Evening journal., 1895-11-07
Ho for ) Dslawars RIvsr Fr0nt.

no for a Delaware River Front.
In mass meeting assembled, the citizens
Of Wilmington, as represented by proml.
nent members OF tho trades and pro
fessions, have decided that they want a
river front and have, in no uncertain
terms, expressed their demand that a
road to the Delaware be opened
The man who lacks the Intelligence to
see the advantages which would naturally
arise from a connection between this
city and the great wster highway, IL
happily In the minority, in fact It is safe
TO say that he does not live here.
There are, It Is true, men who, y %.
personal interest and because the gro d
OF the city rlverwards may hurt them for
time, oppose this plan, and would
oppose with equal energy the advance
ment Of any other plan, or even the
introduction Of any industry that might
prove rival to them. They are not
enterprising citizens II they allow selflh
interests TO stand in the way Of the
advancement Of their city, or the good Of
the general public.
In 1891, Eve years sgo, Newport News
was a village OF 500 souls, most OF them
negroes, Who'll were employed In aud
around the little shipyard, the one mill
OF the big hotel erected aud operated by
C f. Huntington, the railway magnaie
The Newport News, Hampton and Old
Point Comfort Development Company, Of
Richmond, Va, tosk the place In hand.
The men who composed the company
recognized the advantages Of the river
flont, and went to work with a will
day there are 10000 persons there,
and the shipyards aud docking facilities
are not excslled in the world. Electric
lights, trolley lines, mills and factories,
ard a hundred industries have followed,
and where half decade ago stood a slow
little village, now stands thriving,
onterprising, growing city.
Fifty years ago, men who saw AMI
appreciated the great natural advan-
tagea Of Wilmington, and who forsssw
her growth, tried to make for her
water front but failed because they did
not got the backing Of our moneyed
men. As a result we are to-day less
than 10000 in population, whore we
might have been $50 600. aud tbs
question now arises shall wo wait
another half century and allow our
nsighbora to outship US in tho racs.
Fifty years ago wo were leaders in the
h5urlng morocco, ship building aud
other Industries These have about
disappeared. and their decadence can BE-
traced TO a lack Of water facilities Nov
when the opportunity arises 20 Get a
river front snd restore this commercial
prosperity We should not hesitate
There seems to have developed O spirit
Of jealousy a. to just whore this road
should bs laid, and rivalry has sprung
up between the advocates Of the lands
north and south Of the Chrlstisna. Drop
this all A read or a series OF roads to
the river. no matter where they may
run, Is bound to open, IN time, the whole
river front from Edgemore to New Castle
The opening wedge must be driven,
and then the log viii! bs split Then
drop all iealousies and let us all work
for road to the river, be IL north or
south OF the Chriatiana aud then having
gotten one road, work just as hard for
another. and another, and another, until
the whole territory Is interlGeed with
streets, wharves are extended into
the river. mighty factories. mammoth
warehouses. and ine buildings spring up
and the Greater Wilmington becomes q
reality.
Let the watch word be "Ho, to the
river, BY any route, so long as the front
Is resehed