The daily gazette., 1881-06-03
THE River ROAD.

semss IN Ample Report.
At the meeting of City Council, last
evening, MIR. Rodpey, on behalf OF the
special committAo. On road to the river.
presented the following complete and
ample report l
WILMINGTON, June /, 1881.
To the Csty Council Of Wilmington:
GRNTLEMEN-Your Committee on
River Front, after a most careful, de-
liberate and thorough investigation of
the whole subject submitted to
their care, and q personal inspection of
the lands lying between the city and
the Delaware river, beg leave to make
the following report:
The situation Of our city and the
location Of the rivers that pass through
it, render it possible TO construct three
different connections with the shore of
the Delaware river.
The first of these connections would
be by crossing the Brandywlne river
BY the bridge at Eleventh street, and
thence to the Delaware river front by
extending Twelfth street or some other
street that would accomplish the pur-
pose.
The second route would be by cross
ing the Christiana at Third street
bridge, and from there to the Della
ware river by completing Christiana
avenue and its approaches to the river.
The third and most direct route
would be by either extending Seventh
or Eighth streets through the narrow
neck of land lying between the Chris
tiana and Brandywine rivers, and
thence to the Delaware by bridging
the Brandywine &C the most available
point.
While it would be extremely easy to
locate q theoretical avenue to the
river, which might remain ungraded
and valueless for any useful purpose
for years to come, the practical ques-
tion Of grading, wharfng, bridging,
and in fact providing for real avenue
at a cost at all within the limits it is
advisable for the city to 60, has been
most difficult problem to solve.
The conditions entering into this
problem were, which of the three pos
sible routes, before mentioned, will
afford the best facilities when COM
pleted, the depth of water at its ter
minus, and the proximity of that ter
minus to the centre OF the city being
considered, and which can be COM
pleted at the least possible cost.
Any avenue opened TO the river should,
In our opinion, be at once graded or
raised TO the level of the yer bapk,so as
to prevent any damage from inundation
should the marsh banks break, and 10
fix the grade for any bpildinya that
might be erected thereon.
ALI Of the routes named will require
very large amount Of filling to bring
them to the proper level, ,and the expense
which would thus be incurred would,
under ordinary circumstances, preclude
the possibility OF the early completion OF
what we deem most important improve
ment TO our city.
From the circumstance that the
Urited States Government Is expanding
large sums of money in removing the
distractions to navigation existing In
the Delaware river. nearly opposite the
city of Wilmington, and to the fact that
the contractors for the removal of these
distractions, the National Dredging
Company have established their landing
at point some distance north of the
mouth of the Christiana river, the rare
chance is offered the city Of Wilmington
OF having CONSTRUCTED within reasona-
BILE time, thoroughfare forming th.
most direct feasible route from the GEN.
tire Of the city to the Delaware river
front, and OF havirg that thoroughfare
properly graded and tinlshed SO that it
will be an accomplished fact In the near
future, at q cs / that is only fraction of
what the same work would cost il done
under ordinary circumstances.
In order to make this valuable oppor-
tunity available. we recommend that
Seventh street be extended to O point
about 1900 feet east Of the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore railroad, and
that 1t be widened on the north side to a
width of II feet.
We recommend the laying out OF an
avenue 100 feet wide from the point g.
000 feet east Of the Philadelphia, VIII
mington aud Baltimore railroad, to the
river, to connect with a
bridge to be constructed over that stream
at Fourth street extended.
We recommend the construction of a
strong bridge over the Brandywiue river
where Fourth street extended intersects
that river, and the opening of Fourth
street 100 feet wide, from the Brandy
wine to Delaware river bank, and the
of the river bank with the
piers OF the National Dredging Company,
so a. to afford immediate landing
facilities for steamboats, and other
vessels.
We submit herewith map or plan
the location of the avenue rec
and also an offer from the
National Dredging Company to do the
work contemplated by the said plan.
Their offer is briefly as follows:
First. 70 make wharf of the two
piers now placed near the northarly line
Of their property on the Delaware river,
to connect that wharf with the river
bank at Fourth street, and to fill in the
bed of Fourth street, 100 feet wide and
as high as the river bank from the Della
ware river bank to the Brandywlne r1y-
er, for the sum OF 5000, the temporary
wharf so constructed to be used by the
city for one year, with the probability OF
the privilege of Its use being extended
from year To year.
Second. To erect substantial wood
sn pivot bridge, twenty feet wide in the
clear of the roadway, with draw OPEN
ing thirty-five feet on each side in the
clear, and to construct suitable ap-
to said bridge for the sum of
BIG, 900.
Third. To grade Fourth street 100
feet wide from the Delaware river bank