Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-01-11

Wilmington MS PhIIadelphia's shipping Port'
Tho article from the Philadelphia North Amer
ioan, elsewhere published, contains 30 much
that is Of interest and value, that we ought to
observe its numerous captions and unfriendly
illusions to Wilmington.
The great question is Does Philadelphia need
a Winter (or permanent out-port
To this we answer, (though subject to correc-
ton as to faets,) Yes Philadelphia may have
an admirable harbor, but it is dboUe an impor-
tant obstruction in the Delaware River. That
obstruction is the winter ice-jam, and the bend
called the 'Horse Shoe" The collection of ice
at this point, in a severe season, is such as to
seal up the port OF Philadelphia. Right well the
merchants Of that city know this very thorough
ly the North American knows it it is the skele-
ton in Philadelphia's closet an unwelcome in
truder upon her dreams Of commercial greatness.
Now, suppose she builds or buys steamers, for
q line or lines to Europe. VIII they run in Win
ter? OF course they must If they run at all.
Yet, within four years. the Horse Shoe was, dur
ing one winter, closed for ,ceeks "a Whining
ton manufacturer mentions as an incident OF
that time that he had goods lying in Philadel-
phia, awaiting the resumption of trips by the
Southern steamers, for ttoelce lceeks y In the
month Of December, of this mild season, the
Horse Shoe" was closed for some eight or ten
days.
Now this obstruction may be removed by en-
gineering. We do not say it cannot, but we
doubt it, very much. At any rate, it will take a
long time to remove it, and the new steamship
lines cannot wait.
Can Wilmington, then, supply Philadelphia
with shipping port suitable for her commerce,
sufficient to accommodate its volume, and avoid
ing the difficulties which beset her at the "Horse
Shoe ?" We reply-she can. Referring to the
ice question, first, we will proyef necessary, the
physical fact that below Wilmington, the ice in
the Delaware Bay neUer seriously obstructs navi-
cation. From wharves at Wilmington, on the
Delaware front, or near it on the Christiapa
steamers may depart upon any day in the year
That our port is suitable for Philadelphia
commerce can hardly be questioned. Her chiei
article Of shipment is petroleum her other ex
ports all similar in character heavy, raw articles
such as grain, flour, coal, lumber, &c There il
no reason why,these may not be shipped from
Wmidgton and there is no reason why th'
goods which return in their stead should not b.
landed at Wilmington, warehoused here, ant
sent to Philadelphia, or to the West or South
upon the order Of their importers.
Coming, finally, to the question whether ou
natural facilities for commerce are enough TO
the purpose desired, let us ask what there is oi
that character, which Philadelphia has, and W
have not2 Is it water2 We have as good
depth. Is it a safe harbor? We have it. Is
room fordocks We have that and we can affor
to smile at the North Americans suggestion Q
dock 275 feet long, as something extensive
We have only to mention that the dock, about t
be built by the Wilmington 4 Western r. r. Co
at their shipping-point on the Christiana, will
made from 600 to 1000 feet deep. Docks may !
out back, along that river,to any required deptl
at minimum of expense, the level of land an
water being as completely suitable for the pui
pose, as il nature had design ed it for this pu
pose.
True, there are natural facilities, only. MuC
remains to be done to render them available
But the North American knows the plain fact
everybody knows it-that when the trade can
had, the docks the wharves the piers, tho oil
vators, can be had, also.
We will refer to this again.