Daily Republican., 1885-07-07
A Park, = DRAvs and Fare Waser.
fCOMEuNIcATED.I


In the first place, let the Park Com
missioners buy the woods from Var
Buren, to Clayton streets, two squares
wide, the lands Of Larkin, Bright
Belts and perhaps others. Then having
control of the ground and race, lot the
Water Commissioners straighten and
widen the race to the thirty three feet
which belongs to the race at the upper
end. For some six hundred feet make
a new race farther back towards the
South, and put In new headgates q short
distance farther mp the creek, and In
such position as To let driftwood and
ice pass over the dam. Joseph Bancroft
Il Sons headRates might be taken az .
good pattern.
This would prevent the debris from
coming down the race filling it up
and tearing the bank to pieces every
flood of any consequence.
Then move the race back and putting
in the gate in o proper manner and
supported by strong abutments or piers
at the lower end and then raise the race
bank 80 that.ordinary floods could not
wash over them. Make the bank wide
enough at the top for cart road from
the dam down to Jefferson street. or II
to Market street, 10 much the better.
Then plant row OF Norway naples,
twenty or more feet apart, on the side of
the bank next the creek. Gravel the
bank and preserve the young trees, and
in few years i've would have Q walk
worth calling Brandy wine walk.
The stones taken out Of the bank at the
upper end Of the race and the head low
or down would build the buttress and
wall near the dam between the creek
and the race.
Having the race bank and walk
finished for pedestrians, then let the
Honorable Council he asked to order
the opening Of Stidham or Brandy wine
avenue along the South side of the
long race from Market street up to the
line as surveyed some years ago. When
the avenue is graded the bed OF 1t
should be at least one foot higher than
the race bank. The bank between the
avenue and race would be ten feet wide
and one foot higher than the bed of the
avenue. 1t should be sodded and
planted with trees. Sluices should be
placed across the race at proper places
to carry Oft the street and rain water.
Upon these sluices could be placed foot
bridges, and persons could use their
pleasure to go on either side OF the race.
By the foregoing arrangement both poor
and rich could enjoy walk or ride
handy to home inside Of the city limits.
The cost might be heavy but 1t would
certainly be Q saving to the Water
Commissioners to have o good and
substantial race bank.
The opening of the avenue from
Market street TO Van Buren, would pass
through the lands of Mrs. Candy,
Bishop Lee, the Wilmington and
Brandywine cemetery, through lands
Of Captain Thomas Starr and those of
Robert McKelvey. The damage to the
last two mentioned would be nearly the
amount of their property, as the avenue
would take the greater amount OF their
land, but from the cemetery, Mrs. Can
by and Bishop Lee only the toughest
part of their property would be taken,
which are not suitable for building
purposes. The low grounds of the
cemetery are not very valuable az a
burial place. The water commissioners
could then put in a drain along the
lower end of the cemetery and carry
the drainage of the ground under the
bottom of the race, and by that means
would get rid of the obnoxious drain
age that troubles some people very
much.
After having all things completed ,
with well disposed people we should
certainly have purer water to drink,
less taxes to pay, more comfort in
walking or riding in our city, while
every man, woman and child should
give thanks to our Water and Park
Commissioners andthe Honorable Coun-
cilmen for providing such a thing az
pure water. B.