The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-01
FIFTY YEARS FsoM NOW.

Of Grace, f941--Hhat HAS been Ac-
compilshed in the Past Fifty Years.
The report of the census commits
sioner, Just received at this Office,
shows that the population of this city
is now 478,Y90, against something
over 81 900 fifty years ago. 1t is, how
ever, thought there must be some mis-
take In tho figures, ss there is no'loubt
from the census taken by the police
some eighteen months ago that It will
reach at least 500, 900. Strenuous efforts
are being made for recount, and n
Joint committee composed OF members
of City Council and the Board of Trade
will go to Washington next week to
urge the matter.
Tho new City Hall has been com
pleted and was formally turned over
to the city at noon to-day. It is Il
handsome granite structure, seven
stories high, and extends from Market
to King street, and from Sixth over
halfway to Fifth. Aghnce at the in
morning shows that it has
Nceil handsomely fitted up, with ample
-sycommodations for all the city Off
Stials. The Council chamber Is large
and commodious, and provided with
everything necessary for the represen-
tatives of the thirty-two wards OF this
city. A large phonoyraph has been
plnced In the rear OF the presidents
chair, where the entire business trans
acted will be recorded, and copied into
the journal by the recently-patented
automatic electro-printing press. This
is n great Improvement over the
method in use fifty years ago.
The so feet wide canal which extends
from the foot OF Fourth street to the
Delaware river was frozen over yester-
1Ry morning for the first time since 1t
was constructed, 20 years ago. The
Ice, however, was not permitted to re-
main long, as the electric boat New
Castle was dispatched at once TO open
navigation to the river This canal
has proved OF the greatest benefit to
the city, and it seems wonderful that
il was not constructed hnlf century
ago. Old maps show that the Chris
tinna was one of tho crookedest
streams in this country, and it is diff
cult to understand how our forefathers
were satisfied to spend from 20 min
utes to half an hour on steamboat in
going from the city to the Delaware
r.ver. Fifty years ago it must have
consumed almost an hour to reach
Pennsgrove on o steamer, but now by
means of the rapid transit cars, which
cross the bridge over the Delaware,
passengers are taken from the Central
depot to the Jersey suburb in five
minutes.
new electric engine was placed on
tho p, W. " j. railroad yesterday,
which II is expected will make the trip
to Philadelphia in twelye minutes.
This engine was tested about one week
ago, and with six passenger cars, each
of which was filed with invited guests,
made an average speed of 10 miles an
hour II Is, however, thought that
after II Is run for u few days it will do
even better than that, and reduce the
time to Philadelphia to IL minutes or
even possibly less. II this Is accom-
piished, the air ships, which of late
have been doing an immense passenger
traffic will have formidable com
petitor between this city, Philadelphia
ana New York. The air chip Whining
ton, which left the depot In this city at
Q o'clock yesterday morning, and was
due In New York ut $40 O'Clock, did
not reach that city until 1918 O'Clock,
zss'IsiIIs, t''sIs-i'l-s'-.hi dissatisfaction
among the passengers. The delay Was
caused by the high wind and heavy
snow storm which prevailed all day.
The same trouble has been expert
oneed several times this winter, and II
the new electric engine will do what Is
claimed for it, this mode of travel will
be the most popular during the winter
months.
A visit to the immense works OF the
Harlan ~ HollingsWurih Company on
the Delaware river, yesterday, showed
a busy scene. The company are now
furnishing employment to over 5000
Licn, but the force is much larger dur
hg the summer months. 1t was
armed from one of the members of
~ hrn that during the year just
losed they had constructed one hum
hred and ten large iron vessels, each of
(which is propelled by electricity. This
twas in addition to electric cars and
osher work, several med 'um sized
steamers being built for freight traffic
IN the river and bay. -Four OF the
sapge electric steamers built by this
ulfirm are making semi weekly trips be-
htyeen this city and Liverpool, but the
hours consumed in the trip, il Is
ptaght will be lessened by improve
hpHts now Icing experimental with
10 10 hours.
The new works of the Jackson and
Sharp Company, adjacent to those Of
the HARLAN gn4 H2llpgsWorth Conf
pany, were also visited, and as usual
found in full blast. An army of men
are employed in building electric ears,
the motors for which are furnished by
d Sharp Company are also
ing out the MILL work for
Uses, which will be built In
pltng at what Is generally
y Jacksonville. the site where
Their works We're located some fifty
Years ago, This part Of the city has
1 Improved greatly during the twenty
ye&is ainee ihe marshes were drained,
and II Is estimated that now there are
fully l,pN0 comfortable dwellings, on
v wilt naif a century ago was little
more than waste Iapd. sppth vii
mington Is also making rapid Strides,
and there Is scarcely n vacant lot to be
had from where the old Christiana
greek once flowed to the Delaware
front.
In place OF the marsh lands, which
but few years ago abounded in this
locality, there are now nicely paved
streets, with rows Of comfortable
houses on each s,de, tho majority of
which are ouAssd by the workingmen
1 nioye,i at the large industries on
the Y,vf, .srt Access to this part of
he-city is made easy ., the four lines
rapid transit electric cars, which
we been the means of these many
improvements. The increase In the
Ice Of ground In this vicinity has
q ww,5,,..,darful. An elderly gentieman
I'D a reporter o. this paper few
NJ since that he rememoe>,. 1.'@d that
uif16i,. yeRall..ago lots could he