Evening journal., 1902-01-17
CAPTIous CRITICIsM

CAUTIOUS CRITICISM
Under the heading OF THE People
Must Help Themselves the Every
Evening Of yesterday printed an edi-
torial which is peculiar, to say the
least. coming at this time. A com
mittee of our citizens has appeared
before the River and Harbor Commit
tee to secure certain appropriations
for our harbor. and while the matter
is pending n would seem that it should
not TO be discouraged by comment that
amounts to objection. We are told
that
Under the present system that has
found favor in this country for years,
the people OF communities bordering
upon nayigable streams-and some
that are not navigable-have come to
look solely to the general government
for the maintenance Of these streams
in a serviceable condition. The idea
has become both fixed and prevalent
that II is the duty OF the general gov
vernment TO establish and maintain
the Improvement of these streams in
return for the money paid by the peo-
pie in the way Of Federal taxation.
That illustrates the possibility Of
telling the truth while suggesting a
false inference. This ignores the fact
that Wilmington is under a pledge to
appropriate certain percentage Of
any sum given by the Government
Therefore we are not relying solely
upon Government aid. The Every
Evening goes on to say that we are
draining large amount of sewage
into the Christiana, and uhe infer
ence rs mat this rs rUspOnsi-
sible for filling up the stream.
There is an element Of truth here, but
the amount OF deposit could come
from no such source, and is undoubt-
edly due to the inflow OF mud from
the caving banks and the adjacent
marshes. But suppose the difficulty
arisee from the sewers, what then?
Shall we say to Congress that we will
remove the sewers. and ask for no ap-
proDriation until 1t is done?
Our contemporary also objects to
asking the Government for an appro-
priauon for bulkheading the Christi
ana. on the ground that as II would
benefit the adjacent lands, their own
ers should do the work and bear the
expense But suppose they refuse to
do this. shall we allow the stream TO
I'll up awaiting their pleasureg The
Every Evening continues:
SO. therefore. while no effort will be
spared 70 obtain everything possible
from the general government for the
improvement of the navigable streams
OF Delaware. the people Of Delaware
should not forget or attempt to evade
the responsibility that rests upon them
First and foremost. the city Of Will
mington must provide some Other
method of disposing Of It's sewage
than by dumping IL into the Christiana
And private enterprise, which would
directly profit from the permanent i'm
provtment of the Christiana. must beal
q 81 re Of the cost Of such improve
men
That is the voice of an objector. II
admit that first and foremost vii
mington must provide some othe
method OF dlsposing Of its sewage
Is equivalent to saying that we shoul
receive no appropriation until this
done But is there any reason VIII
improvement TO the stream and
change in the sewer system might nc
be made simultaneously, II the Govern
ment engineers should consider the r'
moval Of the sewers necessary?
seems TO be a plea for delay: wa
two years. or wait four years"
The article winds up by opposin
oiect Of a road to the Delawal
front. It says:
n the situation makes a goo
Il the Delaware river front In
perzuve. the road will be forthcor
ing but to build such a road in a.
vance of any necessity for Il will
folly and a waste of money and labC
So we are not to build the road u
40 ne improvements on the Delawa
J., it. But since these will new
be lade until there is sol
NEE IS Of communication wi
this city we shall never ha
them. Wharves will no be bu
nor factories erected unless first tn,
is the means provided OF getting
them. Does our contemporary 4
know that the best way TO open VI
new country is to build a railros
that parts OF a town are developed
new traction lines?
should a manher of the RiYer q