Smyrna times., 1896-10-21
LISTON POINT Dixie HEARING.
Wilmington and Philadelphia Business Men
Express Their Views.

Major g. W. Raymond and Col.
Henry NJ. Robert of the United States
Board of Engineers in Philadelpbia
came to Wilmington Friday and gave
public hearing at the Board of Trade
on the matter of the ListOn Point dixie.
Senator Gray asked the members of
the board if they were not here for
the purpose of preserving the naviga-
ton of the Delaware streams as we'll as
considering the deepening of the chan
mel 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 bv
nature and consequently the dwellers
along the shore are deeply interested.
All want to see the channel improved.
but at the same time don't want it done
at the expense of the people who live
IN our little State. ''I recognize the
power of the engineer boards in con-
nection with our water ways, 'he said.
1--WE must say that we hold these ripa-
rian rights almost at the whim of the
board of United State engineers.
No question of expense can enter
into this project, he contended. If it
IS more expensive to accomplish both
objects than one, it 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 APPOINTMENTS river there are
295 farms containing Sc, 356 acres, not
taking into consideration marsh land
and cripple. He calculated the value
OF these farms to be something like
$1,000, 900 and the annual product to
be worth $856,OOO. 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 in
terfere with the drainage, which is al
ready affected by nature. There is
no finer land in the country than in
this section. 1t is the home of people
whose ancestors were among the earnest
settlers in the country. They went
there first on account of the natural
advantages.
80 far as the original scheme is con-
cerned, he continued, it will not accom-
plish the problem. The object is to
narrow the river. He was opposed to
closing in the shore and Appoquini-
mink and Black kbird rivers. He thought
1t was the object of the dixie to stop
the flow of water between the dixie
and the shore. He referred to Port
Penn, the first harbor on the river.
which is now the watering place of
that country. He asked what would be
the consequence of the dixie, if it would
not turn that place into a frog pond.
He admitted that the deepest water
is necessary for the largest commerce.
but did not want the Delaware channel
deepened at the expense of Delaware
people.
Mr.. Higgins objected to the dixie on
the ground that it would be SO detri-
mental to the interests of Delaware.
and he did not think that such thing
would be sanctioned by the constitu-
ton, Congress or United States Board
of Engineers.
Senator Gray thought that the chan
mel should be deepened at once, and
he believed the appropriation would
give a 26-foot channel.