Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-22
LISTON POINT Dixie HEARING.


Wilmington and Philadelphia business
Men Express Their Views.
Major O. w. Raymond and Col.
Henry M. Robert of the United States
Board Of Engineers in Philadelphia,
came to this city Friday and gave a
public hearing at the Board of Trade
on the matter of the Liston Point dixie.
Among those who attended tho hear
ing were George e. Earnbow, president
OF the Philadelphia Maritime Exhange;
Thomas Winsmore OF the Philadelphia
Harbor Commission, W. X. Tucker of
the Philadelphia Board of Trade, Joel
Cook of the Philadelphia Board OF
Trade, Eli Schermerhosn of Philadel-
phia, William ID. Winsor OF the Win
sor Line, John G.. Cradston of tho
Philadelphia Manufacturers Club,
George H. Highbee of the international
Navigation Co., G. W. Pussy, Il. @.
Kent, p. L. Cooper, Jr., Col. A. q.
McCausland, A. s. Reed, President
Lawton of the Board of Trade. John O.
Farra and others. ..s
Col. Henry NJ. Robert opened sthe
business of the hearing by reading the
call. after which he read the action of
Congress providing for board of three
engineers to examine tho work. H9
also explained the condition of things
by referring to a chart. lie explained
that the work was in an incomplete
state.
Senator Gray asked the members OF
the board if they were not here for the
purpose of preserving the navigation of
the Delaware streams as well as con-
sidering the deepening OF the channel
over Dan Baker Shoal. ''You are to
consider" he said, 'the preservation
of the navigation of these streams and
the riparian rights Of the Delaware
shore. You are not here merely to
consider the project OF dixie or no
dixie" Pointing to the chart, the
Senator said there were many people
living in the territory back Of the dixie.
The riparian rights were given by
nature and consequently the dwellers
along the shore are deeply interested.
All want 10 see the channel improved,
but at the same time don't want it
done ut the expense of the people who
live in our little State. 81 recognize
the power of the engineer boards in
connection with our water ways" he
said, 1--WE must say that we hold these
riparian rights almost at the within of
the board OF United State engineers. !"
No question of expense can enter into
this project, he commended. II it is
more expensive to accomplish both
objects than one, 1t must not be a
question of expense.
Columbus Watkins, who was called
upon. referred to ex-senator Higgins.
Mr.. Higgins said that in the vicinity
OF the Appoquinimink river there are
fn.. 49,, ,x.t
taking into consideration marsh land
and cripple. He calculated the value
of these farms to be something like
50, 600, 600 and the annual product to
be worth 1886, 900. Referring to Draw
yer's creek, tributary, he dwelt upon
the land north as far as Port Penn and
as far west as the streams extend and
| showed how the health conditions would
be affected by the dixie
The thing we are considering to-day,
he said, is how far this dixie would
interfere with the drainage, which is
already affected by nature. There il
no finer land in the country than in
| this section. 1t is the home of people
whose ancestors were among the earliest
settlers in the country. They went
there first on account Of the naturaI
advantages
So far us the original scheme is con.
cerned, he continued, it will not accom-
plish the problem. The object is tt
narrow the river. He was opposed te
closing in the shore and Appoquini
mink and Blackbird rivers. He thought
it was the object of the dixie to stoI
the flow of water between the dixie
and the shore. He referred to Por
Penn, the first harbor on the river,
which is now the watering place O
that country. He asked what woult
be the consequence of the dixie. il il
would not turn that place into a frog
pond He admitted that the deepest
water IL necessary for the largest com
MERGE, but did not want the Delawar,
channel deeponed at the expense o
Delaware people.
Mr.. Higgins objected to the dixie OF
tho ground that it would be SO Diet
rimental to tho interests of Delaware
and he did not think that such
thing would be sanctioned by tho con
stitution, Congress or United State
Board of Engineers.
!. Senator Gray thought the channe
should be deepened at once, and he
believed the appropriation would Civ
| ZO-roOt cnannei.
Gen. James FL. Wilson said he wa
familiar with the general conditions il
reference to the property andinaviga
ton interests. He agreed with Senate
Gray that the main thing for presen
consideration was the deepening of tn
channel at once. He referred to tn
dumping Of tho dredging in the river
and thought it should be deposite'
elsewhere.
William r. Tucker, secretary Of th
Philadelphia Board of Trade, spoke o
action taken by that body, and callet
upon Joel Cook to speak for the board
Mr.. Cook said it was not the desire o
the people in Philadelphia to antago
nize the interests of Delaware. HI
said there was no intention to injur
anybody in this State. Suppose, b.
said. "you should consider the Black
bird and Appoquinimink creeks ant
did not consider the Delaware river
what would become of your pilots?'
He explained that Philadelphians wan
some plan devised that will not requir
constant dredging, but want to do it il
friendly way for tho benefit of al
parties concerned.
Mr.. Tucker said il was the sole do
sire of the Philadelphians to obtain
harbor for that city that would admi
OF the entrance of the largest vessels.
George ii. Highbee of the Inter
national Navigation Co., said tina
their ships now can only be loaded to q
feet, and some boats which were loadet
to 30 feet were sent to New York tw,
Int 10,