Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-02-01
DOMESTIC NEWS.
TIKI BAY PORT.
Where shall II BE e-Chester, Wilmington
New Castle, Delaware City 2

Four localities on the West shore of the Della
ware Bay are now looking forward to becoming
important shipping ports for ocean, as well as
seaboard commerce, taking this trade either in
competition with, Or by the consent Of, Phiadel-
phia. These places are Chester, Wilmington,
New Castle, and Delaware City. Each has
it's own advantages, or presumed advanta-
ges, and each insists that it's harbor is best
adapted to the purpose. We present below the
gist of recent long article published in the
Middletown Transcript prepared nomiaally upon
the subject OF the proposed Chesapeake, and Del
aware Ship Canal, but presenting most, if not
the whole Of the claims Of Delaware City. 1t
says
Within the limits Of sober probability, we
can picture to ourselves In the not distant fu-
tnre City of many times the population that
Delaware City contains with her entire river
front lined with substantial wharyes and all the
appliances Of commerce, forest OF masts OF
shipping from all quarters moored along side,
receiving and shipping and dscharging oargoes
Of the manifold products of Delaware, Mary
land and Pennsylvania.
Delaware City is located at the head Of Della
ware Bay at the outlet OF the Chesapeake and
Delaware canal surrounded by rich alluvial soil,
aud in the midst Of one Of the most magnificent
farming districts to be found in this or any other
country improved by productive farms, enclosed
by beautiful neatly trimmed Usage hedges aud
traversed by broad, level, and well-kept roads
and high ways The land is of the very best
quality of their products, vast Quantities OF
which are shipped to Baltimore, Philadelphia
and Cape May.
The chesapeake and Delaware canal affords
a short and direct communicai IN with the Che5-
apeake bay and its tributaries and sll the sea
| board States and by Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road with the great West. The canal has q
present depth of nine feet, which ought TO be
twenty, 30 that ships of the hrst-olass could pasf
| through it into the Delaware river, where there
| is an average depth of twenty feet at the docks
| of Delaware city. All the necessary improve
| ments TO the canal would not, by careful es'
| timate exceed one sixth Of the cost OF any new
work that would accomplish the same results
i Steamers from Delaware City VIA the Delaware
| and Raritan canal require from thirty-six tt
| forty hours to reach New York, while by Capt
/ Max, from Delaware City to New York. steamerl
/ freuuently make the run in fifteen hours Ih'
/ Delaware and Raritan canal is closed 10
three months in the year, ,whe eas the other rout'
| is open the entire year. The enlargement o
| the Chesapeake and Delaware canal would b.
of the greatest importance to the Baltimore AM
| Ohio railroad, and to the commerce OF Balti
more and the Susquehanna river the advantage
would be certainly beyond estimate.
After reviewing the railroad connections o
| Delaware City, which are various and adyan
tageous, the Transcript goes on to say:
Delaware City is the fret harbor after leayint
the Breakwater. and is certainly the safest Ice
harbor upon the river or bay, During the en-
tire winter the harbor is filled with large flee
of vessels Of almost all descriptions. from til
tiny oysterman to barks and ships OF eight an
twelve hundred tons, all safe and secure. I'm
adds much to Delaware City as regards tn
welfare of ship-owners and their interests
Philadelphia, during tue winter months, whe
the river is obstructed by ice, Is almost inaccei
sible, and always attended with great cost and
still greater risk. while at Delaware oity the
are safe in a good harbor, less the cost, and N
risk.