The daily gazette., 1881-07-19
kren v.sseraay,. Late Edition.
A PEEP AT WILMINGTON
Observations OF Philadelphia
journalist.

Observations OF . Fhf1ade1phi
journalist.
Joel Cook, managing editor OF the
Philadelphia Ledger, in an an article
descriptive of ride over the r., W.
& B. r. h., has this to say of Will
mington:
Fourteen miles down the railway,
near Claymont, we reach the State
of Delaware, and cross that remark
able northern boundary which was
made in the olden time by describing
an arc with twelve miles radius,
having its centre at the Court House
in New Castle. Below here the rail
way runs nearer to the river, going
almost along its edge, while the
back country is gentle upward
slope, well wooded. For some dis
tancc below Clayment there is a
fringe of pleasant little country
houses along the river bank, with
water beyond them dotted with
schooners, their white sails spread
while an occasional canal propeller
drags a barge after it. Some distance
above Wilmington we leave the
river and cross u broad level plain
towards the town, which spreads
far away to the westward.
We cross the drawbridge over the
broad Brandywine at the edge of The
town, while vessel waits to get
chance TO go through the draw. This
historic stream comes down past the
battlefield at Chadd's Ford, through
/ NJ rtr anA vaahaa the
base of the hills on which a good part
of Wilmington Is built. Passing the
railway, it circles around through the
level land, till ii jo MS the Chris.iana
creek coming up from the southwest,
and uniting their currents they flow
about mile further into the Della
ware. We run a short distance from
the Brandywine and enter Whining
ton, the metropolis OF the State OF
Delaware, and ne It, thriving city,
passing its skipyards, railway shops,
car factories and mills of all kinds in
full operation. Tie evel plain
stretches out from the ber iers of the
two creeks, and on 1t and the higher
ground that rises up frcm the creeks
Wilmington is built, some of its hills
in the northwestern portion being 24O
feet above the wafer level. The
Brandywine also comes down hill, for
within four miles of the city it falls
no less than 120 feet, and furnishes
valuable water power.
All Baltimore Jrains stop at Wilmit e
ton, where the new owners of the line
are building q handscrpe station anu,
having performed that duty, the train
resun,es the journey past many mills aud
also the extensive works OF the Harlan
& lHoiiings worth Company. This vast
establishment, which blilda ships and
max ~ cars, spreads over q broad space
along tho Cbristiana, and below II ART
the phoaphate-ieriil ling factJiies thai
bring the phosphate rsck from Charles
ton and send II bsck sRain con rvertod int;
/ manure. One might suppose that ou
Southern friends would learn how to dt
this for themselves. We are soon OIL
OF Wilmington ard strike off acress thu
country towards the b sad OF Chesspeak'
bay. The CErisiiaua creek Il 1ws on on
left hand, the railway ioccasio oDaliy cross
inR its tributaries, aud both the big au,
little cle' KS shaving disposition T.
make remarkable gyratl5as in tbai
course through the level lapd. Two mile
b-low Wilmington, the Delaware PENN
MA Railroad goes off south ward TO ward
New Ca Il. and the peach couutr,
Passing the mills at Stanton, .he trui
runs swiftly along with little to see bt
green fields aud woods The railroa
leading westward from Doliwar. Dity
crossed, and we pass the fine hot-hous
and gardeBs at the station at Nswarh
which Is the last town We see in crossin
the upper end of Delaware. Just below
the Chiistiaua Creek itself IL crossed
here a very small stream, flowing souti
but looking like mountain rising u
| from the q At country.