Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-01-05
FROM OUR
EXCHANGES
EFFORT SEEN TO CUT
TALBOT COUNTY OFF

The Evening Sun recently announc-
ed that the Peoples Counsel, before
the Public Service Commission, would
ask at the hearing to be held on jan
uary 22nd, that the Claiborne-Roman-
coke Ferry route be abandoned be-
cause it showed small loss in it's OPP
Grafton.
According to the Easton "Star-
Democrat" this is a bald attempt to
curry favor with the public that was
ever attempted. By disseminating this
service, the Peoples Council would
attempt to show that the loss on this
service could be saved and a CORES
ponding decrease in rates could be Civ
en- on the Matapeake-Annapolis route.
Some years ago the Commission
ruled that the Claiborne route could
not be discontinued. The Ferry Com
pany continued to give this service
and spent about $150,0O0 to make it
better. A new boat was bought cost
ing 100000 and a new terminal was
built costing $4,000. The Ferry
Company did not expect to make any
large amount from this route, but
with the idea solely of giving service
to large and important part of Tai
bot county this boat and terminal were
provided.
The Peoples Counsel does not con-
slider this tide water section of Tai
bot with its enormous shipments of
seafood of all kinds, the large and
thriving town of st. Michaels and in
fact all that part of Talbot below Roy
al Oak, which uses this Claiborne
route.
Nor did he consider the large truck
service which is the principal mode
of freight shipments to the Shore
from Baltimore. Two-thirds of all
this freight is hauled by trucks using
the Claiborne route.
1t is a cute scheme to attempt to
close this route so lower rate can be
given to those on the Annapolis Mata-
peake route. And then this man does
not consider the fact that Talbot coun-
ty alone, built the State road to Clai-
borne, borrowing on the faith of the
county and that Talbot county is pay
ing on these bonds and will for years
to come. This road is now one of the
best concrete roads in the state.
For fifty years Claiborne has been
a terminal for Eastern Shore people.
First with a railroad, then with sew
eral ferry lines, and finally with the
present company, whose service has
continued to improve until now it is
the best that Claiborne ever had.
1t is solely scheme to reduce fares
on the other route at the expense of
Talbot county, who has it's bonds to
pay and has interest to pay on them.
Then there is the sport fishermen,
thousands OF them, who come to tide
water Talbot over the Claiborne route
to indulge in their favorite sport.
Tilghman, Sherwood, Mcdaniel and
st. Michaels people should rise in
their wrath to oppose this scheme to
cut them Of fentirely from the outside
world. The Peoples Counsel would
make them travel forty miles further
to get their products to the outside
market.
The Baltimore Sun has ever been
antagonistic to the Claibome-Annap-
oils Ferry. Scores of unfavorable
comments have been printed, even edi-
torials against it. This antagonism
runs back to the time Governor Har-
rington, the president of the company,
was Governor, and refused while Gov
ernor to give to the Sun all the e;x-
elusive news of his administration.