Smyrna times., 1861-02-21
tcommunicated.)


The Duck Greek Navigation Company
improvement Of the Navigation
Admitting Steamboats, to Come to
Smyrna Landing.
The improvement of the navigation of DUCK
Creek, or Smyrna Greek, as it is more gener-
ally known, has been a subject long talked OF,
in the memory of the Oldest inhabtant; all
agreeing that such an improvement as would
admit a large class of vessels loading and un-
loading at Smyrna Landing, and daily commu-
nication with Philadel phia by steam from said
Landing, was much needed and emnently
practicable; but the wherewith to make such
improvements, we believe, has been the STUN
bling block to the consumation of 60 desirable
an event. That more speedy and direct
communication with the great commercial
cities Of New York, Boston, Providence and
others towns East, where we, as citizens OF
Smyrna and vicinity, are yearly looking to for
market for our great stapes-wheat, cord
and other produce-may be had by cutting off
the long reaches, or bends, and other obstruc.
tions which now delay and re,ard navigation,
all who are well Informed, or interested, fully
agree. And i: is our purpose, in future ar
tlcle, after some little reflection and considera.
ton, to suggest and point out some of the
many advantages 10 US, as a community, and
the interest every one ought to feel in having
such improvements made at an early day as
possible.
No improvement, at this time, to our mind
could be made, that would result so advanta.
geously to the business and agricultural inter-
ests of our thriving town and vicinity, as the
Improvement of our creek navigation. 1t is
the main ontlet-indeed, it may be said to be
our only outlet, for the great bulk of cereal
produce annually shipped from this vicinity to
the great markets of New York, Boston and
Providence; and the more accessible these
markets can be reached, the greater proper.
tionably, the advantages accruing to our bust
ness men and agricultural interests for it has
become now a fixed fact to the intelligent
mind, that TO these markets only can we look
with any dGgree of favor for the sale of our
products, such as wheat. corn and oats at pri-
ces remuneratye to the producer.
AT the last session OF our Legislature, an
Act was passed, Jan. 20, 1859, for the " En-
couragement of Internal improvements in the
State of Delaware" and the sum of ten thou.
sand dollars ($l0,000) appropriated by said
Act, for the improvement of Duck Creek, sum
lfproperly and judiciously expended. would GO
far toward accomplishing the result SO long
desired. About one thousand dollars of this
appropriation is now deposited in the Bank Of
Dover.
Subsequently, another Act was passed, Feb
"a, 1859, entitled, IAN act to incorporate a
company to improve the navigation of what il
now called Smyrna Creek" This Act pro-
vdes that a company shall be established FOL
the improvement of the navigation OF that parr
of Duck Creek lying between Smyrna Land
ing and the Delaware Bay, or River Delaware
The capital stock of said company shall no
exceed TWO thousand dollars ($2 ,OOO) divided
: into shares of ten dollars each. 1t shall go in
) to operation whenever thirty shares shall b,
subscribed, and not otherwise"
In accordance with the above section Of tn
Act, number of our most intelligent and en-
ergeilc business men convened at the "Smyrn
Hotel and organized, by electing officers a
prescribed in the Act, five hundred dollars c
the stock having previously been subscribe
for, leaving about fifteen hundred yet not ia
ken, which 1t Is the interest, beyond shadoN
!. OF doubt, of the townspeople and ad jacent resi-
. dents, as wei. as property-holders along tn
;. creek, to come forward at once and ia Ike with
out further delay.
e Any one wishing to become actively inter
~ ested in this enterI rise, must first become
e stakeholder. John Mustard, Noble II. Jerma
If and John H. Bewey, are the commissioner
q named to receive subscriptions, and any on
l. desiring TO take one or more shares will ca
e on these gentlemen, who will receive whateV
o. er subscriptions may Cffer.
Of Before closing this article, we desire to i'm
D. press upon the minds of our citizens, but moi
especially the Merchants, Mechanics an
~ Farmers, the importance Of keeping alive
D. this work, now so vigorously, and we may ad
u successfully begun. We shall have more
II say on this important enterprise in your mel
l. issue.
T. Written for the Smyrna Times"