Daily Republican., 1880-03-03
OPPOSING ICE IN .snss.
A Movement Against the COntem-
plated Construction Of Ice Piers
ON the Delaware-The objections
tnat are Urged.

On ING D~ihWaF0-kno VDJoCthOhn
tnat are Urged.
In the REPUBLICAN Of Monday, Febru-
ary 10th, there appeared an extended
article, containing interviews with a
number of leading citizens upon the
erection of the proposed ice piers en-
the Delaware, q short distance below
the mouth Of the Christiana creek. The
result OF the consultations with
many OF these gentlemen was the
thought of q disadvantagsous nature
might arise from the erection Of ice
piers in the Delaware, and that this
disadvantage would possibly counter
balance the good that was expected to
accrue.
Among the gentlemen interviewed
were George w. Bush & Son, Charles
Warner Il Co., Homer Barry and Others
and all expressed the fear that the pro-
posed piers would greatly interfere
with navigation in the Christiana, and
might in short time render it impas-
sible. At that time remonstrance
against the work was being quietly cir
culated; and since then it has been
signed by every wharf owner ON the
Christiana River, excepting the Phila-
delphia. Wilmington b Baltimore Rail
Road Company and the Christiana
River Improvement Company. The
latter corporation has been largely in
terested in circulating the petition ask
ing for ice piers. On Saturday the
protest was sent to Congress. 1t is as
follows:
To THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE ANp
HOUSE OF REPREsEsTATlvRs OF THE LHI.
TED STATES OF AMERICA, IN CONGRESS AS
sEMBLED
WHEREAS, Certain citizens Of tho city OF
Wilmington, Del, have petltioned your hon
orable body, asking an appropriation OF money
Tor the construction OF ice piers in the Della
ware river, opposite Christians avenue, and
eet forth that the commercial interests Of the
Delaware river and ths manufacturing and
commercial interest OF the city OF Whining.
ton warrant such improvement Of tho naviga-
tlon OF the Delaware river, the undersigned
m inufacturers, merchants and wharf owners,
located on the Chrstiana river, beg to pro-
test most earnestly against tho construction
OF such piers. near the mouth OF the Christi
ana, believing,
]. That the tendency of such piers will be
to blocs ade the mouth Of tho UhriA Atiana river
with ice during the winter.
2. That they would increase tie bars at the
Chrlstiana's mouth and in the ship chaHnel
at Cherry Island, which the Government is
now removing ut considerable cost.
3. We can sec no necessity tor an Ice har.
Dor at this point, the piers at Marcus Hook
and New Castle being only fifteen miles dis
tant from each other, and ar, adequate for
the protection OF vessels navigating tho Del
aware river.
4. TAe increasing demand of our trade for
greater DRAFT OF water la the Ch'iStiana,
and the necessity that depth of twenty feet |
Of water sho aid be secured by dredging. leads |
US to hope that all money that can be appro |!
priated Tor the improvement OF the navi cation 1
Jf the Christlana, will be appropriated for
dredging between the wharf lines, until 20 |
eet OF water Is secured.
One gentleman who has been &C.
live in getting up the petition asking
Tor ice piers is much chagrined at
his opposition. He declared his feel
ngs to the REPUBLICAN yesterday say
.ng; "Ths project is now as dead as
loor nail, and | presume that those
Who signed the remopstrance are sat.
SIZED at their success, Notwithstanding
he great injury they do the city"
others, take a much different view of
he subjsct, and feel that the advan.
age that will accrue from the erection
II the piers will much outweigh the
lamage, if any there be, that will be
eft by the wharf owners along the
Ihristiana.
The Committee of City Council, hay
ng the petition exchange, have held
meeting and concluded to go to Wask-
ngton and lay the matter before our
representatives at any time that may
uit them.