Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-08-09
BAY BRIDGE
EXPOSED TO
OPPOSITION
Government Demands State
Must Bear Its Share Of
Construction
PRIVATE FINANCING
SEEMS UNAVAILABLE

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is
striking many snags these days, or
the snags are striking it, whichever
way one wants to put it.
At present the status seems to be
this: The Government is unwilling to
furnish all the money, taking bonds
insured only by tolls, the States credit
must be pledged for the amount over
and above what the Government will
appropriate. Either that or private
financing must furnish the way.
This situation seems to block the
matter and Senator Tydings says the
construction of the span is now entire
ly in the hands of the State.
The apathy apparent on the lower
Eastern Shore concerning the pro-
posed bay bridge construction is due
to lack of understanding Of the pro-
visions of the legislative act which
creates the Bay Bridge Authority,
Ralph H. Grier, of Salisbury has, as
serted.
Mr.. Grier, a member Of the three
man Bay Bridge Authority, sought to
clarity in an interview the points he
believes may have precipitated this
misunderstanding.
"The impression prevails that the
bridge authority is to pay the COM
panies $1,2OO,000 for their lines"
Mr.. Grier said. "The act established
that amount as the absolute maxi
mum, but the amount to be actually
paid the companies will be based upon
an audit of their business for the five
year period 1880 to 1884 inclusive,
and the inventory of equipment. This
figure may be considerably less than
the maximum allowed by the legisla-
ture.
Operation of the Matapeake fer
ry will be continued, for the act stip-
ulates 1T is hereby declared to be the
specific intent and policy of this Act
that the ferry service between An
napolis and Matapeake shall not be-:
discontinued at any time"
AS to location of the proposed span
between Sandy Point and Kent Island
Mr.. Grier said the cost would be from.
so to 100 per cent higher to attempt
construction of a bridge between
points below Baltimore. He added
that government engineers could not
be interested in any other location, due
to the tremendous expense involved.
"There is no foundation for the con-
tention the cost of the bridge will
exceed $10,0O0,000. I have an esti-
mate and bid made to the original
bridge company jointly by the Arun-
del Corporation and Bethlehem Steel
Corporation. This takes into consid-
Grafton every item of expense that
can be anticipated. The bid was less
than 100000. 1 have talked with
number of engineers who firmly be-
iieve the construction cost will be
less than $1O,OOO,O0O."
Referring to the states obligation
for the bonds or other credit extend
ed to the bridge authority, Mr.. Grier
read from the legislative act a Sec
ton that the financing "shall in no
way be a debt or obligation of the
State of Maryland, or subdivision
thereof"
'"The bridge would bring Maryland
and Delaware towns so miles closer
to Baltimore over the present road
system. This bridge would be the be-
ginning of new Eastern Shore high
way extending to the Virginia line and
would provide the shortest route to
Pittsburgh and the large western mar
kets.
"The bridge will be open for use
the entire "a hours daily, COM
pared with the thirteen-hour services
now provided by the ferries.
with an outright grant Of As per
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