The sun., 1898-01-13
Improving WATER FRONT.
Business Men Agitate the Ques-
ton Of Navigation.
AID OF LEGISLATURES ASKED.
A Bill to he Introduced ApproPriating
Sum to bc Expended in Com
junction With the Governs
mcnt Allowance.

The business men OF this city will
endeavor at this session OF the legisla-
ture to secure legislation toward improy-
ing the Christiana River
For several months many of the most
progressive of Wilmington's business
men have been quietly discussing ways
and means to facilitate the commerce Of
the port, and as result have prepared
a bill for presentation ut this General
Assembly by which it is proposed to
grant authority to appropriate the sum
of money for he improvement Of nayi-
CATION by dredging the Christiana and
erecting bnlkheads and jeltcs.
The idea is AT present to ask the Gov
ernment to appropriate one million dot
lars for the project, and in that event 1t
is proposed that the city OF Wilmington
shall raise ten per cent OF that amount
or 100000. The appropriation is not
to be expended at once but
will be distributed ovcr a period
OF five years, in which time the
work proposed Is to be com
pleled. The bill is to be introduced, or
at least notice thereof given in the Legis
ature at once, so that in the event OF the
passage of resolution to exclude all
new business, the interests OF the city
in this regard will not be effected. In
this connection it is expected that VIII
liam f. Smallcy will 90 to Dover TO-
morrow if the bill can he prepared by
that time. Senator Py'c will be given
charge Of the measure in the Senate,
while Representative Donaldson will see
that it is given prompt consideration in
the House
While the members Of the Board If
Trade have been discussing the matter
individually for some time, the matter
will not be brought officially before that
body until the bill is fairly under way
at Dover, when every effort will be made
to arouse public sentiment toa rraliza-
tion OF the necessity OF concerted action
by the business and commercial interests
OF the city.
Probably the most enthusiastic sup
porter of the scheme is President Will
lam Lawton, of the Board Of Trade. who,
when spoken to in relation to the matter
last night said:
There is no reason whatever why
Wilmington, with its natural advantages
in commercial and manufacturing
way, should not receive IL large share Of
the shipping business Of the Delaware,
and the onl y reason why We have been
handicapped in this regard in the past
is because OF the inadequate facilities
afforded vessels for entering the Chris
tiana,
80 far as the proposed appropriation
bythe city often per cent. OF the amount
which the government will be asked to
provide for the improvement Of this
approval lecause | realize that in
order to be progressive and keep up
with the march OF public improvements
the people "t this city must insist upon
doing something which will attract YES
sells t" this port, and especially those
vessels which have cargor~ consigned to
our merchants and which, owing to the
Inadequate d plh Of the ChriS,ara are
compelled t" carry the goods to pLIa-
dclphia, from which point they are
shipped lrre cit!cr by rail or on
Lighters.
"Thr CITY Of ri i'aGIphia by the way,
has appropriated the srn Of 100000,
for tn" improvement Of it, water front
and harhcr. and although the stare
Legislature refused TO aid in the work.
the al O;c sum is now being expended
and will no doubt prove Of immense az
vantage.
"As to th" advantage that will accrue
TO the city if We could drcdgc the Christ
lana. So as lo allow vessels with Il draft
of twenty-five feet to- come up. can
only say tlat almost every month the
Board Of Trade is receiving communica-
tionS from manufacturers desirouS Of
locating here. and while they are
Y H,isiird with the city in
tie fact that the navigation
facilities ar" 50 poor alon" tcturS them
from establishing their plants here. !
believe, therefore. that every citizen
and especially every business man has
a personal interest in seeing the con-
project consumnatcl
"Annthor matt"r which | believe
should b" considered is the removal Of
the sewage. and according to the govern
mcnt engineers it would require at least
$4,000 annually, but in my opinion this
would be- money wei! spent and in the
cnt would accrue to orr advantage
'li we have the same advantages as
and Newport News, We can
build the largest kind Of vessels on the
(hristiana We have the works, we
have the mechanics. we have the capita.
All We lack is the means 70 bring the
craft to "nr shores, or, after they are
built to start them out on their careers.
and if once we are successful in this /.
effort to secure an adequate water front
| am satisfied that the skill and enter
prise OF our ship builders will bring rs
at least just proposition Of the trace
which owing to the reasons which it j.
now proposed to obviatc goes else
whcrc.'