Evening journal., 1906-08-10
city NEEDS TO AID
HARBOR PROJECT.
cans Much TO Local BGSi-
ness Enterprises City Pays
One-tenth Cost
.PPOSITION TO
EXPENSE FOOLISH

Considerable unfavorable comment
been heard from many sources re-
riding the payment by the city for
8 dredging of the Christiana River
part of the cost. Some declare that
is a useless expenditure and Of no
neht to the city.
The amount of money paid this year
the city of Wilmington was 10 per
Mt Of the amount expended by the
vernment for work on the Chris
ma River.
The reason for this expenditure is
me ancient history which most Of
ilmington tax payers should know.
Some years ago when Wilmington
ught to become a large manufdctur-
& center and the ship building in
lstry was an extensive feature it was
4 und that the Christiana River ham,
red the progress Of the industrial
,)ncerns on it's banks. Ships Of any
srge draft could not enter the har-
br and ships of such draft could not
hoated here when built.
Wilmington Should Help Too.
The matter was taken up with the
ivernment. A large amount of money
as expended and conditions improved.
he natural silt. however, filled up the
yer and before long there was need
more dredging. A committee of
X tizens went to washington to con-
ilt the powers. They learned that
4ere the Christiana was treated as
rilmingtons sewer, and that sewage
ON this city contributed largely, ac-
Birding to the report Of the engineer
charge Of the district to the silt
IA the creek bed.
lrhese citizens were told that when VIII
inrton got ready to take care Of her
swage fir and helped herself she could
..pect something from Washington.
The committee came home. a bill was
repared and sent to the legislature
-oviding that wilmington should pay
ach year not more than $4,000 and in no
ase more than one-tenth of the amount
expended by the government in the har-
or Of wilmington until sum Of $780,
Do had been spent by the city.
limit tenth of Cost.
y The limit Of $4,000 as a total to be ex-
Tended was fixed upon the estimate thai
iha cost of making the harbor Of the eits
Forth something TO the city would cost
10000 and wilmington could at least ar
ord one-tenth Of that providing not moro
nan $4,000 Of it should be paid in any
ne year.
The situation means simply that the
,ity pays one-tenth Of the money expend.
n d to care for a waterway into which she
Humps her sewage and along whose bank
re large Industries which must depend
pom deep water communication.
Other cities are paying the government
% per cent. in order TO prosper and keel
he channel open and 1t is as if the city
pent $4,000 this year to get $4,000 wortl
N improvements next year.
Should the Christiana be permitted 4
remain undredged for any period of TIM
would be but a shont time before Their
would be but eight feet at low water il
ho channel instead of IS feet and sucl
Industries as the Harlan and Hollings
worth and the Pusy and Jones Companie
would be compelled to abandon the ship
building industry TO a great extent.
The project Of keeping the Christani
lopen is q constant dredging project owinl
o the sewage of Wilmington which settle
IN the channel and until there can b
Restored at Newport a great natural bash
which will I'LL with the tide and empt
with 1t thus acting as a flush for tn
stream there is little likelihood OF keep
ing the channel open from natural means
1t is a case Of the government helpin
tho city which shows some intention o
helping itself and the expenditure Of
little by the city will mean a bette
chance for larger appropriations and
better harbor.
The question is one which affects ever
property holder and taxpayer in the city
II the government stops work through
unwillingness of the city to do a little
then workingmen now employed in in
dustries on and using the Christina wi
not be needed. houses now occupied Wi
stand idle and the general business de
/ preston will be felt everywhere in tn
city.