Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-05-22
GENERAL.


DESCRIPTION ny A PENNSYLVANIA vIsIT0R-IRoN
sHIPs-RAmRoAD CARS CARRIAGES, ETC., ETC.
Mr. Henry T. Darlington editor Of the Doyles-
town, (Pa. Inteligener who visited our city, last
week. thus describes some OF its features
Wilmington Delaware, is rapidly becoming
one of our most important manufacturing cities.
The greAtir iron ship building establishment Of the
Harlan Hollngsworth Co. alone employs many
hundreds Of workmen, and this IL only the chief
OF numerous other places where the manufac-
tuTe of metallic products is largely carried on.
The reputation Of Wilmington for the con-
struction OF iron vessels is already great, and her
shops have all the orders they can manage The
building of railroad cars Of every class is also
important feature Of industry and Wilmington
mechanics have stocked the lines Of distant Col
orado and California. In almost every direction
the visitor encounters extensive carriage shops
of which there must be nearly dozen in the
city. At McLear & Kendall's, few days since,
the workmen were boxing up an elegant and ex-
pensiYe vehicle for customer at st. Joseph,
Mo. This branch OF industry alone probably
brings at least million dollars yearly into the
city.
Recently splendid Opera House has been
erected, running through from Market and King
streets, and containing large and handsome
theatre or operato saloon four elegant stores,
3 spacious room for the board of trade, and
numerous apartments for offices and secret soc-
eties This building cannot have cost much less
than 5000, ,00O aud may fairly compare with any
yet finished in Philadelphia. On the site OF the
old Indian Queen hotel a large new building
is in course Of construction at an estima-
ted cost Of Sl50000. This is to contain accom-
modAtons for two banks in the first story, but is
TO be mainly used for hotel. II will AFFORD a
kind Of entertainment in which Wilmington has
hitherto been sadly deficient. These enterprises
have been set on foot and sustained by associated
effort on the part OF public-Hpirited men, who
mean to make the city AZ attractive as possible.
The public library and reading. room is liberally
supported, and courses OF lectures are given at
the proper season.
Wilmington does not trade largely in indus
trial products, but makes them which is infinite
ly more conducive to her prosperity. Artiheers
in iron, wood and leather find abundant en-
ployment II they are willing to work. Former
ly the Brandywine mills were among the chief
features OF the place, but their Importance has
declined on account OF the increasing difficulty
Of obtaining supplies Of grain. As yet, Will
mngton does not appear to incline towards ex-
travagant display in private life, although many
Of her citizens must be quite wealthy. She has
several beautiful churches, the chief OF which
belong to the Methodsts.
Along the Brandywine, above the city, the
land for beautiful natural park s to be secured
by the city and will be improved and developed
into most picturesque and attractive resort.
Two new railroad lines have recently been open
ed, one running northwest to Reading and the
other westward in the direction of Oxford, which
must contribute materially to WilmingtonB pros
perty. The people are intelligent and progress
sive, yet are still somewhat fettered by the con-
servative tendencies Of the State government.
The press in Wilmington has grown to be an
important influence Three dailies are now is
sued, thechief of which, is the COMMERCIAL, pub
lished by jenkins d Atkinson, formerly OF
Montgomery county. A smaller but spirited
journal, called EUeTy EUening. is issued by
Croasdale Cameron. On the whole, Whining
ton is a live city, and will make her mark upon
the interests of the country before she is many
years older =