Evening journal., 1906-09-11
RIVER FRONT
NOW ASSURED
Men Once Called DTeameTS,
Are Really Pioneers in ROad
to the River
THEIR WISDOM PROVEN

Fifty years ago the idea that Whining !
ton. the city on the christiana, the city
on the hills. would have Delaware
river frontage where the shipping Of the
world lied up at the wharves. was called
the crazy mans dream" For there were
then some who could see into the future
far enough to see what the people OF
Wilmington are seeing to-day
Ten years ago there were citizens and
members OF the Board Of Trade who
laughed at Pnd nicknamed one Of their
visionary members "road-to-the-rivor,
because he, with prophetic eye which
they did not possess. could see far enough
ahead to realize that the future OF VIII
mington depended upon the growth to-
ward the river front.
Now the Board of Trade has commit
tee working to induce manufactures TO
come to Wilmington and Offering as in
ducements sites along the river front. and
the road to the river men have become
the leaders" instead OF the vision
aries"
Railroad Saw the Future.
While there were one or two men on
the Board Of Trade who saw the future
direction Of expansion for the city, and
while others laughed and scoffed. the
Pennsylvania railroad, building always
for future generations took up land
along the river front ana ran the cut
or ana tracks Through itheIland between
the city and the Delaware front. II was
marsh then Some OF It is marsh now. but
within year the most OF It win be fast
land. made land. and valuable land
Faith IN the ultimate expansion OF the
city toward the i!ver h 1t would survive
and keep pdce with the march Of events
led to the purchase BY the Pennsylvania
railroad Of fully one-third OF the marsh
land along thetrlSH trout Haith in The
future, now begianihg 4. Be realized. led
the owners OF the marshes along the
Christiana to m pe mershes and make
land andtwlthin tlFde months there will
be ready for occupancy 800 acres Of firm
land along the Delaware river front
where once was marsh and reeds-iand
suitable for the erection OF great manui
featuring establishments.
Ready to Open Streets.
Already the owners OF this land have
petitloned the Street and Sewer Depart
ment to open the city streets through IT,
Once this land is ready It viii not b,
a hard matter to find those who viii sec
its deslrabllity and locate there.
The great tract of land from the Chris
tiana, north to the shelpot sluice anc
from the Delaware river to the Pennsyl
vania railroad. once a great marsh, q
now being filled with the sand from tn
dredging Of the channel in the Delaware
and Christiana. II IS only a question o
=. a little time before wharves will be bull
along ths Cnristiana near its mouth, AM
wharves along the Delaware river. Ono
? this is done means Of getting there mus
be found
Already the city railway lines hav
agreed 10 extend their lines to the rive
whenever there is land occupied there
and already have representatives of larg
industries gone over the ground with
view to locating here.
? Shipping Will Need Wharves.
t Last week the reported move Of larg
s interests here TO consolidate shipping AM
passenger steamship lines brings one ste
nearer the expansion TO the Delawar
river front. The contamination OF tina
4 scheme. behind which are the DUPONT in
/ terests. means a Wilmington to the river
s means wharves, means a great port an
y direct shipping and brings far nearer tha
1 any move other than the making Of tn
f land along the river front. the arrival .
q the day when all roads must lead to IN
d river if they would amount to anything
The purchase Of made land along IN
Christiana, near its mouth by the du
Points. and the enterprise Of the Otto Ca
j Works are but two indications OF n
: hand Of opportunity directing great CT
'- terprises to the road to success In III
/ future