The Morning herald., 1876-03-02
WILMINGTON, MARCH 2, 1875.
OUR WASTING RESOURCES.

steps were taken in this regard.
This is matter we mean to
again and again present to the
public ear, until the people awaken to a
knowledge Of the enormous advantages
daily wasted at our very doors. We do
not charge that the municipality of Wilm-
ing,on, nor its leading men lack public
spirit-but both these lack foresight, and
a keen selfinterest. There is not to be.
found according to our best information
save in one other instance, in the entire
United States, such combination of
water power and tide water transit, as is
to be found within the limits of this city
There is daily waste of sixteen hun
dred horse power, flowing into the Christ
lana, power if worked to the needs of
industry, and used, would add 10000 to
our population within three years, or as fast
as houses could be built for them, and sthe
wages earned by the workers OF such a
population would amount to at least ST.
100000 per annum. In the many pros
poets to left the city up into higher rank,
her mightiest means of elevation have
been overlooked.
If a sum of money equivalent to that
expended upon the Cold Spring Reservoir,
were used in acquiring the riparian rights
of the Brandywine from their owners,
the erection of buildings, construction Of
a dam, and locks, ample water supply
would be forever secured, and revenue
founded, certain to pay all the expense of
supplying the city with water free of
charge forever.
A dam constructed at or about the line
of the bridge, up to about the level of the
present races, would back the supply over
the existing dam, the water in the lowerdam
conld be used during the working heurs of
the day for mill purposes, to fill again at
night, while the water from the upper or
present dam could be used at night for
the water works; any one looking at the
waste from the race above, and either
sides of the bridge even in midsummer
must be struck at the feasibility of this,
project. Go a step further, alter the
bridge, if the county politicians who
dominate the Levy Court, are too hos
tile to Wilmington to give us new one
put a lock in the proposed dam, and you can
float up coal, lime, cotton; anything from
the tide-water, to the great factories which
ought to line each side Of the Brandywine
for mile, to Jessups, Riddles, Bancrott's,
nay to the Dulont's. The same means of
transportation would be had for the product
Of the mills, and for the immense guam
titles of building, paving and curbing
stone which await the wand of some
Prospero to call them into life and use.
Factory after factory is being closed in
Philadelphia because of the high price OF
power, arising from taxation, rent, ex-
elusive use Of steam, expensive drayage.
and other causes. Our county has already
been benefited from this trouble of
our neighbors. Let it be known in Phila-
deiphia that her carpet weavers can hpve
cheaper power, in a city where there is
church, school, and market facilities equal
to, orsuperior to those of Philadelphia.
and as sSen as the power would be ready
to rent, it would be taken, and the house
less hills Of the Brandywine, would be
covered with the homes OF an industrious
and thrifty people. Every one is interest
ed in the full use of this wasted water pow.
er, the land owners, the retail dealers, the
various tradesmen, professional men, capi.
talists, in fact every citizen in the county.
and in the State. Call up your city pride
the certain impetus to your regulation
in three years, if you fully use The vast
ing power, would lift you in rank beyond
indianapolis, Memphis, Lowell, Syracuse,
Charleston, $. G., and side by side with
Richmond, the famed capital of the Con.
federacy. As was remarked to as us few
days ago: You could dump your coal
along the side ofyour engine from a boat
you could send your products away in he
same manner in addition mile of rail.
road down Poplar Or any of the eastern
streets, would give railroad connection
with every market in the country. Cities
have wisely lent their credit TO variou.
enterprises certain to advantage them, Of
ten unwisely, to subserve purpose. purely
speculative. This is matter no wa,