Smyrna times., 1929-02-27
TALK Of ESTABLISHING FERRY
LINE FROM LEWIS To CAPE MAY
MEETING CALLED BY PAUL F.
CARPENTER, PRESIDENT @. OF G.
Twenty-Five Delegates Met at George
town to Introduce Bills Before Pres
ent Session of Delaware Legislature

town to Introduce Bills Before Pres
ent Session of Delaware Legislature
A delegation of twenty-five leading
citizens representing several Of the
larger communities in Sussex County,
assembled at the Court House, George
town, Wednesday night and approved
action to introduce a bill or bills be
fore the present session of the Della
ware Legislature calling for appro-
priations toward establishing a ferry
line between Lewes, Del, and Cape
May Point, New Jersey. The meeting
was called by Mr. Paul F. Carpenter,
President of the Lewes Chamber Of
Commerce, and Jos. F. McSweeney, of
the Rehoboth Kiwanis Club, who is
secretary Of the organization effected
to further the project of securing the
ferry line. The Kiwanis Club Of Sea
ford, with BUSINESS leaders in George
town, Frankford, Laurel, and practi-
cally all Of the other larger commun-
tiles in Sussex, are also actively par
ticipating. Mr. McSWeeney explain
ed that tentative arrangements have
been made whereby the actual supply
ing Of ferry service is assured if the
State Of Delaware will appropriate
fund of $4,000 o. sufficient to con
struct a wharf and ferry slips and also
approximately 100000 for two year
period, as a subsidy. Chamber Of
Commerce officials il New Jersey and
other leaders there have already
agreed to meet the same requirements.
| While the Sussx County leaders were
instrumental in having survey made
| BY officials Of the -Annap-
oils Ferry and much Of the authentic
information obtained has been sup
piled from this sourse, it was empha-
sized BY Mr. McSweeeney that there
is no definite arrangement as To who
may become permanent operators Of
such a line sheHld 1T be established,
following the expiration of a subsidy,
Or when the line may reach paying
basis. All Of the nen interested eH-
pressed an impartial feeling on this
particular point. Among the more
valuable features which such a ser
vice would bring about, Mr.. Nc
Sweerey mentioned the service which
would be provided to Peninsula farm
ers in trucking their crops to the city
markets. The proposed ferry would
not only shorten the distance from
points down the Peninsula to the
Philadelphia, Newark, n. J., and New
York markets but would open route
where traffic is far less congested, and
at the same time would undoubtedly
attract large amount of tourist traf-
fic to the Peninsula from the northern
poins. Edwin @. Totten, Executive
Secretary Of the Del-Mar-Va Eastern
Shore Association, was called on by
Chairman Carpenter for the Associa-
tion's views on the proposal. He ex-
planned that when this matter came up
as a private proposition about years
ago, the Association made rigid in
vestigation into the possibilities and
found Peninsula-wide approval Of the
plan. From that period on the Del
Mar-Va Association has carried on the
maps issued by it a proposed ferry
route between Lewes and Cape May
Point, and at Association headquarters
there are records of the largest tour
ing organizations approving and ad-
vocating it. Mr.. Totten explained that
establishing such a service would pro
vide another main entrance to the
Peninsula, the only one on the eastern
side, and would complete route Of |
highways and ferry service equaled by |
none in any other section of the coun- |
try. He said that it would unquestion- |
ably open the Peninsula to a large in |
crease in tourist traffic, as well as es-
tablish a direct route between the |
western shore of Maryland, acorss the
Peninsula into New Jersey. In con
nection with the tourist traffic which |
the Peninsula now enjoys Mr.. Totten
offered figures showing that this has |
become an industry which during the /
last year totaled more than $5040.0O0
to Del-Mar-Va. Other views of fav-
orable nature were expressed and ac-
ton was taken by Chairman Carpen-
ter to have the proper bill or bills
drawn and to appoint representatives
from all Sussex County communities
as committee to urge favorable ac-
ton by the legislature. Chairman
Carpenter will name this committee
Immediately and the bills will be sub
mitted as promptly as possible. The
of opinion of those who at
tended the meeting and in practically
every section of Dei-Mar-Va where !
views have been sought is that the
ferry line would be Of ines
Unable value to the entire Peninsula.