Evening journal., 1888-12-22
TIC RIVERS or DELAWARE.

The letter by Boat Builder, which
we reprodu ,e to-day from the columns OF
tho Delaware Farm aud Home is full Of
suggestions. Its references TO the Sena-
torial election are timely and sensible,
and the solution which it offers to the
great contention between the people Of
the Peninsula and the Pennsylvania
railroad is at once practical aud effective.
Delaware in order to reap the great ad-
want ,ges which nature has put in her
reach Ia the streams that drain our soil,
must have representatives of sufficient
ability, influence and willingness to get
appropriations for the dredging, widen
ing and deepening Of the river beds. In
ternal improvements in Delaware are in
their infancy. Even the han Dor
OF Wilmington has received less
than $500, 900 from 1896, when the
first appropriation Of Si5, 900 was made,
until 1883. General Smith, the engineer
for this district. estimates that $llS,000
could be used right now in the Christiana,
and we have no doubt that this estimate.
in view of General Smiths well known
caution and economic methods, is rather
too little than too much for the work
ahead The ice harbor at New Castle
from 1926 to date has received less
than $3.50 600 from the federal govern
ment The Appoquinimink river in this
county has received nothing. II is not
even named IN the engineers annual
report
Duck Creek which. IL is estimated, car
ried So. 900, 600 worth of freight last
year has received nearly SEQ, O0O begin
ming in $780, This is a case of criminal
negligence, st. Johns river, notwith-
standing the hue aud cry about IT, has
been appropriated only 100000 Dover
has steamboat communication with
Philadelphia because of the improve
ments on this river. The Mispillion on
whose banks is Milford has been en-
dowed by the magnificent sum of $4,000
by the federal government in five lavish
appropriations. Here is another case Of
criminal negligence The Murderzill is
not named in the engineers report al
though the citizens Of Frederica have
more money invested in boats than those
of any other town in the state, except
ing Wilmington.
The Broadkiln river in Sussex, on whose
banks is Milton has been the recipient Of
$4,000 in federal appropriations The
shipyards at Milton are as important as
they are old aud yet the Broadkiln is
allowed to flow with three OF four feet Of
water when it could be made six feet
with very little work. The Indian River
has received 00O0 II ought to have
$50 000 at once. says Euglp,er Smith, to
complete project begun. The Nanti-
coke River and Broad Creek which lead Il
Seaford and Laurel, have received $44 00C
all told. The engineer says that the lat
Ter stream ought to have $50, 600 at once
TO complete the work begun.
These figures tell the story Of neglect
and indifference better than words can
This is the outcome Of having represen
tatives at Washington who do not believe
in internal improvements This is tn,
way in which the business Of Delawar,
has been managed or rather ignored Al
Washington where all the states ar
supposed TO come together on an equalit,
20 transact the business of government
This is business question pure an,
simple and it should be settled in a bust
nesslike manner. II is question tha
Overshadows the election Of Unitel
States Senator, although it is plain tha
election is necessarily part of it, an
should be held with due regard to th
vast interests that are here but family de
scribed. AS Boat Builder" says, if ther
was steamboat line on every river in tn
state-and there should be-the freigh
rates would tumble at once and renal
down.