Evening journal., 1895-05-31

In winter the river above Wilmington
Is practically impossible and a steamship
bound for Philadelphia requires more time
to get to her dock than it would take to
unloads-4oad aRd' get back to blue water
again, il her destination was Wilmington.
This Is. no Idle statement. as every man
who has occasion to watch the river and
the craft which traverse its waters can
And now word or two as to this won
derful water front. Beginning at the
junetioncof The Brandywine and the Chris
tiana, which is practically the head Of
navigation on the latter stream, to the
lighthouse which marks its entrance is,
by water, roughly estimated about a mile
and a half From the bend at point about
where the shsppot branch Of the Penn
sylvAnia railroad crosses, in a direct line,
to the lighthouse, is not quite a mile. To
the north Of the Chrstiana and bounded BY
thattstrean, the Delaware and the Brandy
wine lie about a Thousand acres of land
commonly known as the Cherry Island
marsh, and which until a comparatively
few years ago twas Subject TO overflow at
high tide and was covered with coarse
grass and reeds. These marshes ran clear
along the Delaware river front to Edge
Moor. distance of two miles from the
mouth Of the Christiana. All this terri
tory Is contained within the city limits,
ana lit is along this river front that the
Greater Wilmington. will build its mann
moth industrial works and place its
ahar3es and docks.
ALet sus begin on the Christiana river
The question of Strengthening this
at this point by eliminating the
ben 7 between the Brandywine's mouth
and the Delaware, is one which has been
long considered by the United States Gov
ernment. Surveys have been made and
the plans submitted, and the cost Of this
improvements estimated at about S75 600
a mere bagatelle when the advantages
which would accrue are considered. The
Strengthening would remove some twenty
five acres, which now constitute this bend.
BY means OF dredges and pulsometers this
ground could be transferred to the marsh
and spread over IT. forming a solid foun-
dation for warehouses.
In place Of the bend, which now acts as
a barrier to our river, mighty saltwater
basin would remain, covering a territory
Of half mile in length and over thou
sand feet in width where the vessels Of the
world could shelter.
Close at hand runs the tracks Of the
Pennsylvania freight roads. Offering su-
perb accommodations for the shipment or
receipt Of goods. Along this basin wharves
would arise and storehouses be built.
sbuth Wilmingtoh would grow into huge
pfoporrions ana that section would rival
in business the river fronts Of the great
seaports
II Is a fact not generally considered in
connection with our city that we are
nearer by the way Of Columbia, to Pitts
burg and the great iron and coal mines
% PennsylvRnia, than is Philadelphia.
with the proper river frontage this great
trade, not only from that section, but from
the entire West, would be.diverted to this
city. The owners and controllers Of the
ocean lines would much prefer to stop
here than.to brave the dangers and annoy
ances which they meet on tn upper Della
ware. Aud especially would this be SO
when they could ind free berths here
While in Philadelphia that expense is a
severe tax. With large warehouses on the
Delaware frontage fine whaTves stretch
ing on an eEarage 400 feet out into tn.
fiver the largest craft could. find mosi
ample accommodation. They would not
be bothered with ice, as it is a fact that
the Delaware channel is comparatively
clear when that on the Jersey side Is com.
pietely blocked and in winter it IS notice