Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-05-07
A scheme rhat should he squelched.

A Scheme That should BE Squelched.
1t is doubtful if any considerable
number of people in this community
realized until Friday, when it was
made clear by Senator Gray and ex-
Senator Higgins through the columns
of Every Evening, the real nature Of
Major Raymond's scheme for the i'm
provement OF the Delaware river by the
construction of the dixie at Liston' 8
Point, Work on this project is now
under way, but it will doubtless be
stopped in time to prevent the consum-
nation of the mischief that would be
wrought by its completion.
The plan proposed by, Major Ray
mond, while it would doubtless serve
the purpose of deepening the channel
of the river between Reedy Island and
the Dan Baker Shoals, would prove
disastrous to the State of Delaware. II
comprises a dixie to be built from Port
Penn to the northern end of Reedy
Island, and another dixie, five or six
miles long. from the southern end oi
Reedy Island to Liston's Point. About
mile of the latter dixie, beginning a
the lower end of Reedy Island and ex-
tending south, was constructed several
years ago, and the contractors are now
at work on dixie from Liston's Point
northward, to meet that portion ex.
tending south from Reedy Island.
About 1000 feet OF the new dixie has
been constructed.
The effect of this work, il completed,
would be to dam the Delaware river,
by means Of the dikes and Reedy Island.
from Port Penn 10 Liston's Point.
Within this dam, the river would be
but sluggish pond, and the effect Of
such a body Of water upon the secti or
of country bordering upon this portion
of the river can readily be imagined.
1t would be converted into a dreary,
disease breeding marsh. But worse
than all, the proposed improvement
would practically cut off communica.
tion with the Delaware river by means
of Appoquinimink river and Blackbird
creek, as the dixie would cross the
mouths Of these two streams and make
it impossible for vessels to go In or out.
The town Of Odessa, on the Appoquini-
mink, which now has steamboat com
munication with Philadelphia, would
be completely blocked and its com.
merce ruined. The Appoquinimink
and Blackbird would be changed from
Underwater streams to sluggish mill
ponds and all their commercial adyan.
tages destroyed.
The audacity Of this proposed scheme
maS '.a. Ilprovement is amazing. Its de-
is : srs aDd apologists in Philadelphia la
Tx slightingly of the damaging
o. 1t it wo,ild have upon two "unim-
portant Delaware streams" which they
consider as of no consequence in com
parison with the benefits that Philadel.
phia would derive from the deepening
of the chanrel of the Delaware. But
the people of this State have riparian
rights that cannot be taken away from
them al the mere whim of those who
seek the advancement of Philadelphia 8
interests. Delaware people arc desir-
Gus of seeing the navigation of the
Delaware river improved SO as to give
free passage to the largest ocean steam
ships, but they do not care, and will
not consent, to have the work done at
the expense of their own material con.
Germs. 1t does not matter that tho
commercial interests of Port Penn and
Odessa are not considerable in volume.
They are as important to the people
Of these communities as is the com
mcrce of the port of Philadelphia to the
people of that city, and having been
IN undlsputed possession of the facili.
tics afforded by free navigation of the
Delaware and its tributaries for cen.
turtles, they cannot now he deprived Of
them simply 70 encourage scheme for
the benefit of tho commorce and gen
ceiy, business of the city Of Philadelphia.
Sf politb, Ra2Tpnd will have to formu.
lsSs' IA u z rs for deepening the chan
neNth 81 Delaware river between
Roady Island anJi the Dan Baker Shoals.
To permit the wor; now in progress tc
proceed TO coNpIctioa would bo AIN out.
rage upon the people of lower New
Castle county. 1t would bottle them
up completely, convert their shore int
marsh plGt, and the nobic river now
in front " thom into frog BOND, as
far as they are concerned. Ii would
be bioH at their material woll being,
and ais, breed conditions that would
prove dangerous to their general health.
In fat, the project is ue that should
be NJ longer eountenanced, now tha,
thoserioua danger it threatens 10 hi,
Site is known, Senator Gray deserve,
tn thanks Of his constituents for hi.
6termined opposition to a scheme q
Improvement 30 subversive of thei
tignts and detrimental to their inter
ests.