Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1921-01-28
Good Roads and Motor Trucks viii
Solve Our transportation Problems.

Governor Richie Is impressed with
the iden that ia the combination Of
good roads and motor trucks, as dem
onstrated by the growth Of bus-line
servicc in Southern Maryland, has
been fOGrd the solution of the trans
portation problem hero.
This declaration was made by the
Governor, after several days. eohsid-
GRAFTON Of the data gathered By him
during the inspection trip he and a
party Of State officials, accompanied
by business men from Baltimore and
Washington, made made over the bus
lines Of the Tidewater Lines, Inc, last
week.
The statement OF the Governor is as
follows
"The object of the trip which I re-
Gently made through the counties OF
Prince George. Charles and ST Mary's,
was 10 bring the State Government, as
we'll as our commercial interests, into
a closer contact with the needs and
problems OF Southern Maryland, par
ticularly with reference to transporta-
ton.
"The population OF Southern Mary
land is, apparently, not sufficiently
dense TO make rail transportation,
either electric OF steam, attractive to
capital. The hauls also would be
comparatively short, which would tend
TO make rail transportation aneconom-
ical. Nevertheless, the need for elf
cient fast transportation OF some sort
has become imperative.
Southern Mary land has been known
for nearly three centuries as a tobacco
producing section primarily. but there
are large areas OF lands especially
suited 70 truck gardening and the pro-
ductiOn of berries and small fruits.
Such industries cannot develop on an
extensive scale without fast and relia-
BILE transportation to get these perish
able products to market. Nearly all
Of the soils in Southern Maryland
have been found suitable for alfalfa
raising, and wherever alfalfa can be
grown successfully, stock and dairy
Industries can also be probably de-
vcloped. There again transportation
has not been fast enough to make DAT
rying practicable. It is also impOssi-.
bic 10 market dressed meats OF any
kinds from this section in warm wealth
ticable method of refrigeration while
in transit. southern Maryland is q
large producer Of hogs, for which
shcas is al the presoat lime no trans
portation on the hooi They must be
killed and marketed in cold weather at
times when the market conditions may
not be good. Il is also probable that
returns from poultry and carly LAMBS,
which this section produces largely,
could be greatly increased by the in
production Of refrigerator transporta-
ton, so that they could he marketed
dressed, no matter what tbe weather
conditions.
"1he same lack of refrigerator
transportation is felt keenly by the
water industries OF Southern Mary
land, since all such products as oys-
ter meat and fish, both OF which exist
in abuudant quantities, must be care
fully cooled on their way to market
''Uur trip through Southern Mary
land was made in the motor coaches OF
the Tidewater Lines, Inc, which has
instituted both passenger and freight
service operating over the entire State
road system in the peninsula between
the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers.
We travelled in one day, with frequent
stops, over approximately two hun
dred miles of road with perfect COM
fort and without delay or mishap.
The coaches were electrically lighted
and heated, and capable of carrying
from twenty-five TO thirty passengers.
Motor freight service has been insti-
tuted by this Company within the last
l.. 4
to the belief that many, if not all OF
the transportation problems mem
toned, are capable of being solved by
the extension and enlargement of this
| service.
This entire motor system, both
passenger and freight, is organized
like railroad, running on definite
schedule, with stations, SHOPS, gar
argos, and dispatchers located at con-
venient points.
1T does not seem unreasonable to
suppose that after the country has been
more fully developed by the extension
of motor transportation, combina-
ton system involving motors, rail,
and water may come about ultimately.
1T is therefore the opinion of the
State officials that motor enterprises
properly organized and financed
should receive the most careful con
sideration on the part OF those who
are interested in the vital Transports
ton needs OF. Southern Maryland and
other sections OF our State similarly
situated. Our state roads, which now
reach most OF these communities, and
extensions to them already under con-
struction, form, of course, the. basis
for motor enterprises. am strongly
impressed with the thought that in the
combination Of good roads and motor
trucks, we may have found the solu-
ton OF the transportation problem not
only In Southern Maryland, but also
in other sections of our State.