau
of the association will meet today for
the election of officers Il is also eX-
pected to take up this issue and
thrash IL out II is deeply concerned
over the possibility Of the stOppage
of the boat lines and il is said il can
be relied on to do whatever is pos
sible to stop such a disaster to the
trade Of Baltimore.
There is still a general feeling that
the Pennsylvania Railroad will find
some way TO meet the situation, with
the consent OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission. before It actually
goes TO the extreme Of Withdrawing It's
boats. Exactly how this is to be done
has not vet developed and some OF
those connected with the railroad say
they do not at present see any way
out of the dimculty under the ruling
Of the commission.
II is understood that an offer has
been made to the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company for the Eastern Shore
lines by the Eastern Shore Develop
ment and steamship Company, which
now operates steamer line between
Annapolis and Claiborne, connecting
wsith Baltimore via the Annapolis
short Line. This company, which has
been fighting the Pennsylvania lines
10 the Eastern Shore and which is
now scouting for steamers, is said to
be prepared to operate steamers 10 the
various points touched by the Mary
land. Delaware and Virginia boats at
soon as that company suspends SER
vice. It already has four steamers
and is said 10 know where IL can Sc
cure others.
There was a rumor that the Mer-
chants and Miners Transportation
Company might enter the field as a
OF the boats and wharf
property and operate the lines in con-
nection with its coastwise traffic. This
was regarded as an easy solution or
tho problem If Il could be brought
about. as there is no inhibition against
this company operating a steamer line
on the Chesapeake Bay.
But the report was soon denied by
James F. Jenkins. president OF the
company. He said his company mad
never even entertained such a sug-
eostion. and that so far as he was
personally concerned he would ad-
vice against the course.
d rs said ihc Pennsylvania Railroad
would be willing TO sell ifs equipment
used I'm this trade for S3000,00o. This
however. IS regarded as too high q
fuure by those who might be willing
10 buy. ID is declared the property
and tho vessels can be duplicated foi
much less On any normal period. and
moreover. that most of the boats ir
service on these particular routes nr'
old and will need much repair 70 b'
put in frst-ciass shape.
Therefore. unless the railroad com
uany viii greatly reduce its estimate
of fhc price. it may be difficult 70 NM
purchaser.
This practically leaves the matte
where II has always rested. The onl
comfort Baltimore and the section
served which want 10 continue q
trade with Baltimore can get out o
F the situation Is that there Is still som
, time before the stOppage order goe
into effect m the meantime with IN
business interests of The city and th
sections working 10 the same end,
satisfactory conclusion may ultimate
I iy be reached.
One practical steamboat man say
3 n the worst comes 10 the worst
VIII be comparatively ieasy TO osiat
lish barge lines between the city an
territory in enlarged sections. tina
could easily handle all the truck an
other freight business, though the
would be little slower than IN
steamboats, But this, he though
could be more than made mp by IN
reduction in the freight rates. tn
barges could be towed by tugs or b
power boats. Of which many are avail
able. he says He also held that thes
power boats could handle much q
> the passenger traffic that now come
by steamers.
This Is not an extreme position {
take in view Of the possible exiger
cies Of the present situation. More
over. IL tends to show how earnestl
the merchants and others here al
looking into this matter to find
means TO prevent Baltimore fro
: suffering any injury.
i BANK Statement.
BY The United Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. z6.-The weel