Evening journal., 1902-07-11
MARSH COMP ANY
ISSUES CIRCULAR
Suggests That Course Of
ShelIpOt DO Changed
Al Present Marsh LaOd Is Almost
Worthless improvement Would
Increase Value

The directors of the Cherry Island
Marsh Company are considering plans
for the better drainage Of Cherry
Island marsh and making the land
suitable for manufacturing purposes.
II has been found that in times of
freshet, the two sluices, one leading
into the Brandywine river, the other
into the Delaware river, are entirely
inadequate in passing the great volume
of water which comes chiefly from
Shellpot creek; the result is that the
entire marsh is covered at such times
with several feet of water and a num-
Der of days usually pass before it
finds its way through the sluices.
1t has, therefore, been decided to
cut channel ON the line of what is
known as Mud creek, having a width
of 100 feet at the top and seventy feet
at the bottom, and throwing up banks
on each side Of said channel to a
height Of ten feet above low water in
the Delaware river. AS a channel OF
this size has a cross-section area of
four or five times that of the two
sluices combined. it should at all times
take care of the water of Shellpot
creek and the filling of the marsh
would thus be avoided.
AT the present time the marsh land
cannot be used for any purpose what
ever nor can il be disposed of at q
reasonable price, owing to the causes
above stated. About 80 per cent of
the marsh is owned by the r., w. & b.
Railroad Company, who are now filling
in the bulk of their holdings for the
purpose OF constructing a freight yard
land ear shops. This means that the
alance OF the marsh land will suffer
TO a great extent by floods on account
lof the decreased area in which the
water will have to spread out
At some time in the near future
dredging viii be commenced along the
Delaware river front, and the marsh
land can then be filled in at little or
no expense by the pumpage Of mud
from the river bottom. However. when
this is done it viii be necessary tC
erect banks to take care of the water OF
! Shellpot creek. and retain the water
and mud pumped from the river on tn,
2 marsh land.
d, With a deep channel on the Della
ware river front. and the improve
ments now under way by the p, w. &
Z. Railroad Company the marsh prop
lerty could be made into valuable manu-.
featuring land. The first step in thii
direction is to provide proper drain
age To construct a canal exclusive o
r the portion through the P., w. & b
Railroad Company's property, whicl
no doubt viii be taken care of by tn,
600.
IL was decided at a meeting OF tn,
directors of the Cherry Island Marsl
company that an assessment of IS pc
acre should be levied on the marsl
property to assist in building the canal
) subject however, to the approval o
lhe marsh owners. II was decided tha
the opinion of the board be mad
known to the p, w. & d. Railua,
company, and that the said compan,
De asked TO pay the balance of the cost
and also, to take charge of the work.
A meeting Of the marsh owners viii
De held In the Board of Trade rooms
IN the Equitable Building. corne
Ninth and Market stree Is. Wilmington
on Wednesday. July Is, 1902, at
2. CLOCK p. m, for a discussion of tn,
drainage question and future develop
ment Of the marsh property, at whicl
you are earnestly requested to be pres
Inc canal, as suggested by IN
Narsh Company. viii doubtless PROV
valuable addition TO this city's wate
iont facilities. Suclt a stream vii
pc valuable for ligh tering purposes
ana already people fho are familia
with the plans are discussing what
valuable quarry Shell Dot hiil will max
base.