Smyrna times., 1923-07-18
OPERATION ENTIRE MD. GV.R.R.
LOVE POINT TO LEWES PLANNED
BALTIMORE CAPITALISTS MAY
SAVE ROAD TO PENINSULA
Have Proposition to Buy Property and
Use Gasoline Motive Power In
Service-Matter Before Board

Operation of the entire Maryland,
Delaware & Virginia Railroad from
Love Point, Nd, to Lewes, with fer
ry between Baltimore and Love Point,
is contemplated by Baltimore capital
lists, who last week informed the pub
lie Service Commission, of Maryland,
through Attorney Harry E. Karr, that
they are ready to buy the entire line,
which was sold recently by court or
der to E. B. Leaf Company of Phil
adelphia for S225,00O. Jesse Rosen-
field, who has been interested for sew
eral weeks in securing the road, said
last week that he had enlisted finan-
cial backing which ihsures sufficient
money to make the purchase and to
make contemplated changes in equip
ment with view to more economical
operation. Neither Mr. Rosenfeld nor
Mr.. Karr would disclose the name of
the person mentioned in confidence to
the commission as the principal finan-
cial support of the enterprise.
May Use Gasoline Power Motor Cars
Gasoline motor cars to take the
place of locomotives in local traffic
are an important part of Mr.. Rosen-
fields plan. In addition, he contem-
plates cooperation with farmers along
the route with a view to developing
constantly greater volumes of freight
in the future. The Public Service
Commission, without committing it.
self to the support of the project,
wrote to the E. B. Leaf Company and
to Vice-President, Henry Tatnall of
the Pennsylvania railroad, informing
them of the Baltimore mems proposal
to take over the property at the price
paid by Leaf plus interest, and out
lining the plans which the commits
sion understands the Pennsylvania has
for the operation of part of the line.
Pennsylvania Plan is Considered
Ultimately, unless the Pennsylvania
withdraws, the commission must de-
eide between the Rosenfeld proposal
and that of the Pennsylvania system.
for which the NJ, D. & V. has func-
toned mainly as a feeder. The Penn
sylvania plan, as understood by the
commission, is to operate through
trains from Love Point to Ocean City
over the NJ, D. & V. and the B. c. &
A, also to operate the NJ, D. &. V. as
far east as West Denton; to make
test operation of the Queenstown-Cen-
treville and Hillsboro-West Denton
sections, and, if a good highway is
built from Love Point to Queenstown
and the Bay Shore-Queenstown ferry
be diverted to Rock Hall, the B., c..
e. A. to operate a fast ferry to Love
Point, under subsidy.
The commission, it is understood,
has received informal assurances both
from the Pennsylvania and the E. B.
Leaf Company that neither will place
any obstacle in the way of operation
of the entire line of the NJ, D. & V.
Recent letters asked for an explicit
statement of the attitude of these two
interests.
Mr.. Rosenfeld, it is said, has receiv-
ed many letters from residents of the
Eastern Shore along the line of the
NJ, d. & V. offering substantial en-
cOuragement to his enterprise. These
citizens are anxious to avoid a total
discOntinuance of service from West
Denton to Lewes, as is anticipated by
the present plans of the Pennsylvania
Actual operation of the section east
of Greenwood, already sharply cur
tailed to three mixed trains each way
weekly, will be entirely discontinued
at the end of the present week.
Terms Are Explained
In his letter Mr. Karr, after detail
ing what his clients propose to pay
and what they expect to receive, makes
the following statement:
In making the above offer it is un-
derstood by my clients that if they
receive title to the property it will be
received by them upon condition that
said property is to be operated as q
railroad, and that in no manner will
they be allowed to junk the property
but that they will be compelled tC
operate it as a railroad subject, how
ever, to the condition that if the fu-
ture so demonstrates that it is i'm
possible to operate said line as rail
road without serious loss, they then
shall have the right to apply to the
Public Service Commission of Mary
land,or the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to dispose of the property in
such manner as, in the judgment OF
the commission NAV he III iUhf aDd
proper.
"May l add in making the above
offer same is only being done by my
clients from a purely public-spirited
standpoint, as they feel it would be a
public calamity for the citizens OF
Maryland to permit the passing of the
Maryland, Delaware and Virginia
Railway Company
"My clients stand ready and willing