Evening journal., 1901-12-27
FRIDAY. DECEMBER ~, 1901
sHIPs rnAT PAss us nY

SHIPS THAT PASS Us BY
For some years the feeling has ex-
listed that Wilmington has not received
due recognition in the trade of middle
and lower Delaware. Our merchants
regret that their stores have not been
sufficient to attract much more custom
from the country to the south. and
various remedies have been suggested.
But we are not alone in our COM
plants; the farmers OF Kent and Sus-
sex in seeking a market for their pro
duce pass us by. not because Whining
ton does not require a great deal to
feed her people, not because prices
here are not satisfactory. but for the
reason that our situation precludes.
The railroad freights are not much
higher 10 Philadelphia or New York
than to Wilmington, and when the
produce has TO be shipped in that man
ner it is practically as cheap to send 1t
to larger market Consequently there
is a larger amount Of Delaware farm
produce sold in Philadelphia than In
Wilmington. Most OF that which is
consumed here comes from the farms
adjacent to the city. or from New Jer-
sey. The fruits and vegetables for
which Delaware is famous, do not
grow to any extent in New Castle
county. and. therefore. we are depend
ent on that which comes from the
kindred soil Of New Jersey. Now we
do not suggest the huilding Of a tariff
wall against our neighbor; we favor
the present system of reciprocity, but
the remedy. If there is a remedy, lies
in extending some encouragement to
the farmers Of lower Delaware to enter
our markets
A careful student Of the matter must
conclude that such condition has not
happened without cause, but that It ia
a problem Of transportation. To reach
this icity from the Delaware river a
detour Of a number Of miles must be
made, taking many hours. Naturally
then. very little shipping touches al
our wharves. save where this city is tn,
point of final destination. II one will
run his eve down the map of Delaware
he will find along the river and bay
a number of navigable streams from
which sailing craft and small steam
boats ply to the cities tc the north.
From Lewes there has been boa
running to Philadelphia; another boa
has run from the Broadkill Milford
has had a boat. so has Frederica. An
other runs from Lebanon. reaching tn,
section around Dover. Formerly ther
was a boat making regular trips from
Leipsic A Philadelphia excursion
steamer makes daily trips to Bomba,
Hook and at times several boats rui
from Smyrna. The AppoQuinimink
another stream with deep water, an
at times. Middletown and Odessa kee
a boat going The Delaware and Chesa
peake cana. entering the river at Della
ware City. supports a regular line q
boats between Baltimore and Philade
phia. besides other craft which sa
from various points along this water
way.
Now all this shipping goes right b
our doors. These numerous craft
not even touch at our wharves, viii
all OF them stop at Chester. The rel
son is that there is no wharf on Il
Delaware river front. and the time r
uuired to run into Wilmington wou
be too great There is onewharf a sho
distance from the Delaware, up Il
Christiana. but since the owne
charge twenty per cent. of the freig
Of the goods. received or shipped fro
that point. no boat can stop thel
Chester. on the other hand. charges
nominal fee of SO cents for each Ian
ing. and as a consequence has ma
craft at her wharves daily.
Wilmington is as isolated from
this trade as though she stood on O
of the Western plains. while Ches
has become an important market
lower Delaware produce, and Tho
sands Of persons pass our doors eve
month to do their shopping in Phi
delphia. The captain OF one OF tn
boats says that at least one-half of
this trace would come to Whining
If the city had wharf on the Dc
ware front, easy Of access to the c
Doubtless in that event this would
the terminus OF some of these or
and as the value Of onr markets
came apparent the trade would gr
Here is problem for our Board
Trade and for the city merchants.
might be solved by building that ]