Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-01-04

In 1881, according to the building
statistics, there were over 600 new
dwelling houses erected in the city Of
Wilmington. This was a surprising
and unsxp ectsd gain over the number
Of any preceding year, but surprising as
1t was, the year 1882 closes with An ad
vance on the last, the number being
about $50. This indicates very rapid
growth Of population for the city. The
census year showed a building record
of about 800 new dwelling houses. The
population for 1880, as returned by the
census taken, was 43, 400. AS near 81
can be ascertaineS, the average mum
Dor Of persons occupying house is five
This being so and there having been
1850 new dwelling houses erected. dur.
ing the three first years Of the present
decade, the increase would be 7, 100
which, added to the total population in
1880, would make it now 5O.150. Be.
sides this, the population WAS increased
some 1900, by the admission of the Elev-
enth Ward In 1881, which aided TO the
total, woull make it 1850. The two
last years have been unusually brisk
business years, which stim ulated build
ing operations and drew largely upon
the rural districts for part of the popu.
lation increase.
We can hardly reasonably expect
this rapid increase to continue during
the whole decade. There are indica
lions that tho demand ter houses is
pretty we'll supplied. But under the
most untavorable circumstan ces, il can
hardly be- expected that the number of
new buildings, during the next seven
years of the decade, will fall below 500
year. This would be- equal 10 An All
nual increase of 900 year in the
population and il seven years a total
Of II, 800, little city OF itself, which
added TO $3.50, will make the total
population sS, $50 III 1890 1t requires
only . glance to show that the same
relative increase during the next de-
cade, will end with considerably over
100, 900 population in the year 1900,
which Is now only seventeen years of.
If q generation is thirty-three Years,
then one halt the people now living in
Wilmington, will live to see the year
1900 and. over 100000 population. We
can only anticipate aud dimly outline
the Wilmington of 1900. The High
lands to Mt. Salem will be built up as
the Forty Acres now are. Riddles
Banks and BancrCft's Banks will be 70
Wilmington what Manayunk now Is to
Philadelphia, and the Rising sun will
be Wilmington ConshohOcken and
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad will
be the formidable rival Of the p W. &
b. for the trade Of the city. New Cas-
tie and Newport, If not a part, will be
contiguous suburbs of the city and both
places will at least be connected TO the
city by street rail ways. Editor White,
of the New Castle Star, II he oily
sticks" will then enjoy the fun frul.
ton OF his hopes and labor, and by the
way, may not the Star be u daily at
that time, with circulation second
ID, the list of Wilmington news papers ?
OF course the REP UBLICAN will lead
At that time there will be- macadamized
or paved roads to the river OF both
81 les OF the Christiana, and the smoke
of untold numbers Of nufaetories
will lift itself IN canopiss over the Cher
ry Island Marshes. The slopes Of the
Delaware river shores north and south
and Elliott's Hill in Brandywine Hun.
dred, wi il be covered with costly man
stons, and the Ninth Ward will be di-
vided In several wards. Where will
the markets be? We don't know now
where they will be hardly from one week
to the other, 80 we will not anticipate
seventeen years ahead. Seriously,
where will our water come from five
have trouble now getting enough for a
population of $4,000 souls, how il the
thirst of 100, 900 to be supplied in 1900
This shows the necessity Of iegislating
for the future. II all the water in the
Brandywine will be required to supply
the city in 1900, 10 is high time our peo.
pie would act with ar intelligent tore
cast of the future. The young men Of
twenty. one, will thenbe in their Dizziness
prime, and boys, now apprentices, will |
be the leading manufacturers The fl
I ure Of Wilmington is particularly |
bright for young men and they will
lose a golden opportunity If they do
not lay a foundation for the future.