The Wilmingtonian., 1884-06-14

and delivered by packets, simply because
there was not sufficient draught of water at
their wharf to accommof tie vessels that ten
wears ago would come to chat wharf without
any difficulty. A very large portion OF the
iron formerly received By the Lobdell COM
pany was brought by water. III Is now
brought by rail, largely on account OF the
difficulty Of vessels getting to the present
wharf, In fact one of the great induce
ments the Lobdell Car Company had in
moving their works to the south side was to
pet better water. The resent and future
prosperity of the city OF wilmington
depends more on the preservation Of the
navigation of the Christana River than all
other things combined"
Mr.. Henry Mendinhall, President of the
Diamond State Iron Company, said in
answer to question as to the difficulty of
getting freight to the works.
ssVerv many times we are unable to get
vessels to come on account OF their draught
of water. Sometimes they can'r get in the
mouth of the creek; at OTHER times theV
can't Get to our wharvee.4 1t is especially
the case in old material which we get from
| Eurnne-old iron, We have made many
efforts to have importations come direct to
| Wilmington, and the only reason why we
| are unable to carry that out is on account Oh
| there being insuffieiens water i'll the stream,
reauiring MS to have it landed at Philadel-
| phla. The necessity for re-shipment costs
us many thousand dollars annually"
Mr.. John Taylor Cause, of the Harlan y
IIollingsworth Company testified thus:-
stTbe navigation of the Christiana has
been Injured so mulch within few years
| mast that we would not like to build any
| thing that would draw more than IA feet,
| though it is contemplated by the general
government to deepen the channel SO that II
| feet NAV be obtained all the way to the
| Delaware River.
"One cause of the obstruction to naviga.
tion is the sewage of the city being turned
into the Christiana; another that the volume
| of water coming into the Christlana al
flood-tide has been greatly diminished from
different causes; consequently at ebb-tidt
the water goes out with less force-there il
less of it to go out--and the result is thai
the mud banks at different places have beer
increased by deposits Of sediment.
Mr.. Charles w. Talley said, in the sam'
easel.
81 don't see that the navigation of tht
Chrstiana would be improved by dredging
in here and there; while the abutments o
the Market Street Bridge remain, or I'LL
creek is not otherwise improved between tn
points so drcdged and the mouth Of tn
river"
This testimony, which might be enormous
ly supplemented at the present time, point
, conclusively to the necessity of prope
: investigation of the whole matter of tn
ChrlstIana navigation. It is idle to spen
money in dredging out mud-fats aud buil'
. ing worse than useless jetties. With Wi
T. mington it is free access Is the Delaware I
! ruin-not remote or cpetingent but speed
and sure. Let no mS R, Of our money
y t-rr5rs5f -rr5rs57f in mere ratch.1 ch where the who
Y dificaii5y b "A = 81 > 'tteisl,se efra
= We have Board 81 Hyde, and the questi
: is an eminontly proper bne for their urge
s. consideration-th iIore so because t
= money for the Improvements in the Chr
~ tiana and Brandywine will probably be vot
!" before the end of the month.