Daily Republican., 1881-06-03

break, and to fix the grade tor an
building that might be erected Thereon
All of the routes named will requil
a very large amount of filling to brin
them to the proper Level, and the expens
= which would thus be incurred woull
under ordinary circumstances, preclud
the possibility Of the early cOmpletio
of what we deem most important in
provement to our city.
From the circumstance that the Un
= ted States Government is expendin
large sums of money in removing tb
,, distractions to navigation existing i
/, the Delaware river, nearly opposite tn
city of Wilmington, and to the fact tina
the contractors for the removal of thes
obst1 uctions, Lthe National Dredging
Company, ha established their land
ing at a point some distance north o
the mouth of the Christiana river, tn
rare chance is offered the city of Viii
mington of having constructed within
reasonable time, thOroughfare form
ing the most direct feasible route iron
the centre Of the city to the Delawar,
river front, and ofhaving that thorough
fare properly graded and finished 81
that it will be an accomplished fact il
the near future, a. IL cost that is only /
fraction of what the same work wouC
cost if done under ordinary circum
stances.
In order to make this valuable oppor
tunity available, we recommend thai
Seventh street be extended to u point
about 200 feet east of the Philadel.
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore rail
road, and that it be widened on the
north side to width of 100 feet.
We recommend the laying out of an
avenue 100 feet wide frola the point 2,
900 feet east of the Philadelphia, Will
mington and Baltimore railroad to the
Brandywine 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 Brandywine riv-
er where Fourth street extended inter
sects that river, and the opening of
Fourth street 100 feet wide, from the
Brandywine to Delaware river bank,
and the connecting of the river bank
with the piers of the National Dredging
Company so as to afford immediate land.
ing facilities for steamboats, and other
vessels.
We submit herewith u map or plan
showing the location of the avenue re-
commended, 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. 10 make wharf of the two
piers now placed near the northerly
lipA Of thair fh.. Ilaln VIZ
river to connect thst 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 Delaware river bank to the Bran
dywine river for the sum of S., 900, 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.a substantial wood
en- pivot bridge, twenty feet wide in the
clear of the roadway, with al
draw opening thrity-fve feet on
each side in the clear, and to con-
struct suitable approaches to said
bridge for the sum of $4,000.
Third. To grade Fourth street 1901
feet wide from the Delaware river bank
to the bulkhead line, and to construct
and connect it with a substantial pier,
sixty feet wide at it's face at eighteen
feet water, for the sum of $4,000.
They stipulate 3s a consideration for
doing this work at these low prices that
the city shall agree TO construct such
avenue, and bridge and approaches as
we recommend within one year, aud |
that they shall have the privilege Of lay
ing a railroad track on the COntempla-
ted bridge.
We estimate, and have reason to be-
ieve that the proposed avenue and Sew
enth street can be graded from the
bridge at Fourth street TO the Z. w. Il
b. Il. r., fort.he sum of$3, 200.
This would make the entire cost of
the work as follows:
Trading from =. W. Il Il. Il. X. to
Fourth street bridge. e.............$ 5000, 90
Erection of bridge at Fourth street .l5, 10000
Trading Fourth street and ten nporary
wharf '.''...'.''''''.'.... ...'....''o o,ooo,oo
Total cost Of proposed road to the
river. .....................$2 $23. 1000 90
Total cost with permanent wharf. -. 30. 900, ,0O
We have reason to believe that with
ew exceptions, the owners of the land
equired for the proposed thoroughfare
will accept nominal damages for their
and we do not believe that any
considerable damages will be awarded
o any of the parties whose land may be I
AIKEN for the required streets, owing to I
he great advantages that must accrue
0 them from the carrying out of this
magnificent improvement.
AS tho material to be used in grading {
he proposed avenue is being rapidly
iken out-the work going on night and '
ay, it is necessary in order to avail
urselves of this admirable chance to
ccomplish this important improvement
lat the offer of the National Dredging I,
ompany be accepted with as lit lie delay l
! possible. c
The National Dredging Company is r
Iso willing, should the proposed plan t
, accepted by the city, to 60 on with t
he work at once and to take in payment q
hereof $l5,0 to be raised by the ap- O
of the coming fiscal year, and l.
be paid on the completion Of the bridge t
I'd approaches, and the balance to be s
nd, on the completion Of the work out L
the appropriation of the succeeding Il
seal year. $
Mr.. George W, Talley generously offers d
case this proposed plan is carried out, C
deed to the city without cost, the tract
land, about 200 feet front on the bulk fl
'ad line lying between Fourth street Ii
I'd the lands of the National Dredging i
,mpany. This would give the city, b
cluding the street, frontage on the $
harf line of about 800 feet for wharfs u
I'd docks which we consider ample for p
at purpose tl
Phe Legislature of the State of Della III
are having at its late session, granted to
emission 80 bridge the Brandywine v;
YER at any point between its mouth ci
i'd the bridge Of the p. w. Il b II. II. II
no legal impediment exists to OF
idging that stream. al
We therefore recommend that the III
far nf the National Dredpin no COmDany w