Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-15
LETTERs FRoM THE PEOPLE.


To the Editor OF Evening journal
SIR: If one travels over any part Of
the United States, he Is at once struck
with the rapid strides in growth being
made at all centers of population. and
our own Wilmington and its suburbs
are among the noticeable centers i'm that
respect. Probably the leading factor i'm
all this advance is the application of
electricity as a motive power, with the
use of the trolley as the method. The
developments of rapid transit in VIII
mington and around 10 on all sides ex-
cept on the south side of the Christiana
river. we know have been very rapid, and
the patronage OF these roads, or rather of
the system of roads appears to be very
gratifying, with many prospects of profit
able increase. Now to carry Wilmington
TO the most available part of her river
front. and give the south side the benefit
of the trolley ays,em, this is Now Castles
opportunity and New Castles plain duty.
The problem is. how to interest capital,
that such a road should be built.
First, it should be part of the present
system of transit as already developed
by the Wilmington company, now serving
the people so acceptably II no agree
pent can be made with them, it should
be built by a separate company on a sep
arate charter. Whoever builds it must
be supported in measure by those who
own property on the line by the gen
eral public, as an investment and as an
incentive. Why should not the city of
New Castle put one fourth or one third, or
even one-half of her commons land
in the road, say twenty thousand to
fifty thousand dollars worth. At pre-
sent the land is in every way a menace
to the progress of the community. Ten
times better off would be her citizens
if every acre of it was owned by private
persons and improved and advanced as
only private property can be improved
and advanced.
Given the road, then surely Eve thou
sand acres would be worth ten times over
as much as one thousand acres are now
worth. The community would be ad-
vanced in every way. The rapid increase
of popu lation would solve the question
of the water works company and the
trustees of the common. Wilmington
would at once get access to the whole
river front, and New Castle would inn
prove and prosper as no one has ever
dreamed of, and in a very few years the
whole territory from Edge Moor above,
and from Newport in, would be a thriv-
ing, teeming city. There are no more
beautiful or healthy building sites on the
| Delaware than on { e commons and other
lands adjacent to the water works basin
at the junction of Washington avenue and
the state road. All this territory should
be included in the grasp Of the new cleo
! trio road. Come over the Christiana at
/ Third street. give the people Of south
! Wilmington transit, which should have
] H..F t.I.A
New Castle either on the present high
way or along side Of Il. For surely the
property owners wonld give such right
Of way in exchange for such an impor-
tant advance of their interests. Thence
through New Castle, ont west Del
aware street TO Hares Corner, surround
ing the commons property and thence
to Wilmington, past the county and
state hospitals and thence to the Chris.
tiana at Third street, 20 Join the present
Wilmington system. Here is a magni-
ficent territory TO develop, and last.
though not least, the opportunity to give
the citizens of Wilmington, young and
old the advantages of a water resort
near at home.
The company should build pier out
into the waters of the Delaware, which
would be inexpensive at this point, either
above or below the town. This in itself
would go far toward solving the financial
problem of building the road, for no doubt,
judging from what we see wherever the
trolley has gone, thousands would avail
themselves of this cheap. expeditions
method for recuperation by ocean air and
river scenery. If the power of the tides
in the great river can be curbed and uti
lied by means of turbines and other ap
pliances, 10 furnish power to provide tn,
electricity as the propelling force, s,
much more plausible, so much easier tn,
! adopting of this scheme TO give rapid
! transit and hence rapid increase. in
: wealth and prosperity, TO a neighborhood
than which none is more available TO tn
capitalist and Spectator PRoGREss.
= New Castle, Sept. IA, 1892