Evening journal., 1907-10-03
The People Want eht Wharf.

The People Want eht Wharf.
Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL.
There is an under-current Of opposition
to Wilmington's advance to the river.
Some have intimated that railroad in
fuence is behind the opposing movement.
The Pennsylvania Company surely cannot
be connected with ans such proceeding.
II has already set the pace for tho Cherry
Island development. IL Is the pione,r in
this new territory and gave worldwide
notoriety 10 the city's front VIII it bnllt
the cutoff Railroad the new shops and
the famous switching yard. The Pennsyl-
vania Company Is under too many obiisG-
tons TO the city Of Wilmington aHd the
Cherry Island owners, 10 join any reac-
tionary movement. II has received every
right and franchise asked of the city eX-
cept perhaps the right to cross tho public
streets by the competing Delaware Water
Company. Some Of the privileges granted
are as follows: The right to elevate tho
tracks; the right TO close streets for depot
purposes the closing of numerous streets
in East Wilmington for the elevated Oad
and for the new shops Il is also under
lasting obligation TO the Cherry Island
owners for the privilege Of filling Shellpot
Greek and approprlating the bed thereof
for freight yard uses. The people have a
right TO expect this company to loyalty
support every move towards the river and
in this way discharge its obligations for
past accommodations. and place Itself in
favorable situation TO secure other fran
ch'ses that win be needed in tho future.
Corporations are like individual 8, they
have the right 20 live and to allow others
equally mcritorious $50 TO 1--we This river
wharf movement is largely a matter Of
public good. and the public will not he
handicapped by either corporations or m
divldunls. Many times suggestions have
been made for a city river front; and con-
siderable progress has been made towards
that end; but through distractions and
chilling influences all efforts heretofore
have been wholly checked.
Wilmington has now extended far he
yond the old bound3ries-the Brandyw ne,
the Chrlstiana and Quaker Hill. II is no
! longer a village but a ~ "grid-ironed''
with electric lines and rejuyenated with a
] progressive citizenship The old ie S
about being confined TO narrow navigable
streams, and living up stairs over tho
Market street stores are vanishing into
/ can blood is coming to the front and as
sertlng itself; and the Wilmington Of the
| future will be a progressive Wilmington,
a city on the Delaware as we'll as on the
! hills. The decree has now gone forth. ard
this wharf project viii not be 50 silly put
aside. N8iE
According to the opposors, II IS a long
way TO the Delaware; but as tn city
moves that way the distance will grow
shorter. II Is all n mistake about the dis
tance. If two men starting from Seventh
and Market streets, one for the Ciristiana
Fourth street wharf, and the other by
the Peoples line TO the Delaware river
end of Fourth street. when the former
reaches the Christlana steamboat landirf
the latter win be at the Seventh street
bridge on the Braudywine and only five
minutes from the wharf site on the Della.
ware With a Delaware river wharf th,
man who would take the Seventh stree
route would not only be on his boat az The
river but would be long way towards
Chester when the Chrstlana boat had ar
| rived at the lisht-house. II II is speed an,
convenience that we seek give US tn,
direct overland route to the river. Thi.
Is the age Of rapid transit and not Of th'
mules pace along the tow-path.
The move towards the river Is not on'
minute too soon" and Il is morally math
ematically financially and geograrhca'l,
right and any, the least obstruction is
palpable and inexcusable wrong. why
talk about getting new industr es II We
oppose in our very midst the establishing
OF one Of the greatest building up agea
cics that the city can acquire Anyene VIII,
advocates factories and industries an,
then raises one finger against wharye
and a new city on the Delaware, stultihe'
himself and demonstrates his incons
ency.
The first spasm OF public olamor in favoi