Daily Republican., 1881-06-07
THE CITY'S RIVER ROAD.
A COLD DAY FOR THE NORTH
SIDE ROUTE.
Councils Trip Of Inspection Yes.
terday and Opinions Formed
Ofthe Several Routes.

The trip taken by City Council ovel
| the various proposed routes for the ave
nue. TO the river front yesterday was
vauabiein in several respects. ltnot only
afforded the members ample opportuui'
ty of Judging as to the merits OF the
several routes, but enabled them to form
what they had pot.had before, an intel
ineut opinion OF what u splendid future
the city would have, itit availed itself OF
he chances afforded AZ present. In adj
dition 10 all this il was q very pleasant
little jaunt and every body put IN day
| long TO be remembered.
ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
The report in the aJe edition of yes
| terday's REPUBLICAN, covered the visit
to the north side Of the Christiana over
the Fourth Seventh street and Twelfth
street routes very fully Council then
started for the 'south side" stopping on
the way at the house of Mr.. David IL.
Smith, where ice cold milk was handed
around in abundance. When Christiana
avenue was reached nearly everybody
expressed much surprise at the eX'
cellent driving condition 1t was in,
Councilman Paynter, who has been,
almost zone by himself in his advoca-
cy of the road going by way of Christi
ana avenue pointed outthe beauties of the
country and the firmness of the ground,
and finally dazzled the Councllman's
eye by taking the party to very para.
disc. This was the beautiful place of
Mr. Lucas Alrichs fronting on the river
and lying close to the avenue, and ad-
ded to the attraCtlveness OF the Alrlchs
homestead was the hearty welcome ac-
corded the party by the proprietor, who
received them with great cOrdiality and
entertained them with u heartlnesS that
put all at their ease. Here bouhte0ps
supply of Strawberries, ice cream and
cake, all produced on the fine farm of
Mr.. Alrichs, was spread before the viSi-
tors, and they did ample justice to the
feaSt--posSibly it was just tritie more
than ample.
Taking leave Of their kind host the
party continued their explorations and
in few moments found themselves II
the Delaware end of Christiana avenue
standing upon the very river brink. The
avenue is completed clear to the shore,
and the carriages drove clear down until
further passage was impeded by the
dyke. This struck the party very ia
vOrably and they could not help remark
ing that in the matter Of an almost fin
ished road the south side route had an
advantage which would count much in
IS favor in comparison with those on
the north side of the creek. Two draw
Oacks which were clearly pointed out
by the north side advocates were the
great distance from the city when com
pared with the Seventh street course,
aud the great shallOwness Of the water
for long distance ont into the river.
"YCu will find" said Mr.. Rodney, that
YOU will have to go just 1900 feet out
into the river from this bank before you
can get water OF sufficient depth to float
II vessel"
LOOKING FROM THE RIVER.
Having examined maps and charts
which gave figures az to distance and
depth the explorers followed Mr.. f.
B. Cotton, of the National Dredging
Company, and were soon on board the
tug Robert Il. Kirkland, which he
kindly placed at the disposal Of Coun.
ell In the tug the party went ont into
the river and viewed the terminus OF
each of the proposed routes. The boat
was used as a guide to determine the
depth of the water. She first steamed
down the Delaware opposite CnriStlana
avenue, and, leaving the channel eau
tiously worked her way in shore. When
some six or seven hundred feet from
the shore the tug ran aground, and the
lead being heaved showed but six and Il
half feet Of water.
The Kirkland then proceeded to where
the dredging is going on just above the
ChriStiana lighthouse, and subsequent
lv steamed in close to the shore opposite
the terminus OF the proposed Fourth
street route. The tug as before went
aground and the distance to the shore
was only slight in comparison with that
at the foot of Christiana avenue. The
party then returned to Wilmington.
"Well," remarked one member of
Council. "We are still puzzled. The
whole question is whether we will take
the north route with lot Of work re-
quired to make the road, but, plenty of
water where the wharf will be, or the
south route with no water for 1900 feet
and a road almost completed. For my
part am in a quandry still" And
that was the way with nearly every one
They are all much pleased with the
south side, however, and ifthe question
came up in Council at once that would
in all likelihood be adopted.