Evening journal., 1903-11-13
WILMINGTONTWENTY
FIVE YEARS HENCE
City of Great Manufacturing Interests Along the River
Front Railroad, Trolley and Steamboat Centre Beau
tifuI Homes and Parks and Big Department Stores

in short. every branch OF business win
be benefited.
Railroads and Troleys.
A quarter Of a century win bring
Wilmington fame for its unexcelled
trolley and railroad facilities. Besides
the Pennsylvania, the b. 6. o. and the
Reading, the Wabash is almost certain
TO include Wilmington m It's trans
continental system. The terminal,
which at present Is likely to go to
Philadelphia. because of the pro-
nounced activity OF the Trades League
OF that city TO procure it, and If so
there is a possibility that in view OF
Wilmington's progress, II may bring
its terminal here. II also Is likely that
it's construction and repair shops would
be brought here and these would bring
in their wake a veritable army OF work.
mon and their families.
Upon bringing its terminal here. or
even upon entering the city. which the
Board OF Trade is now making an ef-
fort to have 1t do, the Wabash would
have n splendid opportunity to build
n feeder down the Peninsula. as the
one roud now traversing that section
has no rivalry. Among the towns
along the bay shore which now have
no railroad facilities, or practically
none are Port Penn. Odessa, Little
Creek Magnolia. Milford, Frederica,
Milton and Lewes. This Is along the
line Of "A splendidly fertile section Of
farming land whose products then
could be sent to Wilmington and which
would alike benefit the farmer ana the
consumer.
II would be eminently NJ and proper
that Wilmington should become great
railroad centre. II will be remembered
that about the first railroad in this
country was operated in Delaware. 1t
ran between New Castle and French
town, on the Elk River and was known
as the Frenchtown Railroad. This was
in 1882 and the running Of the first
train over that line was regarded as n
wonderful event, and justly so. People
spoke with almost bated breath Of
travelling 16h miles in one hour and
thirty-fve minutes and the coaches
were considered marvels of luxury.
Twenty-Five years hence the subur-
ban trains Will carry 10000 persons
daily. The total mileage OF railroads
tcentreng in Wilmington will be fully
10000, at a capitalization Of nearly
$3.50 000. 100000.
In 1S43 tho Pennsylvania Railroad re-
pair shops in this city employed a force
Of seven men. Nine engines were kept
here and tho monthly outlay i'm salaries
amounted TO S327.75. In 1887 there
were $50 engines stabbed here 3s4 men
were employed and the salary list
amounted TO s1s.O651S. At the present
time between 400 and 500 men are en-
Iployed In the repair and freight depart
ments alone and their salaries aggre-
gate between $4,000 and $500 a week.
This being for one railroad company
alone. the most casual observer can
readily see what corresponding i'm
crease would be made I'm twenty five
more years. AS q matter OF fact, the
other railroads facilities would in
crease proportlonately.
With the trend Of general improve
ments and the progress made I'm that
line In the past, there is no reason why
Wilmington should not have one Of
the best trolley systems in the country.
Even now the city Is practically belted
by the electric lines. with the growth
Of the city there will be a demand FOR
increased facilities BY that time IL
is safe to assume that overhead wires
win be done away with. as IN New
York now. and that they will be placed
underground, as in the city OF Wash
tington, or that the storage battery sys-
tenn will be in vogue.
The entire peninsula. including the
Eastern Shore of Maryland. will be
ltraversed by trolley lines, most of
which probably will have their ter
minals IN Wilmington. Not only will