Evening journal., 1894-01-13
CHEF JUSTICE LORES WELCOME.

We Wanted the Congressman to See
That Moderate Outlay of Money
Would Make the CbristIana an Amer
lean Clyde.
gentlemen of the Committee on Rivers
and Harbors;
"The Board Of Trade, which is the en-
bodiment of the commercial life and en-
terprise Of our city, through me, extend
TO you a most hearty welcome In this
all our p sople unite. We are glad TO see
YOU, aud thank you, that listening to the
Board Of Trade and our honored Con
gressmau, Mr.. Causey, you have come to
see our thrift aud inquire into our
needs
perhaps no COMMITTEES Of Congress
gives relief to such a large portion Of our
country as you do You have literally
made the crooked Waterways
straight, deepened and widened their
channels, aud prot acted their banks
levees and hsrbors, aud have
been wise helpers in these Gods great
commercial highways Doubtless some
money has been improvidently used, yet,
in the main, no government expenditures
have resulted better than yours in the
interest of the general good, the preser-
vation Of human life aud the promotion
Of national prosperity.
Came Very Near Beins the Capital.
1--WE wanted you to come and see our
beautiful city that came within one vote
Of becoming the seat Of the national
government, at the time it was located
at Washington.
1--WE wanted you to sail up aud down
the waters Of the Christiana river. To
note its condition and possibilities, and
then to ask you for q moderate outlay Of
money to make this river the American
Clyde
Wilnlington's Celebrated Industries,
"On its northern shores are located
three Of the best equipped and most re-
liable shipbuilding and manufacturing
firms Of this country: The Harlan and
Hollings worth Company, the Pusey
and Jones Company and the Jackson
and Sharp Company These plants in
value run well up into the millions Of
dollars They employ thousands Of
thrifty workmen and skilled mechanics.
These are backed in this city of $4,000
inhabitants, by industrial establishments
Of every character and Of a variety and
extent not excelled by any like city in
the United States Our customs duties
now exceed 100000
by rail We are thirty minutes from
Philadelphia, ninety minutes from Bal
timore, one hundred and City minutes
New York and Washington, each. Al
though surrounded and overshadowed by
these great cities, Wilmington, because
OF her skilled workmen, manufactures,
location and advantages, has fought an
heroic battle, and is hampered only by
the want Of deeper and better channel
for the Christiana river.
We Need a Depth of Twenty-four Feet.
Congress has wisely aided in the past.
By successive stages the channel has
been deepened from eight to ten feet,
then to twelve. aud is now completing
to fifteen. We need depth of twenty
four feet; the outlay fer this short
stretch of water way will be small for
the good realized.
"With this channel Wilmington will
give TO the government at least one
more bidder for the construction of her
warships Bidders whose word alone
will be ample security for the fulfllment
Of any contract that may be made, aud
who will build as swift and fateful iron
cruisers as human skill and integrity
can produce
"We lie at the foot hills Of the coal,
iron. limestone and mineral regions OF
I the Atlantic coast. Skilled and brainy
workmen abound as do also immenst
manufacturing establishments and
plants.
what Hard work Did on the Clyde.
"E ghty years ago the Scottish Clyde
was a stream four feet deep and foui
> hundred feet wide. By dredging, blast
, ing and securing the channel is now
' twenty-four feet deep, and wide enough u
foat England's great warships. The banks
t are lined with shlpyards, docks and
/. plants. that make England the envyI o.
t the maritime world. Then they coulG
y only build and launch the frst steam
q vessel the Comet, which was forty-twe
q feet long, eleven feet wide, Eve feet, six
q: Inches draft. three horse power engine
+ Now they build and launch such steam.
ships as the City Of Paris, 500 feet long
6Sf feet broad, 42 feet deep, with an
engine Of 90, 000-horse power.
"In the Crimean war, thirty gunboats
/, we're needed st once. A Clyde firm tool
2 the contract to furnish them ia ninetl
? days Within that time these thirty guI
!, boats were built, equipped and ready 70
, delivery This was possible to no OF he
= nation. Englsnd's greatness lies In this
. that she sees and appropriates ever
opening for future. success. aud wisell
Z provides for every emergency.
Il We Don't Want one-tenth That Sum.
Z. "Open our hsrbor at cost Of less thai
{. a tithe spent In dredging the Clyde, an
5, the industry and thrift Of our people vii
?. make the banks Of the Christisna riva
s. those Of the Scottish river This is n
" dream, but the promise Of verify.
j, 1--WE urge this Improvement with self
r, interest. it is true, but also in broa
+, patriotism, based, as we think, on Tn
d nations highest interests.
J, Iron Cruisers aud Merchant Vessels.