Evening star., 1929-01-02
CHESAPEAKE BEACH
RAIL WAY TOBE SOLD
New York Interests Plan
Identification of Road and
Resort Development.

Negotiations virtually have been
closed for purchase and electrifcstion
of the Chesapeake Beach Railway and
the Chesapeake Beach Hotel Co, and
comprehensive development of the Bay
resort by New York interests. 1t was
learned today from Frank Van SAINT.
Washington attorney. who has con-
Quoted the negotiations.
The property to change hands in
cludeS a railroad, now operated by
steam, about 80 miles long, from the
District of Columbia Line to the shore.
and about 600 or 700 acres of property
on the bay A million dollars In bonds
and million dollars in stocks are OUT
standing
When the deal will be completed Mr..
Van SAINT could not predict DEFINITELY.
but he said the principal features OF
the agreement had I. N settled. and 1t
was now only matter of ironing cut
a number of details. The name OF the
purchasing concern will be made public
later with formal announcement.
Road Built by MofTatt.
The railroad was built by David Moi
fatt. the great railroad engineer, and
for a time was largely owned by his
widow and other heirs. The company
now is managed by trustee. William
V. Hodges of Denver, Colo. The local
vice president is w. J. Hayward, who
also holds the title Of general man
ager. The auditor is j. M. Rector
Offices of the road are in the Barr
Building, 9l0 Seventeenth street
Although the railroad and the water
front property and concessions at the
beach are all owned by the same In
terests. they are listed as belonging to
two different companies. the Chesa-
peake Beach Railway Co.. and the
Chesapeake Beach Hotel Co. The buy
ers plan to take over all interests in
both companies. The hotel company
is legal owner of the real estate proper,
and the improvements, including the
casino, boardwalk and concessions, and
the long pier. The railroad owns the
right of way. rolling stock, station prop
critics and other assets. It also owned
a large hotel at the resort which burned
down several years ago.
Electrification of the road will prob
ably be started gradually by the use
of cars which carry their own electric
power in storage batteries, Mr.. Van
SAINT said This new method of electro
fication is rapidly growing in transpor..
tation systems. The steam train Will
continue to be used for freight.
Plans for development Of the Chesa-
peake Bay resort are comprehensive.
Mr.. Van SAINT indicated. and include
the introduction of all the newest and
most popular am:sement features. One
Of the men in the New York develop
ment concern, he said, was one who
had had a large part in the promo
ton of Coney Island, the big seashore
amusement park of New York City.
A harbor for ships from the bay Is
one of the features on the program for
development.
with the present terminal of the
road at the District Of Columbia Line,
plans are being considered for sys.
TEN of feeder hu-@ss and q downtown
station, thus to bring the terminal
downtown.
Pc.5es Are Favored.
Buses have been favored as more
comfortable and speedy than having
the electric cars run to q downtown
station, as the big interurban type OF
cars would be impeded in the trip
through downtown streets by the irl-.
creasing traf1c Of city streets. IN
adopting the system Of cooperating
buses and electric cars the company
follows the system put into effect IN
some of the largest cities OF the coun-
try by leading railroads.
A further plan being considered, it
was said by Mr.. Van SAINT, would be
the routing Of the busses to other
points in Washington, as we'll as the
downtown Station, in order to pick up
passengers.
BY Introduction Of the electric cars,
Mr.. Van SAINT said, 1t is also the hope
of the new owners to increase the speed
of transportation and cut down the
time Of the trip. If plans work out
on this score, he explained, it should
be possible to reduce the trip from an
hour and a quarter to about 40 or As
minutes. with electric cars running as
frequently as the traffic demanded.
Chesapeake Beach itself has about 500
or 600 inhabitants, most of whom are
there for the Summer only. Many
employees Of the road live there the
wear around. North Beach. however,
an adjacent development, which has
grown into municipality, has an esti-
mated population Of about 5000 to
10000. This whole area would be
served by the improved facilities OF the
electrified line.