Evening journal., 1901-12-31
WILL INCREASE
CITY BUSINESS
Scheme to Capture Good
Rural Trade
MAY BIZ DONE BY WATER
Plan TO Build Wharf on Delaware
sRiycr and Connect CitY by
Trolley
MAY DE DONE BY WATER

Recent editorials in the Evening Jour
nal ON the subject OF city trade have con.
yinced the Wilmington business men that
much Of the valuable trade from lower
Delaware Maryland and New Jersey is
passing them every day for the philadel-
pnia Baltimore and New York markets
City merchants have decided that mas
much il is useless to apply TO the rail
road company for cheaper passenger and
freight rates that the only hope of cap
turing this trade is 70 build a suitable
wharf ON the Delaware river front and
connect with the city by trolley. thereby
making 10 more convenient for persons 10
/ buy in this market. The wharf could be
/ built anywhere between Fourth street
and Edge Moor. Tho work could be done
al a cost Of about $4,000 and done quick
/ ly. AT present there are boats running
from I.cwes. Milford, Frederica. Leha-
non. Smyrna and many points along the
New Jersey coast all Of which could stop
at such a wharf and be of great benefit TO
the city. The trolley line could be built
out Seventh and Fourth streets.
LAYTON AGREES WITH SCHEME
AS a business man and president Of the
Wilmington Board of Trade. William
Lawton has been trying for many years
60 get this trade for the city. He has
been and is yet an indcfatigable worker
for a better water front and FOR the de-
velopment of river front land owned by
Wilmngtonians between the mouth Of
the Christiana and Edge Moor When
interviewed yesterday. President Lawton
said that a wharf on the Delaware river
was the only solution of the local trade
problem.
"Do you think IL would be possible TO
get the railroad company TO give special
rates 90 the residents ia the lower part
of Delaware say, two days @ week. in
order that they might come 90 this city 10
their dcalingf
"No. I do not" replied Mr. Lawton.
FOR we had q terrible time in getting
special rates for the time that we held
inuustral attractions Ia Wilmington, and
il was explained 90 me then 10y the rail-
road officials chat ID ntcrferrcd with the
working of their system, and il they
GRANTED it TO us they would have 90 grant
il 10 other cities. You see ia that ease
we would be just as badly Oh as ever"
How then. can we get this trader
1T is hard To tell. have been work
ing at this until ] ann gray headed and
have not yet succeeded"
How about wharf on the Delaware
river frmt?"
That's the thing" said he. Frightening
up and becoming interested "'lhat is the
only way that can see to do it and by
water IL can be done Not only that but
we would have q ferry running every
hour between this city and New Jersey.
That would open up a very profitable
country 90 the Wilmington merchants.
There now is q project for a trolley line
from Pennsylvania TO Atlantic City. just
think what that means with a ferry from
lcnnsgrove 10 Wilmington wharf and
10y trolley into the city"
"Non have estimated what this would
cost and how it could best hc done?"
oh yes; / have figured 10 ont. There
should be a channel from the river chan
mel To the marsh, about 100 feet wide with
a ushing basin 10 act either automatic
ally or 10y hand power This would kcoH
the tide from hllng mp the portion Of the
channel from the shore 10 the river chan
nels This could be flushed twice a day
and il would keep the silt from filling IT,
This channel would cross the tide
would il not?'
Yes; but this flushing basin would
overcome all of the deposit left In the
channel by the tide.
How about railway TO the wharfY"
II would be run oown there before the
wharf was finished"
'What sized boats could come into this
wharf or harbor?'
We'll, boats the size Of the Republic
could come in there AZ low tide
CONGRESSMAN BALL iNTEREsTEo
What is this appropriation you have
asked Congress for, Mr.. LawtonY
1T is for Sl5O.0OO 10 bulkhead this new
water port we are talking about II viii
extend from the ietty TO Edge Moor
How are YOU progressing with itT'
why. Congressman Ball has takenI
the matter up and is working hard upon
il. Only today he sent his private secre-
tary here and asked me to call meet
ing Of the Board of Trade for the purpose
Of appointing committee TO state exact
~ the request of the city regarding the
bnlkhead appropriation. He certainly dc
serves "A lot of credit for the interest he
is taking in the welfare of the city. I
will call a meeting on Thursday night for
the purpose OF discussing the question
and will then appoint "A committee 10 con-
fer with the Congressman"
III this wharf is built and the bulk
head Appropriation is passed by Congress,
the Delaware Forge plant probably will
begin building at once. There is some talk
of building il soon whether the other Is
done or not and il may. be- begun next
YEAR"