Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-08

people," wrote William Penn of the
Swedes Of Christiansham and again:
"As they are psople proper and strong
of body, SO they have hne children, and
almost every house Ia full. II is rare TO
hnd one If them without three or four
boys, and as many girls some six, seven
and eight sons. And must do them that
right, 10 ray, / see few young men more
sober and laborious."
The descendants Of these excellently
commended people are among the active
workers Of to-day In Wilmington, aud
evidences abounds of their Inheritance OF
the sober, laborlous qualities OF their an
oestorB.
They justify their city, and their city
justiiies them.
THE FUTURE wILM EaTos.
Under the conditions which ordinarily
determine the development OF cities, VIII.
mington would seem to have full nssur.
snce of great growth and prosperity in
the future.
The complacent faith Of Its citizsns in
this respect ia Justified by It's record by
its steady, solid development and Its
present success.
Wilmington Is not an experiment--it is
not s'ute municipality based on wild,
speculative booms lit is not mortgaqed
mushroom town, nousished by borrowed
foreign capital which drains Its life blood
through an interest account-it Ia not on
example OF those American cities de-
pendent upon the dlctation of railroad
kings and syndcateB for their existence
and which are made solely By artificial
advantages and unmade by the diversion
OF these supports-it does not owe its
( existence and prosperity to single
I cause or set of causes, unreliable and
| epbemeral in character which may at any
time become imperative and transform II
into languishiug, deeaying city. 1t
cannot be cru shed and Rnnihilsted by the
success of other cities It recognizes no
rivalry with its mighty neighbors on
either hand that does not directly aid In
it's development. 1t Welcomes their ex-
tension toward its borders as certain
pressge of its prosperity. II ia not a
I debtor city; it ia sell. created, sell. sus.
tanned and large creditor to other sec.
tons of the country.
tits In no sense, dependent, tributary
city.
A1o EsbVAbfbt GtohAGhAB MuNi1 hnNp VIC
Rted the Wilmington OF to day are in
herent. While its three nayigablo rivers
ru1 to the sea-while the coal and iron
mines Of Pennsylvania yield their wealth
while the American republic ex sis and
unbroken railway connection with every
part of the continent continues, these In.
herent, essential elements OF success will
continue operative and In increasing
force with the steady growth of the city
and the country at large.
Wilmington furnishes an admirable
illustration OF the cold. stern theory OF
''tbe survival of the tit.est " For 25t
years il has endured crucial test Of
existence. Founded as feeble colon,
by one of the weaker powers of Europe
neglected by the parent government
warred upon by neighbors Representing
the most powerful European govern
ments, subjugated, its allegiance ioul
times changed by conqusrors. adversely
aud dissension within its borders, it's in
fancy YVES but little else than bite
struggle for the mere right of existence
From the date of the first settlement, /
full cen,nry had passed before the tow
waB "laid out" and buildings were erecte,
on systematic lines
Slowly, but surely, the town wen
forward.
, Close at hand the great city OF Phila
delphia ovefshadowBd II, but IL built II
own ships, Notwithstanding, and sent 1t
deet OF traders on the rivers, aud to tn
, West Iudies, in competition with those o
the proud cities Of Philadelphia and Bal
timore.
The wars OF the revolution, and o
1912. brought the little town an undu
share of loss and priyation. Twice, froo
1893 to 1902, Philadelphia filed Viii
mington with refugees from yellow fever
which ragged in the former city, and, Il
const quence, the population of the latte
was nearly wiped out by the dread dis
ease.
But DESPITE oil disaster, the inheren
vitality of the town sustained 1t, an
again and again 1t rallied and gained re
newed strength.
In the grand Developments OF the 19u
cen ury, Wllmington's natural advan
tages become more and more evident. !
was nearer the coal and iron fields O
Pennsylvania it Was nearer the ocean
than was Philadelphia. Il was on til
natural liue Of the great sea.coast ayssem
OF railroads.
At no point on the Atlantic coast coul
wooden or iron ships, or railway cars, b
built to better advantage. Nowhere els
could every variety of iron. working b
more economically prosecuted. From
moderate beginnings. in these and othe
important industries, the persistent citi
zen won, in the course of years, deserve,
recognition. Gradually large manufac
49, .,, Il s., n - NJ kaa1 a
had been established, Rnd the city hat
grown and prospered
With the outbreak of the war of tn
rebellion in 1861, Wilmington found tn
great opportunity TO leap at once int
prominence as city that could supply
in gunpowder, in iron aud wooden ship
OF every description, in machinery OF ever
kind, 10 rail way supplies, ia wagons an,
feathers, those vast demands which, 70
four years were inoeSssntly made, al,
which, while enrichiog the city, I'm
mensely Increased its manufacturing
plant, added largely TO its population
and established it's prominence in import
ant industries which it has held to til
present day.
10 every way, in every one of its stapl
industries, in many new special lines Q
manufacture, ia its lines of communios
ton by iand and water, in its interna
Improvements, its population, it's trade
its wealth, steady, solid development an
increase is denoted year by year.
Though conservative, Wilmington Ia
, ever had the courage of its convictions
The many plans now projected for tn
extension and growth OF the city prov
that the convictions o. the leading citi
. zeps are, that the Wilmington Of tn
future is to be very important indus
trial, maritime and commercial city, wit
relatively much higher rank anon
.I,a ...ant azabaarI nitica khay. bnlio n