Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-24
MIsprLLroy RryER.
A Plea for tho Improvement of the Nav
igation of This Water Way.


igation of This Water Why.
Editor Gazette. The people of Mil
ford and the surrounding country have for
many years been deeply interested in the
improvement of the Mispillion river. until
recently termed Mispillion creek and so
treated in legislation for long time, hut
In the early history of this State and the
Biographies of the times this valuable
intercourse was termed and styled gem
orally river.
The best definition Of a creek is a small
inlet Of the sea or of river. Frequently
creeks, according TO their Importance, have
been named, both in this country and
England, rivers. In the early part Of this
century and even up into the ifties, the
Mispillion was considered of great import
ance TO lower Kent and upper Sussex
counties and the southwestern portions of
Kent and the northwestern portions of
Sussex, even to the Maryland line, and
was really the outlet for the transportation
Of the products Of the country 70 the great
| cities of the north and also their only
means of travel except by the old coach
and stage lines to Wilmington and Phila-
| delphla; not intending by this paper to UNI
| derestimate the value of the Murderkill
| and Broadkiln rivers and other streams in
| the State which were likewise of nestina-
Bile value TO their respective localities and
country contiguous thereto.
| But the aim of this article is simply to
| consider the claim of the Mispilliun for
tho aid Of the government. Fifty or 60
| years back prominent citizens of Milford
| and immediate vicinity, knowing of the
Importance of the stream, obtained legis-
lation of the State in what was known as
| the Misrllion Navigation and Improve
ment Company. Commissioners were duly
| authorized TO carry out the provisions of
| the law, but their duties becoming burden
some and the work ineffective and too ex-
| pcnsive for the people Though for a long
| time valuable aid was rendered by the
friends of the imnroycmentl the people
naturally turned their attention to the
general government for aid, when the
long disputed question was settled or ac-
guessed in by a large majority of the
people that inland rivers, lakes and bays,
being arms of the sea necessary to the de
yelopmcnt of the general commerce Of
the country which centre at its great
seaports, should be improved by gov.
eminent aid. From time to time the Mis-
pillion has received small appropriations,
but hardly sufficient for more than the
Improvement Of the depth Of the stream
and removing the shoals, and consequently
the great and main improvement is nm
touched, to wit. The opening ofthe mouth
of the river. and this is considered by
every body as absolutely necessary TO ruf-
sue and utilize the Improvements already
made.
But the manner or mode in which tins
shall be effected is a problem that is not
easily solved; yon hear suggestions from
many persons who have given the matter
study, but there seems to be no common
agreement us yet. Our senators and rep
resentatives in Congress for years past
have done what they could to bring about
this desired result, and at last as an initia-
tory and prerequisite stepan act of Congress
has been passed ordering n preliminary