Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-07-09
BEYOND TIE BRAMDYwIHE.

TEE CITY STONE BREAKER-sTRKET IMPROVE
MKNTs &c.
The Ninth Ward, or BrAndywine Village, N Il
used to be called, receives but little attention
from the newspapers. Itmoves along 30 smooth.
ly in the daily routine Of increasing great
ness as to to tempt within it's confines no news.
paper reporters in quest Of street broils, every
day mshaps, family jars, or deeds of wickedness,
for they, above all other men. despise unrequit.
cd labor. For once at least, we propose to de-
part from old time customs and to bring the 9th
Ward prominently before the public.
-Four years ago, last winter, the city limits
were extended beyond the village OF Brandywine
which had been hugging closely about the old
mills az II to gather from them the inspiration OF
antiquity, and dreams OF future greatness were
fondly indulged. Only in measure, however,
have these anticipations been realized, but the
foundations have been laid for future growth.
The slow progress Of public improvements has
deadened the energies OF goaheadative citi-
zens, and however much they might struggle TO
build up populous community there, they have
been hampered in the accomplishment OF their
designs by lack OF public facilities. Public i'm
provements have long been projected but their
accomplishment is only now about to take place
after many vexatious delays.
Prominent among the public improvements
now in a fair way Of completion we may mention
and the extension Of the street to the Philadel-
phia pike the opening OF Eighteenth and other
streets the introduction of water, and the grad
ing of Vandever Ave to the Delaware. We may
remark OF these improvements, in passing, that
work, will soon he resumed on the Washington
street bridge Washington street is ALREADY laid
out the contractor is digging away at 18th
street with the construction of the bridge will
follow the long needed water and the Avenue
will soon be graded and opened as far as the p !,
W. q ID. r. X, Last week a petition received
the approval Of Council for the cuTbing and
paving OF the South side of the avenue as far as
the railroad, and heavy influence is being
brought to bear upon Supt Kenney for the cree
ton of new station house 1t Brandywine.
When these things are finished the 9th Ward
will be quickened into new life, and from their
completion will date a new era in its history.
The only weighty industries now in operation
in the Ninth ward are the Brandywine grist
mills. and Beggs' brick yard, opened within the
past few years. The grist mills are historic Z;
the cotton mills have long attracted public at
tentiOn by the busy hum Of their spindles, but
Of the brick yard very little is known. Its little
village Of necessary sheds, &c, had escaped the
eyes of COMM ERcIAL reporters even, and they,
with vast majority of the people Of the city,
were ignorant OF the proportions to which the
works had grown until visit was made there a
few days ago
This brick yard is the outgrowth Of a similar
enterprise which has long been carried on in
East Ninth street by Newlin Il Beggs. The lat
ter, however, is now being closed up, and only
about % men are kept at work there. After the
death Of Mr.. Newlin, Mr.. Beggs obtained sole
control OF the business. and has been conducting
it alone ever since His yard ia the Ninth ward
is claimed to be the largest in the city, and its
product has obtained good reputation not
only at home but abroad. We were Informed
by his superintendent that he annually ships to
New York alone from 300, 900 to 500 900 bricks.
These are all made by hand, Mr.. Begg's expert
ence with brick machines being very unsatisfac-
tory. The yard is located on Nandiver Avenue,
and on a deposit OF clay 80 strong that it be-
comes necessary to mix IN with it quantity of
loan to render 1t suitable for brick making pur-
poses.
The clay is dug all around the floors of the
yard. 20 in number and carted into the pits, five
IN number, where 1t is worked to q proper con-
sistency. This work is done with iron wheels,
which roll around III the pit driven by steam,
and remind one very much of wagons passing
through clay roads IN early spring. The clay is
then transferred to the stands where it is made
into bricks, and Deposited on the floors to dry
preparatory to burning. The pressed brick il
made by being pressed in machine for the pur-
pose, copper lined and nicely adjusted. MIR.
Beggs pressed brick is especially fine. The pro-
duct OF this yard is about 20, 600 bricks per day,
manufactured by about IS hands.
From the bTick-ydrd We strolled across the
farm of Capt William Thatcher (indeed it is al
part of the city, observed his fine dairy farm adj
joining noted the finest crop of wheat We have
seen this season, aud from his houzetop viewed
the surrounding landscape, bounded by the Del.
aware in the distance.
Before quitting the Ward, we turned our steps
toward the stone quarry which Messrs. Quigley
X Sons have leased from Mr. Thatcher, immedi'
ately on the river Here tho stone crusher il
preparing the stone which il to DO used in the
macadamlzing Of ith street. This machine ia
curious looking thing III it's massive girth OF
iron very simple but it does its work effectively
and well. Hugh blocks Of solid Brandywint
granite are dropped into its rapacious Jaws only
10 be crushed to atoms, and the hardest are
not able to resist Its power. The revolution OF
an eccentric pushes up against an end OF the
heavy girth a thick piece of wrought iron, anC
this brushes the stone, and very rapidly, too
being driven by steam. 1t has been in opera
ton but few days but yet large proportion
| Of the needed stone is now ready and is bein(
removed to 4th street. The street is alreadl
graded as far as Lombard street and the laying
Of the stone has been commenced.
This quarry is being rapidly developed with
force OF about 80 men. and many tons OF fine
| building stone line the shores OF the river.
There are, we should judge, in the Ninth Ward
| something over 1000 persons. Many Of the PEG
pie occupy very nice houses and they have tn
facilities Of churches and schools. As we said a
| the outset, they have not made much spread yet
but before another season rolls around we OK
| poet to be able to make a better report.