Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1941-05-30
BIDS OPENED FOR
FERRY REVENUE
BONDS, MONDAY
81. 100000 To Be Expended For
The Purchase Of Claiborne
Annapolis Ferry Co.

Bids will be opened at noon next
Monday in the offices of the State
Roads Commission for an issue OF
State Roads Commission of Maryland
Chesapeake Bay Ferry Revenue
Bonds in the amount of $1,2O0,OOO
for the purchase of The Claiborne
Annapolis Ferry Company, according
to Major Ezra B. Whitman, Chair
man.
The bonds will be awarded by the
Commission to the highest bidder for
cash at the lowest interest rate, and
delivery will follow at noon, June 10,
at the main office of the Baltimore
National Bank in Baltimore.
With this the State will have ac-
quired complete ownership and begin
operation of the ferry system. The
purchase price of the ferry properties
is $1,O20,81O and the State will also
pay the rebates on passenger fares
and certain costs Of repairs which
have been made this year and for the
materials and supplies on hand at the
date of taking over the system. This
will mark new era in bay trans
portation.
Acquisition of the ferry system by
the State, and it's operation by the
State Roads Commission, has been
one of the principal aims in the ad-
ministration of Governor O'Conor. "a "a
It is expected that the lower pas
enger fares ordered by the Public
Service Commission and automobile
rates will be reduced on the ferry un-
der State operation. '"The very pur-
pose in purchasing these facilities is
to make possible cheaper transporta-
tion over the bay" Governor O'Conor
has declared. "These contemplated
reductions, plus the more frequent
and more rapid trans-bay service
planned, will work to the benefit Of
the entire State in bringing about
greater use of the ferry facilities by
all our people, and thus promote an
increase in travel throughout the var
ious sections of the State"
If it can possibly see it's way clear
to do so, the State Roads Commission
would like to make downward revis-
ions in ferry rates, it is stated by
Major Whitman. "We are studying
the rate situation now to see what
tolls we shall need to charge. We
plan to continue service on the pres
ent basis until actual experience con-
vinces the Commission what charges
are feasible"
AS soon as the State takes over the
the operation, users of the Annapolis
Claiborne Company ferry lines will
receive the benefit of rates establish
ed by the Public Service Commission
in May, 1910, and successfully fought
by the Ferry Company since that
time. The State, also, will repay
holders of rebate tickets issued by the
company since it obtained a tempor-
ary injunction June 81, 1910, from
the Baltimore City Circuit Court No.
2, restraining the Public Service Com
mission from putting the reduced
rates into effect. The tickets were
issued with the understanding that
the Company would refund the differ
ences between the fares and the fares
set by the Public Service Commits
sion If and when the Courts upheld
the Public Service COMMISSIONS. or
der.
Major Whitman estimates rebates
to the ferry users on these tickets
will amount to somewhere in the
neigborhood of $65,O0O.
The Public Service Commission or
der reduced fares for adults from
fifty to thirty cents for a one-way
trip and from eight-five to fifty cents
for round trip, with corresponding
reductions for children.