Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-02-17
Proposition That the City AS
Sist in Paying the Cost
APPROVED BY BOARD OF TRADE
Committee to Draft a Bill Will
be Appointed.



drafting OF a bill emhodyinG the plan
as outlined by President Iawton, which
is that the city appropriate 10 per cent
of the government appropriation, pro-
viding the city expend not more than
300, 600 10 five years. In the course at
the meeting Mayor McLear and Coun
cilmen Oberly, Leary and Robertson
arrived and gavs an attentive hearing
to the discussion. Il think il is
very gooG thing" said the mayor
Everybody can see the advantage Of
having the Christiana improved, but
the question is how to do it.
After the proposed bill had been
read, Patrick Neary suggested that it
should authorize the city to issue bonds
for the money and his suggestion will
probably be adopted in the new draft.
Mr.. Lawton said that the cost would
be simply for interest on the bonds as
bonds were never paid; whereupon
Mr.. Oberly, who is chairman of the
finance committee of City Council,
reminded him that the city has a sink.
ing fund and pays all its bonds when
due.
Secretary Taylor read the letters
which Mr.. Lawton had RECEIVED from
corporations CD the Christiana with
reference to their opinion as to the ap-
preparation of money by the city for
the Improvement of the stream by
making a we'll defined channel Of Is
feet. All but one or two Of theRe re-
plies were favorable. The reply of the
j. Morton Poole Co. WIS unfavorable
and the repies of the following were
favorable: The Pussy g. Jones Co,
the Diamond State Iron Co. Whining.
ton & Northern Railroad Co., Charles
Warner Co., Mccullough Iron Co..
Wilmington Steamboat Co., Lobdell
Car Wheel Co., Euoch Moore 4 Sons
Co., Liebig Manufacturing Co., Harlan
d Hollingsworth Co.
William ID. Mullen, Jr. who has
been interested in tho subject of
harbor improvement for years, said
that Senator Blanchard had told him
that the people need to show their
Willingness to do something for them.
selves in order to secure help from
Congress. A small amount of money
would be practically wasted, for enough
ia needed TO make permanent i'm
provement. To do this would take
something like a million dollars The
city should make au appropriation to
convince the government that il wants
the work done. With a local appro-
priation the chances of securing govern
ment aid would bs increased lou per
cent and the city cannot afford to stand
still.
President Lawton, speaking OF the
proposition that shipbuilders might
move out to the Delaware front, said
that il did not occur to soma that if
Harlan's started to move their plant
they might not stop at the river front
but might go to Newport News or some
other place. lie thought the city should
take care of the sewage that goes into
the Christiana and he believed il would
be cheaper to dredge it out annually
than to carry it off to the Delaware by
means of a large sewer.
Capt. William Head, superintendent
of the Pussy g. Jones Co. g shipyard
Id of the actual difficulties due to the
Bhoaling Of tine ChristiRua. In front oil
their wharf no had to dig out the
stream to allow the launch Of yesss
drawing six feet Of water. He favored
the building of another jetty at the
mouth OF the stream 10 prevent tn,
bringing OF mud into il from the flats
In 1897. his firm spent between So, 00
aud 50, 900 for dredging and the strean
has filled up more than half II
thodHhb Nuhuubi
made and the coves opposite Pusey'
and Monre's taken out. Mr.. Mule,
said that the project for the improve
ment of the stream had proposed th
erection of another jotIy.
Howard L. Wallace Of the damon
State Iron Co. spoke of the excelen
location of Wilmington, saying if
taxes advantage OF the opportunities
that have been presented there is
large field for it at comparativel
early date. From meeting large iro
and steel manufacturers he had reache
the conclusion that they think Whining
ton and this vicinity is perhaps til
most available locality Cor iron aud stet
works i1 the East. This business ha
been changing rapidly in the past fe
years. Pittsburg, to an extent, ia loain
its prestige. and il Carnegie and Other
were not improving their facilities i
several ways, it probably would hav
gone away faster than it has The lax
districts and the East are sapping il
There has been rapid growth in the g,
port OF iron and steel and in the bus
ness of the Diamond State Iron Co. tn
export trade is very large part. Lare
manufacturers of iron and steel mu.
be- on the seaboard. With the expoi
business growing as it must, the 60,
eminent will subsidize ships to open u
the markets that are ours by reason
the location. And it wont do for ii
people of Wilmington to stand on to
of the Equitable Building with a tell
scope and see those lines 90 down II
river; this city eau either be static
on the main line or be left hehin
entirely. Manufacturers are anxious
emma To the heat nointa and thpre 10 ,
reason why Wilmington should not tai
advantage of il.
Mr.. Wallace saw no reason WIN
instead Of 1000 employees in iron an
steel hero there should not be 30, 90
The opportunity is presented now and
has got to be availed Of now, or los
Get ons large plant and then anothe
and il they start to come it cannot !
stopped. And it is very necessary
arrange for large boats to come into ii
harbor in safety.
MIR. Wallace's remarks were warm
applauded.
President Lawton spoke of the re
necessity of channel deep enough
admit large vessels. lie said that Il
capital invested on the Christiana WI
between Sl2, 900. 600 and S13, 600, 90
and more money was brought to Il
city by way of the stream than az
other, and yet the city had done nothir
for the harbor.
Mr.. Mullen believed by concerto
aud vigorous effort a project and hi
could he secured il Washington. an
Mr., Neary said that the object of ii
act to allow the city to apurupria
money was to fortify our represent
tlves in Copprneg He halieyed tn,