Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-11-25
A BIG THING.


OF the Enterprise Are and How
They Propose TO Proceed in the
Matter-Details OF the Project.
"The times are pregnant with enterprise
and Wilmington is not big enough to con-
tain herself" So said a prominent busi-
ness man to q STATE JOURNAL reporter
day or so ago while discussing mammoth
real estate project which has been quietly
maturing for few weeks past and is now
ripe for execution. This project, which
/ is undoubtedly destined tc give decided
impetus to the already rapid growth
of Wilmington, is Iothing less
than the founding of large
urban addition just beyond the north
west limits of the city-a place
which will offer all the advan-
tages of country home combined
with the modern improvementsland con-
veniences of urban life. II will be the
nucleus of new wilmington-a sort of
annex to the present municipality, by
which it Is intended it shall be finally
absorbed. The territory of the proposed
project includes the greater part of the
| Johu Il. Bcinekle estate, and is bounded
on the north by the Mount Salem road, on
the south by Pennsylvania avenue, ex-
tended (tbe old Keunett pike on the east
by bancrofPs road, and on the west by the
old Mt. Salem road, now known as Mt.
Salem lane 1t comprises about 10 acres,
65 OF which will soon be placed in the
market for sale as building lots.
The location is one of the most
eligible that could have been selected for
the purpose, being on gentle sloping hill
with q southeastern exposure overlooking
the city, and affording fine view of the
Delaware and surrounding country,
while it is put within easv reach of the
city by the City Passenger Railway, which
runs directly through it. Its attractions as
home are apparent at glance, and there
is scarcely doubt that the scheme will
meet with all the success that its enthusi-
astic pre- jeetors are now predicting for it.
Already The plans for the new enterprise
ere completed and the first practical step
toward the realization of the scheme was
taken last Saturday. Inc moving
spirit of the matter is j. T. Head, Esq,
and, though acting merely az an agent for
the BripcRle heirs, who are the principals
in the movement, he has entered into the
project with all the characteristic energy
that has marked his long and successful
career in real estate business, and notably
IN his management of the Lowering in
ves.ment, through which Wilmington
| gained Delaware avenue, the finest
| thor0ughfare it now possesses, and an in
crease ID a few years of nearly three
million dollars in the value of its taxable
property.
In long talk with STATE JOURNAL
representative last week, Mr.. Head
explained in detail the plan and
purpose of the new enterprise. The idea,
he said, is purely business one, and has
no element of charity or philanthropy in
1t, as some may, after reading the details
of the project, suppose. The object is
to furnish cheap aud comfortable homes,
within easy reach of the city, to the hun
dreds If people-mechanics, business men
and others-who are now vainly seeking
dwelling places within the municipal
limits, while ut the same time it is expected
that the projectors will reap profitable
return for their investment.
The property will be laid out in oblong
rectang'es OF about 800 by 250 feet. As
already said Pennsylvania avenue, ex-
tended, forms the southeriy boundary of
the plot. Fourteenth street. extended
will cut OF small part of the southeast
corner ard then crossing Pennsyl-
vania avenue will form an acute angle
with it. Nineteenth street. extended, will
take the place of Mt Salem road as the
northern boundary of the property and the
intervening cross streets will be laid out
on the plan of the city streets, extended,
and will be numbered, in accordance
herewith, es Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seven
teenth aud Eighteenth streets. There
Will be FIVE avenues, running parallel with
Market street. Baucroft's road slightly
changed in direction and widened will be
called WOodlawn avenue. The central
thoroughtare cunning north and south will
be called Greenhill avenue aud between
this and Woodlawn will be Brinckle
avenue. Then there will be two other
avenues west of Greenhill, names fol
which have not yet been chosen. A
southerly extension of Woodlawn avenue
would reach the Scheutzen Park and thai
advantage will probably be secured in the
near future.
Tho Rising Sun branch of the city rail
way passes through the property in
a direction slightly diagonal to the direc-
tion Of the cross streets. This, of COURSE
would have proved serious obstacle to an
advantageous division of the property into
lots, but it was easily removed by al
agreement between the Brinokle heirs anC
the City Passenger Railway Company, BY
which the course of the railway will be
changed so that it will conform to the
direction of the streets, The contract fol-
this work was awarded last week to Mr.
James Bradford aud the tearing up of the
track was begun Saturday week a
the point where the railway intersacts Wood
lawn avenue Bancroft's road) The tracl
will here be given sharp turn to the
southward and continued down Woodlawr
avenue to Seventeenth street. along which
il will proceed the whole length Of
the property and thence to Rising
, SUE station. This work is beinf
done ut the expense OF the Brinckles
} in consideration of the enhaced value i
will give to the surrounding property ant
on an agreement on the part of the railway
oompay to demand only single fare rat,
to the city and return from any owner Of
tenant of house built III pursuanceo
this enterprise. Heretofore the railway
company bas charged two fares from Risnl
Sun To the city, the Middle Depot beinl
? regarded as the eastern terminus of tht
Rising Sun branch The advantage of tn,
: agreement Just mentioned will b,
apparent wnen it is remembered
that most of the prospective dweller
on this property will have busines
that will take them in Town every day
and further that the benefits of the agree
ment are not confined 10 the owner anC
tenant OF n house but extend to every mem
|, ,, Der of tine family of the latter, though b.
have ever SO many sisters, cousins and aunt
, aud daughters. The railway compap,
looks for its remuneration to the incress
of business that must naturally come to
through the success Of the scheme and th
: fact that tho managers of the road hav
, entered into such an arrangement i
regarded by klr. Head as encouragin
> evidence that there are strong reasons TO
: believing that the enterprise will prove
L paying investment. M.-.
At present there will be but one trac
: on Seventeenth street, but there is ampl
u room for two as the street is S5 foe
} bread, a width that will allow extra wild
u pavements, and sufficient space on eithe
u side of double track for the passage
two cerriages. Me Head intends to begi
at once the planting of trees along thi
street, and also on the avenues with
}, view TO identifying the property in th
!, same manner that he prepared for ts
II present adcrnment of Delaware avenu
J, when it was first opened. An effort wi
d also he made to secure an extension of til
t city gas main to the property, and it
y likewise hoped that Brandywine water ma
is be supplied to the inhabitants at no dists1
e day.
Q The property will be disposed of {
e private sale, and every precaution to guar