Evening journal., 1916-08-03
BOOST POTATO AND
PROPOSED RAILROAD
South Jersey Project Ad-
vanced at Meeting and
Banquet at Elmer
DELAW AREANS
AT CONFERENCE

ELMER, N. j. Aug. 3-Potatoes
and push. dominant factors in the
growth and prosperity of this rich
agricultural region. we're featured
here yesterday az the first booster
day" and potato run held under the
direction OF the Chamber OF Com
merce. White potatoes figured most
conspicuously, the day was also
made important by the boosters from
this and other South Jersey towns
IN the campaign for a railway across
this end of the State. Representa-
tives OF the several towns discussed
this project yesterday morning. while
In the afternoon visitors and business
men made a tour OF the potato belt
in automobiles, picking up en- route
a large delegation at Woodstown and
returning last evening for a big ban
quet here.
The banquet wound up a day of
busy boosting for the road and the
potato. The visiting banqueters we're
handed each a half-peck sack Of po-
tatoes as a novel souvenir to take
home. This was one of the taking
features of the program A freight
car, full size, was reproduced on the
stage and on it's sides we're lettered,
First car OF the Pennsgrove-Woods-
town Elmer fast line" featuring the
pet transportation project OF the
combined trades bodies. From the
door of the car sacks Of the potatoes
we're wheeled out on trucks just as
they are handled at the shipping sta
tions and the miniature bags we're
eagerly grabbed by the banqueters.
10 each sack was attached a card
with the name of the Elmer Chamber
Of Commerce and some convincing infor-
nation as 10 the Importance of the
humble potato 10 the hu-iness Of this
region The tag read. "Durng the past
seven years l2s,9IO0O0 pounds Of pota-
toes, filling 1900 freight cars, nave been
shipped from Elmer. A total of 94O,
10000 pounds, filling 32,3d4 freight
cars, have been shipped from the entire
potato belt. OF which this section is the
CENTER The figures are given for seven
years. ms il has been about that time
since early Cohbler potatoes began to he
grown on a big scale In this region
Covers were laid for 200 guests and
those who partook of the feast spread
by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Elmer
Fire Company realized the truth Of the
slogan at the head Of the menu, whiclt
read. "When YOU are hungry TO
Salem county" s. H. Wright, president
Of the Chamber of Commerce. was toast
master, and the principal speaker was
Edward j. Cattell, city statistician OF
/ Philadelphia.
A roll-call was made OF the various
civic organizations represented and a
number Of brief, pointed speeches
were made on the theme. The Rela-
ton OF Transportation 10 Agricul-
ture." This had 10 deal primarily with
the proposed new railway. which sub
iect was considered even more In de-
tail az the conference in the Town
Hall Yesterday morning and presided
over by Judge r. c. Wadd.ngton Of
Woodstown chairman OF the general
committee which is investigating the
project
Captain Wilson. OF the Wilson Line
Of ferries plying between Whining
ton and Pennsgrove. addressed the
committed strongly favoring the pro-
iect The scheme was considered from
all angles and Il was decided to have
committees wait upon officials OF the
Central Railroad OF New Jersey and
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
and TO inquire into their attitude on
such a project and whether they would
be willing 10 cooperate or even 60
so far as 20 handle the whole system.
The route for the proposed railway
row considered Is from Pennsgrove
20 Woodstown. to Elmer. 10 Newheld
10 Vineland TO Millville. The VIII
mington Chamber Of Commerce Is
showing interest in the matter and
had a representative az The meeting
Elmer and other Salem county towns
are booming the project because they
believe that better transportation Pa.
cilities will further increase IN,
wealth OF this rich agriculture
region