Evening star., 1933-07-24

Map showing location Of proposed
Chesapeake Beach ferry with relation
to existing ferry lines. The dotted lines
in the upper part of the map. Leading
from Annapolis, show the ferries oper-
ated by the Claiborne Annapolis Ferry
Co. The dotted line in the lower part of
the map indicates the proposed route
of the projected ferry which would cut
down considerably the distance by road
from Washington to the Eastern Shore.
themselves and their staff of experts
Before the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation had completed its tnvesti-
cation and reached a decision. Congress
passed the national industrial recovery
act which took away from the Re-
construction Finance Corporation juris-
diction over self-liquidating construc-
ton projects. vesting 1t in the newly
created Federal Emergency Administra-
ton of Public Works. which was set
up to administer a SO, 800. 900 600 bond
issue for the promotion of construction
activities as a means Of unemployment
relief. Shortly after the passage of
this bill. officials of the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation informally ad-
vised those supporting the Chesapeake
Beach ferry project that the applica-
tion for a loan should be withdrawn
and filed with the Public Works Ad-
ministration.
The railway company did not follow
this suggestion, however. and q f~
days later the loan was denied. No
reasons were assigned. but 1t has been
unofficially learned that the denial was
occasioned in large part by the fact
that the Reconstruction Finance Cor
poration thought that loans for con-
struction projects Of this kind should,
IN the future. be handled by the Public
Works Administration
THE Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has thus twice put its stamp OF
approval on this project, first, in the
proceeding eventuating in the issuance
of the certificate of public convenience
and necessity. and second, in the SUBJ
sequent proceeding In which 1t ap-
proved the Government loan of S425,-
600. These determinations necessarily
constitute findings by the commission
that the project will be q paying one
because obviously the commission would
not approve an unwise and unsound ex-
tension of an interstate railroad, nor
would 1t approve Government loan
where the prospects of repayment were
not good"
Object Of Bitter Fight.
The chambers brief goes on to say
that the proposed ferry at Chesapeake
Beach would be completely constructed
and in operation at the present time
but for the opposition Of the Claiborne
Annapolis Ferry Co.. which has waged
bitter fight against this and every
other project for the improvement OF
transportation facilities across the
Chesapeake Bay"
The opposition has been made to the
Chesapeake Beach ferry despite the
fact that its route is 20 miles away
on the east side Of the bay, and 80
miles on the west from the nearer Of
the opposing companyis ferries.
The beneficiaries of this monopolistic
control Of transportation in so large q
part of the bay" the chamber AYERS,
includes group of Maryland politi-
clans. Former Gov. Emerson c. Har-
rington is president of the company,
John M. Dennis, State treasurer OF
Maryland IS vice president and said to
be a principal stockholder, while Gov
Albert c. Ritchie was Q stockholder up
to 1880
The chamber points out in arguine
for the loan that 1t Is not interested
either rs q body or through its ON
GERS or members. in the project In .
financial way, its sole purpose being to
establish q short and convenient route
between the Eastern Shore and WASH
ington, bringing here the business that
rightfully belongs here. but Is now be-
ing detected to Philadelphia, Balti-
more, New York and other points.