Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-12-30
SECOND EDITION.
Board of Trade.


REGULAR MEETING, LAST EvESINa--THE IMPROVE
MENT OF THE HARBoR-sTATEMEET OF SENATOR
BAYARD IN REGARD TO oAPPRoPRIATIoN-REMA
OF MEMBERS ON THa SUBJECT.
There was quite large meeting Of members
of the Board Of Trade, last evening, come fifty
gentlemen being present at the rooms.
The Committee on the Peninsula Press Aasoci-
alton entertainment reported progress. Subse-
quently, the President of the Press Association.
H. NJ. Jenkins stated for the information OF the
Board, the programme OF the meeting of the ed
itors, al given elsewhere.
The Committee to secure modification of the
Csury Law being called, Mr. Heald urged the
the members present to express their opinion in
regard to the subject He said that there SEEM
ed to be general unanimity in favor of making
our State law conform to that of Pennsylyania.
in which state the penalty for usury is simply
the forfeiture of the excess of interest over the
legal rate, He stated that gentleman sitting
beside him. (Ir. W. Fisk Townsend, of the
Georgetown Journal,) thought the Legislature
would DO willing to grant 70 much
The subject of the improvement of the Har-
Dor coming up. Senator Bayald, who was pres
ent was introduced. He said he had not yet
been able to obtain a copy of the report Of Col.
kurtz, the U s Engineer who had had the i'm
provements of this barbor ID charge. He sug-
gested that probably the best plan would be to ask
an appropriation of sufficient amount to pur-
chase mud machine, with attendant scows, for
the exclusive use OF this halbor. He understood
that some twenty years ago. such machine had
been here, but it was taken away to Philadel-
phia and not returned. He thought pro.
badly $4,000 would buy the machine, which
might then be operated by the city
at an expense, probably, of not more than So,
500 annually. He would cordially cooperate
with the Board or any committee in securing an
appropriation, and would make his utm Jst effort
in behalf of the Boards objects There were
obvious reasons why the influence of the Sena-
tors from this State was not entirely potential
with Congress and Administration, as at present
constituted, though he was compelled to say
that he had never distinctly known any dscrim-
nation against Delaware in business matters, on
account of political differences He had here
tofore urged upon the attention Of
the authorities the importance of this
city as an iron shipbuilding centre,
showing that it had decided advantages
in point of climate and situation for that indus
try, and its value to the Government for the
dockage and repair OF its vessels. To these
views, he had had encouraging response and
thought the Importance of this city and harbor
and the commerce OF Delaware Bay were being
more appreciated. The light houses on the
Bay winch had been much neglected, were now
being greatly improved. He said, in conclusion
of his remarks, that he would be glad to have
any information or form of argument which
would support our request for an appropriation.
Charles Warner said one of the strongest ar
guments in favor of help for this harbor was
the fact that the mouth of the Christiana was
the only safe harbor, in all winds on the Della
ware, between the Breakwater.a .and Philadelphia.
He further remarked that the cost of maintain
ing a mud machine would be too great, he
thought to be borne by the CITY. He estimated
the cost of machine at $50, 900 to $40 000, and
that 800, 900 a year would be needed to operate
1t. lie understood that Col. kurtz had plan
for the Improvement of the harbor. His own
judgment was that any permanent improvement
must include the Strengthening of the stream
the channel of which is 30 tortuous that when
mud is dug out on one side it's deposited OH the
other AT the mouth of the Christiana, the har-
bor is entirely 10 small for the extensive de-
mands made upon il by vessels coming in to an
chor.
j. L. Head referred to the action taken some
years ago, when, by the efforts of this Board AN
appropriation WAS first obtained. At his sugges-
tion, the memorial of the Philadelphia Board of
Trade prepared at that time, setting forth the
value of the Christiana as harbor of refuge
was read by the Secretary from his minutes.
Geo. w. Bush said that many vessels came
into the mouth OF the Christisna for a, harbor,
esl ecay during northeast storms, and at
times either SO completely obstructed the ehan-
mel that our commerce could not pass in or out,
or IN 4de its passage dangerous plan had
been suggested of erecting n line of whaives or
piers on the north side of the stream, inside the
mouth. 80 that vessels coming in for shelter
could tie up close to them and leave the channel
Open He thought the digging out of the mud
in the channel an important matter.
Il. L. Warner stated that during the past year
1858 vessels came into the port-beng it's regu-
lar commerce.
W. W. Lobdell spoke of the futitity of dredg-
ing in front of the wharves. unless 1t was gener-
ally DONE instancing the fact that the Lobdell
Co, having employed mud machine, at con-
siderable cost, aud deepened the water in front
OF their wharf to ii feet, found that in month
tile mud had washed in again, 20 that vessel
drawing feet could scarcely come in.
After further remarks by Geo. W. Stone, W.
T. Croasdale, H. NJ. Jenkins, and others, it was
resolved to appoint special committee to con-
fer with Col. Kurtz, and the chair named Mes
srs j. T. Cause, Francis Barry, and e. t. War
ner, The same committee was instructed to
collect the statistics showing the extent of ouI
commerce, to support the efforts of our delega-
ton in Congress for an appropriation.
The Usury question then received some fur.
ther consideration, and the Board adjourned.