Evening journal., 1900-10-31
INDUSTRIES ARR BOOMING
ALONG THE CHRISTIANA RIVER
Many Acres Of Marsh Land Being Reclaimed for The
New Plant f the Delaware Forge and Steel
WOfkS-OthOr Plants Busy

That Wilmington will be ere many
years one OF the foremost manufactur-
turing cities In the world is apparent
and its increase OF industrial pants is
due almost entirely to the Chrlsdana
river. Realizing this fact, the Board
of Trade and city fathers have been
tireless in their efforts TO improve and
deepon the stream until it ia accessi-
bic to vessels Of the deepest draught.
Their efforts have not been IN vain,
for big factories and plants now line
the shore and work has been begun en-
foundations for a stu bigger plant
than has yet been operated In this
city. Ii is the Delaware Forge and
steel Works and it viii be built upon
the north bank of the Christiana near
the rivers mouth One hundred ana
sixty acres OF marsh land are being re-
claimed for the plant. and eighty
acres Of II have been banked off and
are being filled In with dredgings from
the bottom of the Christiana thrown
out by the big hydraulic dredges OF the
Bowers Dredging Company. The
dredging work serves a two-fold pur-
pose. II not only builds land upon
which TO erect the big plant, but
when its work Is inishe.. the channel
OF the stream will be $50 feet wide and
twenty-five feet deep at low tide. This
Will make it navigable for the biggest
ships that come up the Delaware
river.
After this eight or ten feet Of mud,
sand, etc, are spread upon the marsh
land bitches and sluces will drain
Off the water and this newly made
ground will be allowed to dry and
harden. When the foundations proper
for the big buildings and equipment
are made. pilings. timber and concrete
viii be used. AT present there is little
activity at the site and IL is under
stood that things will not be pushed
ia reality until after the election
Should Bryan be elected it may cause
some delay in completing the big in
dustry. Several million dollars will be
invested in this enterprise and some
local capital is invested in IT,
Upon the opposite bank OF the river
are the wharves of the Merchants
transportation Company which com
pany Is az present perfecung arrange
ments for a line of bigfreight steamers
TO connect with New York and Other
prominent ports When in operation
which will be IN short time
two big steamships a week wil
leave the companys wharf at Christi
ana avenue and G street. This will be
a great advantage to the manufactur
crs in this city and will be big thinl
for the reputation of Wilmington
The United States Engineering De
partment ina this city is also deserving
az lots OF credit for the interest II Il
showing in having the dredging
promptly and properly done and IL
protecting the mouths OF the rivers By
building new jetties and lengtheninl
old ones. The object Of these bulkheadl
Is to stop the formation Of bars anG
flats in the mouths of the Christians
and Brandywine rivers.
From the mouth OF the Christian.
river TO Newport the scene of indus
trial activity is inspiring. The Jack
son and Sharp shipyard is full OF boat
building and the company's wharvel
are lined with repair work
At the shipyard OF Enoch Moore ant
Sons the scene is much the same. al
though upon a smaller scale Thil
company launched n big barge las
week which was built for the Pennsyl
vania Railroad Company. The yarl
has other boats under construction.
Although the plant of the Delawar
Construction Company does not pre-
sent an active appearance. the com
pany is busy upon contracts outs d
the city. It's apparatus and workmei
are not dong any work at the plant
The Christiana Glass works are bus
fly engaged in making window glassan,
are in running with fun complement
Of men and furnaces. The plant hal
been in operation for several month.
and has plenty Of orders.