The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-09-02

The officials OF the City Water De-
partment ure, with their thorough GO
ing business enterpl Use, doing work
OF gigantic labor and OF the greatest
historic value to the people OF this
city. 1t is work that ought to have
been done years ago, but ii is not GUS
tomary for public officials to do work
voluntarily that is so arduous They are
engaged in a searching investigation
OF the old deeds and maps in the city
departments SO as to ascertain the
boundary lines OF city property, the
water rights and much other valuable
Information, to DO put In useful shape
that can be referred to and preserved.
We Gull some data OF general interest:
In 1871 the first plan was made by
Thomas Willing; l7S6, there were IS
houses reported by canvas; 1888, first
| charter was granted by King George ii
| OF England; 1910, the streets were
made feet wider.
There are copies OF city ordinances
In the surveying department running
buck as far as 1889; 1913 this city con-
tanned 2500 inhabitants; 1899, parch.
ment map of the city shows the loea.
ton OF city property and, like O
number OF successive maps has the
old names OF the streets, L. e Tenth
| street was called Chestnut street; 1909
| Wilmington was chartered as a
| borough by the Legislature OF the
State of Delaware; 1922 BENJAMIN Fer.
rie, 'Delineator and Designer" made
| the extant valuable parchment man
| showing the "aseents and descents OF
the streets" location OF city property
| etc. There is picture of a frigate on
| the Christiana river and sloop sail
! ing up the BTandywine; 1882 Whining
| ton was chartered as q city by the
| Legislature; 1S47 Hon. George Read
| Riddle, civil engineer, drew q map Cor
paper pasted on muslin and framed.
Of great value and loaded with histor-
lc information.
1t gives the old names OF streets and
| shows two Tatnall streets. One was
then in Brandywine Village running
East and West. 1t gives historic data
numbered to show locations. UnioI
Bank held its present location. The
| Literary and Scientific Institute wal
located at Ninth and Market streets
| where the Equitable Guarantee ant
Trust Company's Building now is. Il
states that the original location of The
| Custom House was on the North side
of Water street between Market anC
King. 1t locates the City Mills witt
distances.
1t locates "Old Kings ROAD with
| "Old Kings Tavern" situated on
the Northwest corner of Kenneth Turn.
| pike and odd Kings Road,r now the
Northwest corner Delaware Avenue
and Adams street, opposite Whining.
| ton and Brandywine Cemetery.
| West of Trinity Church's location
a collection of houses is called Wash.
ington Village" Some of the names
of its streets running East and West
are ''Snallwood" and "McDouough. "
1t locates the Bank of Wilmington
and Brandywine, Farmers, and Bank
of Delaware all in their present loca-
| lions. The United States Arsenal was
on theNorthwest corner of Eighth and
Washington. strangers Burial Place
ran from King to French on Eleventh
street. South side.
| II shows st. Maryts College on Della.
ware avenue and jefferson street and
the old reservoir at Tenth and Market
streets The "old Barley Milln and
its dam are still there Hedgeyillo
stands forth In all its pristine glory,
and has olLgate ON South street
and Wilmington and Christlana Turn.
| pike koad.' Dock street" ran paral,
| lell to and below Water street from
Orange to South street" Mill street
ran from Poplar street to "Old Kings
| Road 1t was North of Fifteenth
street and parallel to It. The size OF
| this map is It. inches long and 3 II.
| So inches wide. 1t looks dilapidated
and rusty. Its extraordinary value
warrants that it should be retraeed
and preserved.