Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-29

Both by Rail and Water.
The beet sugar plant at Riverside,
just above this city, on the Delaware
River, which has been idle for some
time, has been purchased by the
William Q. Newport Go. of Philadelphia
and Willow Grove, Pa, and is to be
converted into factory for the manu-
facture of chemicals and fertilizers, in
which business the company is now
engaged at Philadelphia and Willow
Grove. The new owners have arranged
to make extensive additions to the
buildings already at Riverside and
placed orders for the latest improved
machinery, with which the new plant
is to be fitted. Employment will be
given to about 800 hands, majority of
whom will, in all probability, have
their homes in this city, as they can
reach the works in few minutes,
either by train, over the p, w. & b,
railroad, or by the Wilmington & Ches-
ter trolley.
The company, which is now one of
the substantial Guinness concerns of
Philadelphia, will incorporate some
new ideas in the manufacture of fertil-
fzers and, chemicals at the new plant,
which will be advantageous in several
ways. One of tho most important feat
ures of the new process will be the
introduction of machinery by which
the business can be carried on without
producing the objectionable edor which
is frequently complained of in the
vicinity of fertilizer factories, 1t il
said on good authority that the plant
will in no way cause annoyance to peo-
Pile in the neighborhood, as all OF the
fumes from the manufacture of fertil-
izers and chemicals will be consumed
and moi unpleasant odor will have an
opportunity to get out into the atmos-
Ihsfe. For years people engaged in
this business have been experimenting
with various devices with tho hoie Of
overcoming the annoyance and it is
believed the goal has been reached.
While the present buildings at River
side, which are of brick, are substantial
and suitable for almost any kind of
manufacturing purposes, it will be
necessary to make extensive changes to
adapt them to the new business. The
In terror of each buildingH will be re-
nodeied and the new ones to be put up
will be builta designs calculated to
best serve the purposes of the company.
~ ~ oApoblco tudl ny bD6 Time Ln0
alterations to the present buildings are
completed and the new Structures are
erected the machinery will be installed
and ready to op crate, and it is the in
tention to have the works running in
a very short time A portion of the
present plant may be operated while
the additional buildings are being put
up. This VILE depend upon the ma
chinery, but it is hardly likely that
there will be any delay on that score.
The site Is admirable for manufac-
turing purposes, as 1t affords magnifi-
cent facilities for shipping and re-
ceiving goods either by rail or water,
Asa matter of fact, it has an advantage
over some places further up the river.
as it is practically at the head of desn
water. With the exception of Cherry
Island fats, there is very little shoaline
below Riverside and there ia no trouble
on account of the ice below that point,
except in the most severe weather OF
the winter when everything is praoti.
cally tied up.
Ihs company will probably build a
pier out into the river and warehouse
may be erected thereon, in order that
Jaw material and the finished product
can be handled by water directly to
and from the plant. This will mark a
substantial beginning to Wilmington q
improved river front. While the Phil
sdelphia q Reading Railway Co. has a
pier below the mouth OF the Christiana
River and there are wharves at Edge
Moor for the use of the Egovernment
buoy station, the American Bridge Go.
and II. l. du Pont de Nemours & Co.,
very little has been done in the matter
nj mi tfff ,.sr ...1 -
many years, and the facilities offered
along the river front have been taken
advantage OF by only q few people and
the pier service is very limited, as il
is oonfined chiefly to the business of
the concerns owning them. Should the
Newport company make extensive
wharfage improvements 1T will demon
strate the value Of the river property
for commercial purposes and it is likely
that other improvements will follow.
The company now has first-class rail
road facilities, there being sidings into
the works from the r., W. & B. main
line. Should the pier be built the
railroad tracks may be extended to the
end of it and the cars and ships can
be brought side by side at that point.
While Riverside, On the p, W. & b.
railraod, is about four miles north of
French strest station. the distance from
the northern city limits is only about
three miles, which makes the industry
practically one OF Wilmington bust
ness enterprises, IN view Of the fact
that this city will be headquarters for
the local establishment and most of the
people working there will have their
homes here.
The Riverside establishment has
been known in recent years as the
Kinetic motor plant, having been the
property of the Kinetic Motor Manu-
featuring Go. That company acquired
possession few years ago and began
the manufacture OF motors for railway
cars, and it was intended, at the time
the venture was made. to enlarge the
plant and build cars, but the project
fell through and for some time the
plant has been idle. People passing up
and down the river can see street car
in the yardfat the works. 1t was that
car which created such stir when the
compHny's motor first came before the
public. The motor was installed in the
car and trials were mace over the rail-
roads In this part of the country. Since
the tests, however, the car has remained
in the yards ard many people not
familiar with the place could not un-
derstsnd what an idle street car was
doing in that locality.
AS the new establishment il to be-
come permanent fixture, 1t ia possible
that a town will develop at Riverside
in the near future, and houses may be
built there for the accommodation of