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

wen tee hlHnianos ana Deiaware river
on the east.
The ohristiaus, which Is tidal water
for its entire length, is mainly devoted 10
the commerce of the port, aud to ship
building, aud variety of constructions,
including numerous machine shops.
Tne BFan0ywiDe is, essentially. fIolh
water stream, and is nayigable only for
short distance from its mouth In its
rapid descent from the hills of Pennsyl-
vsniA this dashing river furnishes water
power for guDpo Eder, cotton, paper and
a3ur mills, and il is also the source OF
the city's supply of water Tor domestic
and public uses.
Originally, the northern and southern
liInite of the city we're dsiiaed by these
to risers, but both hSvs been leapsd in
the growth OF the town, and are bridged
at convenient points OF Communication.
The best and most rapid growth OF the
CITY is on the broad, rolling highlands
stretching westerly from the business
| sections. This is district largely de.
voted to modern mansions of the choice st
character, while the expansion in other
directions is chiefly that of the varions
industrial enterprises, of mixed and oIdi-
psry description.
Though Wilmington Is, mainly, CON-
| paot city within its old, natural bouud-
aries, ita territory for expansion Is not
only practically unlimited, but in each
section, the land, open for oceu patton, ia
sinsuiarly adapted for the uses TO which
it can be most adyantageously appropTi-
ated.
The nayigabIe christina and the
lower Brsndywine rivers run through
vast acreage Of level meadow lands. To
the south of the Chrissisna the whole
country stretches ont in broad expanae,
which is, virtually, an unbroken plain.
Between the city and the splendid river
front Of the broad and deep Delaware, the
level meadows q r great area admirably
suited Tor the location Of manufacturing
plants and the river bang S fl ards iaeiii.
tics for ship building and commercial
docks unsurpassed IN extent aud ehsrao.
ter. ALREADY the SHIPPING business of
the Ohristisua is overctowding that busy
stream, and Il is but question of tine
9hen the chist maritime business of the
port viii be trsnsaetsd on the ample
shore line OF ths great d lawars.
Wilmington, as tae Delaware runs. Is
81 miles nearer the s-a than Philadelphia;
a fact OF great insigoidsauee in severe
win ers, with hoatieg or fxed ics-iields
dangerously impede navigation in the
rives-bends Above Whining on. As a com
/ bined river and seaport, Wilmington has
I grand naSigaole waters, and staads prac.
/ tlcaliy at tile middle point on the sen.
coast line Of the Atlantic and study
I OF the map OF the entire country shows
this point TO be, geographically, one OF
/ relatively short routes 1or the atlantic
caan tratfic of the principal interior
cities of the west. Wilmington is nearly
midway on the coaet-line between two
great sesports; Philadelphia and BAlti-
more. Nsither OF these surpssses it in
natural advantage, as seaport.
Baltimore travels 1876 miles down
Chesapeake bay 10 reach the Atlantic
Fhi;adt lphia has course OF leo miles on
Delaware river and bay to the ocsau;
while Wilmington, on the game waters,
has but straight-awey course OF 65 miles
before the capes are cleared for voyages
TO any port in the world. Neither Phla
delphia nor Baltimore is better located
for inland traffic than is Wilmington, and
to many Important points, Wilmington
has the shortest natural line.
By the artificial lines created by rail.
roads, Wilmington still holds her posi-.
ton in tine comparison. The principal
+ lines OF railroad, built specially for Balti.
more and Philadelphia, have main lines
through Wilmington; aud the last named
/ city has other special lines of it's own CON
struotion which connect with their active
Tivala--the Pennsglvania aud the Balti
Mafa h Ohio r4t,Fgais
M..angton hlg the natural pc 1i8R
aud the natural aud aftifi siRl advantages
essential to its emulation Of the growth to
which Philadelphia and Baltimore have
already attainsd.
Special local, natural advantages of
Wilmington are lis in xaausubie beds of
granite and days, which iie within the
city limits and in the adj scent territory.
The granite ia Of fine grain and color,
Of exceedingly durabis bIdY, and ie ex-
tenstvely qunried for choice archItec
tural use8, Tor general building Purposes,
and for s.reet.curbing and pavement.
The olsys, which are IN full variety OF
texture and colpr, are worked on large
scalein the prod action Of bricks and terra
Gotta wares. From an extensive deposit
Of fiue Aaolin crooksFy ware Of excellent
quality Is manufactured.
The arabic soils Of the surrounding
couutrv are varied aud rica; both the
l5gland aud upl.pd i4rms yielding splen
Cd crop, aud bunntifuliy supp ing the
bone markets with full line OF farm aud
dairy products.
PROXIMITY 70 souacEs OF RAW MATERIALS
&osg import 1T to Whining on IS lis
Close prox mtty TO the iron aud coal m,les
o Pennsylvania, This is a natural adgan,
.sgs that cannot be wrestsd from it By
N nnfsoturiog cities less fortunately
lossted IN his respect.
Icon. Tnrkin9, IN nearly every variety
is the leaiing industry Of the city. Tins
list of iron produot5 is szh sustleasiy
vss,9us, from nuts and bolEa, ~ 10 sites
ocaln steamships, complete within sut
Wi.IOat, ia every par tieulGr, from vii.
mlEatDr shops.
Direct railroad connection with thu
P2nnsi lvanta piass, BY shazt lines, give
Wilmington its ores aud fuel at tn
minimum of cost; willis from spec d
points end for vas. quantity Of msn,
! natsriats used in the several Inddstriss
water transportation is more economical
TRANSPORTATION
The problem OF ample and chesp trans
poftaiiOn Is must hsppily solved FOR VII
mngt0n In me cJose clnnection an
arp competition between rail OH
/ Wster csrriRae Skirting the Base at th
. rising lard and pi rcing the lover sec
ti9a Of tbs 8aUtscu'ing districts, III
5 main ira k o. the i've important r3ii
3 soads, tbat connect with all parts OF ii
! caultry, meet AZ hearly common p3irt
while their branches, Leading 70 variou
. inrCtiorB, whBeysg aud manu- 'sc.or.e,
ii.efaly enciresa the city. AMI form 1
: tnA ioWtsuds % the east an3 aouth, IN Ok
. tapsiye nsswor4 If tracks aud c,csaag-
0 Al thsse railroads skirt aud c.oss Ill
GhfistRaA river which. iinsd vii
8 Wslsy5a and manufacturers, ana ernE ID