Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-18
A POSSIBLE STEAMSHIP LINE
From Wilmington to Swedish
and Other Ports.
INQUIRY REGARDING OUR HARBOR
indications of an Important
Movement.


ward the Desired Information as soon as
Convenience Will Permit.
Negotiations have been onened which
look towards the establishment Of a
regular line of ocean steamships be-
tween Wilmington and Sweden, and
possibly, some other foreign countries
Postmaster Enoch Moore has received
letter containing the following from
the management OF the SwediHh Young
Women's Home, which has headquarters
at No, 3ll Blackstone street, Proyi-
decne, r. L.:
Postmaster, Wilmington, Delaware:
Will you please place US in communica
tion with some OF the officers Of the
Wilmington and Capes of Virginia rail
road? We have the IDEA that this road
can be made the best link in the immi-
grant travel frum Nav York, New Eng.
land and Philadelphia TO Virginia and
North Carolina and over the Chesa-
peake & Ohio railroad.
1--WE also want to know the price of
lands along the Wilmington aud Capes
of Virginia railroad for our settlers.
How much water has your harbor9
Aa the Cramps have their works with
you, We have thought it pussible your
harbor, by improvement, could he made
q roadstead for Philadelphia, just az
Bremen Haven in Germany is the road.
stead for Bremen.
If desired, one of our association
will pay visit to Wilmington, look at
your harbor and take survey of the
country along the Wilmington & Vir-
giniR railroad.
It will be noticed that the writer of
the letter is not thoroughly familiar
with local matters. While the writer
is evidently under the impression
that the Cramp shipbuiiding plant
is in Wilmington. it is altogether likely
that reference ia intended TO be made
to the shiipbuilding works of the iiar-
Ian & Hollingsworth Co., the Pussy &
Jones Co.. the Jackson & Sharp Co.
and the Enoch Moore & Sons Co. 1t
having been heralded all over the coun-
try recently that the Harlan g. Holdings
worth Go. is to build torpedoboat for
the government; that the Pussy g.
Jones Co. has large steamboat con-
tracts, and that the Jackson & Sharp
Co. is also engaged on important
marine contracts, ii is not at all sur
prising that the eyes Of the world
should see Wilmington as the import
Through this widespread intelli-
gence about the city of Wilmington
people 10 far away places have learned
that there is a harbor here and that the
city 10 in easy communication with the
sea Hence the inquiry about the depth
Of water in the harhor. The Inference
from the communication 10 that Will
mington has been suggested as an
available point as landing place for
foreign boats il the harbor facilities
are suitable, and that definite informa-
tioD is desired on this punt is shown
by the expression of Willingness to send
representative here to make a per-
sonal investigation.
Postmaster Moore can reply TO the
effect that Wilmington has a hRrhor
ard good one too; also, that it would
no possible to load and unload trans
atlantic steamers here with dispatch
and much quicker work could be &C.
complished in this direction than ia
the Gase with boats going to Fhiladel-
phia. the boats lnnding here would
save the time consumed in going to and
from Philadelphia and in winter would
avoid the ice blockades which fro
quently materially interfere with the
movements of hoats between this city
and Philadelphia.
While it is true that the Chrietiana
River needs Improvement, it is reasonR.
BILE to expect that Congress at its Mex
session will make provision for the i'm
provsment that has long been desired.
However, the Chriatana need not be
used at all. Wilmington has magnifi.
cent river front, one of the finest in thu
world, and landing place could be
located right on the Delaware Rivel
that would offer facilities as complete
as could be desired. Railroad com
munication could be established a
small expense with the great trunk line
running through Wilmington and ovei
them to tue entire country. There il
no need to go beyond Wilmington t.
find an American terminus for an,
ocean steamship line, and the SweGisl
association could undoubtedly learn
great deal to it's advantage by sendinl
representative to Wilmington.
A prominent citizen, on being in
formed of the contents OF the letter
said that in his opinion the only thin
needed TO develop the river front is
start, and il the Swedea can be induced
to take the initial step others will un
doubtedly follow.
There ia evidently an important move
ment on foot with the association AM
the inference is that Wilmington AM
the remainder OF the State, In fact, tn
Peninsula generally, may be largely th
scene of action. There is one thing Ger
tain; these wide awake Sweaes realz
the admirable geographical situation
and conditions of this community, bu
are not sufficiently informed to com
pete their plans without investigation
The Wilmington and Capes Of Vir
Rinia railroad referred TO is the throug
line known in this State as the Della
ware road and between the souther
State limo as the New York, Philade
phia & Norfolk railroad the short sea
board line between New England, Ne,
York and the South. The line can offe
all of the facilities desired for trans
portation.
nesartnd That N1atl,ar