Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-14
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Tho Growth OF FIfty Years.
At the town meeting Wednesday Mr.
d. W. Taylor read letter from Mr..
John l.. MADDEN Of Philadelphia,
telling Of an abortive effort fifty years
ago to carry Wilmington to the river
front, and INDUCING in some
pleasing speculation as to what Will
mington might have been to-day if
that effort had been successful. Mr..
Hadden thinks that movement to the
river front fifty years ago would have
made Wilmington city Of $50, 900
to-day.
Wilmington has had vigorous
growth even without the advantages
of the Delaware river front. Fifty
years ago it was thrifty town of ten
thousand people; to-day il is pros
porous city of seventy thousand. We
have before us an old copy of stats
tical gaaateer Of the United States
published AZ years ago. Its account
of what Wilmington was in the early
tifties is interesting by way Of contrast
with what Wilmington has now become.
After locating Wilmington on the map
and describing it as "city, port of
entry, and one of the capitals OF New
Castle Co., 7" the old gazateer says:
Its site is pleasant and healthy, on
ground rising gradually to the height
OF ~ feet above Underwater. 1t is regu-
larly laid out, with wide streets cross
ing at right angles, and is well built
chiefly of brick 1t is supplied with
water from the Brandywine, by exten.
slve water works, constructed like
those of Philadelphia. 1t contains a
city hall, several county buildings, an
arsenal, two market houses, several
excellent academies, and nineteen
churches. The hospital, located ON d
fine eminence, is 126 feet long and 3
stories high. There are four banks,
with aggregate capital of 500, 600.
The manufactures of Wilmington are
various and most extensive. Great
water power is afforded by the falls of
the Brandywine, and improved BY
mills and factories of all kinds. The
Touring mills are, however, the most
numerous and extensive, and among
the largest in the Union. The making
OF gunpowder has for many years been
extensively carried on in the vicinity
The navigation interests of Wilmington
are also large. Vessels drawing IA feet
OF water come to its wharves in Chris.
tlana creek, and Brandywine creek adj
mlts those drawing feet of wafer
The total tonnage of this district on
June 30, 1850, was 9,460 tons. The
enrolled and licensed tonnage amounted
to 1,SO9 tons, mostly permanent, and
all employed in the coasting trade, Of
which l, 429 tons were propelled by
steam. During the year preceding,
IT had no foreign commerce. Vessels
bullt during the year numbered Is ~
schooners, 3 sloops, | steamer =
l,o49 tons. In 1852 it had among its
vessels ii steamboats,, 6Sl tons. The
general business and prosperity Of
inns city are steadily increasing.
IL IS surrounded by very fertile agri-
cultural district, has great natural adj
Vantages for manufacturing, industry
and trade, and its connections by rail
road insure constant communication
With the great cities of tho nation.
population in 1850, IL, $40.
In the past fifty years Wilmington
has multiplied in population 6 times.
1t it is to keep up the same rate of in
crease, fifty years hence it will have a
population of $50, 900 to 400, 900. AS
its population and business increase.
1t may well be that the city will 90 TO
the river front for the sake Of deeper
and more convenient water communi.
cation. Certainly when considerable
business interests decide for business
reasons to move in that direction, roads
and wharves and other conveniences
must be forthcoming.
The present agitation on the oues-
tion of the river front is not the first
That Wilmington has had. Nothing
substantial came from those which have
gone before. If the present agitation
can produce better results it may helm
We city forward in it's industrial and
business career. Looking at the great
progress made in tho past fifty wears
WImingtonians have full warrant for
working with strong hope and loyal
faith for the continued growth of our
city and its industries.