Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-10-31
THE FOUR ADVANTAGES OF WILMINGTON
FOR COMMERCE In GRAIN AND COAL.


The advantages over Philadelphia, of being |
nearer to the sea, and of being below the Horse |
Shoe ice-gorge, are possessed by other points on
the Bay, as well as by Wilmington. But there |
are two important advantages which we have |
that make our city entirely able, il she so re-
solves, to gather here an immense commerce in |
both grain and coal.
These are Our excellent natural harbor, |
which will now receive vessels drawing over |
fourteen feet of water, and only requires mod |
crate amount Of dredging, to accommodate the |
largest ships used in commerce. This harbor is |
already safe one, and needs no expensive arti- |
fetal protection. Second, the fact that we have |
here, already large city. This is very great |
advantage. We have, at command, heavy ag-
gregate Of capital and the energy and trained |
abilities Of men accustomed TO labor together in
great enterprises Beyond this, however, we
offer to the chips which shall presently invite
to our coal wharves and grain warehouses; our
large stores of merchandise, from which they
may purchase, at the lowest market rates of the
country supplies for their own crews, or return
cargoes for the retail merchants at their homes,
To this matter, we especially demand the at
tention of our large dealers in groceries, pro-
visions, -four, hardware, clothing, ard the other
necessities Of life. They ought to give an earn
est assistance to the immediate establishment OF
our trade in grain. They will find their profit in
doing 80 From all Of the many inlets and rivers
that penetrate the great grain=growing Peninsula,
South Of us, hundreds Of coasting vessels sail
by our doors with eargoes OF grain. When they
have unloaded these, they take in return cargoes
Of store-goods, Of every description, and return
them for sale and consumption at home These
purchases reach an immense aggregate, an
nualy and they can be made in Wilmington
they triu be made in Wilmington-the moment
We have provided warehouses, grain elevator,
and daily market On Change" so that their
cargoes may be here unloaded, stored and sold
at the current prices of the county There is
no good reason whatever, why this commerce
should not be centered, here, instead of sailing
thirty miles Northward, and again returning
thirty miles, making sixty extra miles on every
voyage.
We have the positive assertion Of leading men
in the management of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad that the failure of the coal
shipping enterprise at New Castle was because
Philadelphia offered the attractions of large
city to the coal vessels, and they preferred torur
thither. In Philadelphia, they could repair re-
fit, and buy supplies and the city offered attrac.
tons to the crews themselves, which small
town does not.
Please observe that Wilmington is possessed
of all these advantages. The steam colliers
themselves, are built here, in our iron ship
yards-the best in America-and every descrip
ton OF repair be made to either sail or steam
vessels, Of either wood or iron, in our man.
yards. Every kind Of ship stores are here for sale
and our riggers are ready to supply the sails
ropes, cordage, &c, &C.. that vessel contin
uay calls for. Our merchants sell goods a
Philadelphia prices and their stocks to-day, ii
several Of the leading articles demanded by tn,
trade we are now describing, are frst-class il
every particular, quantity not excepted.
With these four great advantages Q) Near
ness (2) Avoidance of ice; (3) Safe and Suita
BILE Harbor "a The Markets, Stores, and Me
chanical Facilities Of a Large and Rapidly Grow
ing city Wilmington is in better situation, to
day, to establish commerce, coastwise and for
eign, in grain, provisions, coal lumber, an
probably other leading articles, than any otie
place, large or small, Jet,0een Trenton and Cap
Henopen!