The sun., 1898-01-23
ABOUT THE CAR|ST|ANA
How SHIP Building Was Started
on the River.
SCARCITY OF WATER AT FIRST
Successive Steps Taken by Ship
Buildcrs.--lrhc Industry Is
Two Hundred Years
Old.

Recent launches on the Chrlstlana and
comment on the designations of en-
ployees OF the big shipbuildng firm,
Harlan y Hollingswortl, have called
forth various remarks regarding the old
creek and the enterprise so closely con-
nectcd with it.
Careful study of the history of this
State along the Christiana and Brandy
wine, from the first Swedish settlement
in lG's, shows that Peter largo and
Henry Jacolsc, two Swedes, about two
hundred years ago, started boat building
on the track of meadow then known as
Manhattan and later as Cherry Island.
There being no banks at that imr along
the Chrstiana, Brandywinc or Delaware,
the tides overtlowed the marsh 50 that
about five acres were left at high tide
uncovered by water; it was all principal
ly within the city limits.
Before the banks were made the
course Of the Christiana covered about
sixteen miles, running in ere icd
course. 1t took great amount OF water
tocover the marsh, as the tides ran in five
hours and out seven, it was never coin
plctely covered.
1t was on the Gravely Point OF Fern
Hook, where the Swedc- took their
ships to examine the bottoms, but as
time rolled ON, and generations came
and went the bank system was carried
into effect. In l74O William Shipry
and hers lad Il ship built at Whining
ton, OF four hundred tons capacity, and
since that time ship building has been
Il permanent business in Wilmington
About 1880 Il company was formed as
the Wilmington Whale Oil Company,
who bought five ships, and manning
them with Wilmington citizens, send
ing them to the southern Pacific ocean
to catch whales. The company built !,
house to store the oil in, which still
stands in the centre of the Pusey 4
Jones Colnpanys shops. In 1888 a ship
with tonnage OF six hundred tons could
60 on the Christiana without diff
culty.
Thousands Of acres Of low land have
been reclaimed, banked and made into
pasture land, stops about one.haIf of the
tide from flowing which used to flow up
the creek, OF course reducing tlc volume,
it has reduced the force, ami therefore
the soft mud is deposited in the creek
instead Of, as formerly, in the Delaware,
and therefore appropriations have to be
made annually for dredging the creek.
In 1886 Il company was formed by Il
Wilmington boy, Samuel Harlan, and Il
cabincI maker, to begin ship and car
building All Delaware formed Il com
blnation company for that purpose
called Belts, Puscy & IIarlan,tp carry on
the business. Some Chester county cap
itaist furnished the collateral, and the
company built their shops at Front, be-
tween Orange and Tatnal streets. Find
ing the business Il success they bought
land where their shops now stand.
Nlr. Harlan, being Il man OF great fore
thought, started steamboat building with
huIIS Of iron, on the Charles Egnor farm,
which he bought. The Edge Moor Iron
Works occupy that site now. His part
Errs, not seeing us he did, would not
consent TO leaving the old nest. He has
long since died, and many changes have
occurred in the past sixty years, and
other firms have taken up Mr.. HarIan'S
idea Of iron hui 5, and the city now CON
tains several companies who still cling
to the Old nests along the Christiana.