Smyrna times., 1931-06-17

caused a decrease in total income.
In this immediate connection, how
ever, it should be of interest to the
membership that for the first time
in the Associations history, bar
ring the first year, it has operated
without having had to borrow
money and reaches this meeting
with all bills paid and a bank bal
ance. The greater portion of the
Associations work during the last
twelve months has naturally been
devoted to advertising and public
ity. There have been several other
major issues either originating in
past years or developing since last
May in which the Association has
taken an active part. 1t is graft
flying to note that these, almost
without exception, have been
brought to a successful conclusion.
Before outlining the accomplish
ments directly traceabie to adver-
tising and publicity, brief reference
es to several of the major issues
not in direct contact will be given.
First-when the Del-Mar-Va Asso-
citation was organized in 1925 one
of the principal improvements
sought for Peninsula benefit was
in the ferry service between Cape
Charles at the southern entrance
to the Peninsula and Norfolk on
the Western Shore of Virginia
Gateways to the Peninsula at the
North and on the West in the
form of ferry service as well as
main line highway routes were
adequate but at the South a vitally
serious handicap existed in that
the ferry service did not meet re-
quirements and ferry rates for pas
sengers and automobiles were ex-
orbitant. Practically every auto
mobile club in the United States
and Canada blacklisted this route.
Literally hundreds of complaints
were received by the Association
from tourists and travellers who
had been attracted to the Peninsula
only to find this serious handicap
at the southern end Association
records give evidence that one of
its first steps was taken in an en-
deavor to secure improvements
both in service and reduction of
these ferry rates. Serious effort
was made to accomplish this but
with little success. These efforts
were never given up but not until
last October was success sighted.
This occurred when the Del-Mar-
Va Association, representing the
Eastern Shore Of Virginia Chamber
of Commerce and other County
Chambers, cooperated with similar
bodies on the Western Shore of
Virginia and secured a very ma
terial reduction in rates which has
since been followed by a decidedly
improved ferry service. This with
the establishment of a new ferry
line has opened the neck of the
bottle which had been closed
against the good of the entire Pen
insula and already amazing in
crease in tourist traffic from the
far north to the far south may be
noted daily over Del-Mar-Va high
ways. The Association has been
and continues active in the endeav-
/ or to secure for Del-Mar-Va the
location of a site for the proposed
Transatlantic Dirigible Station on
i the Atlantic Coast. The Associa-
tion's Special Committee on this
matter has never ceased its efforts
since their original conference
with Commander Hugo Eckner, of
the Graf-Zeppelin, and little more
than a month ago this Committee
conferred with officials of national
prominence in transportation lines
and officials cf the Goodyear-Zep-
pelin Corporation, urging that Del
Mar-Va be given favorable consid-
Grafton. This Committee is far
from being discouraged. Direct
aid to individual communities seek
ing waterway and other improve
ments have been part of the AS
N sociation's work. In the recent
Joint action taken by officials In
Snow Hill, Pocomoke and Crisf1eld
to secure deepening of the mouth
of the Pocomoke River the Asso-
citation cooperated and it is pleas
ing to report that the preliminary
survey by the Government is as
sured and there is reason to believe
the sought for improvement VIII
be granted. The Association has
also cooperated with residents Of
Hoopers Island in a similar project
and while this has not been ofhc-
tally acted upon facts and data
have been prepared and submitted
which should warrant serious con-
sideration. The Association is CO.
operating with the Eastern Shore
of Virginia Chamber of Commerce
in a protest against enforcement o.
an old law which would impose
license fee on nonresident anglers
taking blue fish in tidal waters
Temporary success has been ac'
complished and indications arf
that the matter will eventually ot
eTnf