Evening journal., 1907-09-18
Wharf on the River.

Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL
wilmington has many problems before
IL, such as the Improvement of parks.
schools, streets, sewers and the water
system. such questions are living ones ana
belong to the routine OF all important
towns and cities. But a question OF extra
ordinary moment is now engaging the
earnest attention of a very large body
Of the people Of this city. Shall Whining
ton move on TO the Delaware and there
seek maritime distinctiong II SO where
shall its first wharf be located?
In the FIRST place a "clty wharf cannot
be built outside Of the city This confines
the limits to the Edge Moor sluice in
Cherry Island on the north and short
distance below the Lobden works on the
south. All other plans failing a wharf
could be built In the Christiana near the
mouth, but this would not be a Della
ware river wharf. 1t would be but a.
temporizing affair and would not be shoot
ing the game aimed at. Besides, $4,000
would build just as much wharf on the
Delaware as on the creek. and to invite
1
would be like taking visitors up the al
ley, through the stable, the coal cellar
and The Kitchen instead in by the front
door. After waiting several centuries to
get ocean traffic let us make a desperate
effort to take II in by the main entrance
The great railroads invited to locate here
will ridlcule the idea Of coming FROM New
York, Baltimore and the coal regions TO
squat down IN the mouth of the Christi
ana. The smaller stream has its uses and
It is valuablei but il is out of harmony
with the expanded ideas about "A greater
Wilmington now SO prominently before
tho people.
We cannot expand by fostering con-
tracted notions. We should take the
whole cherry at one bite and go TO the
river direct II we are afraid OF the river
how do we ever expect 10 cross II by ferry
or otherwise7 II the river is to bring us
great results let US make fellowship with
it In actual contact and not at arms
length.
Since Cherry Island has been filled its
river front Is already by natural adapta-
tion the self-selected place for Whining
toms maritime establishments. When the
city laid out and filled Fourth street to
the river twenty-five years ago the finger
board pointed the way to the river and the
ferry. We OF to-day did not make this
sign. but we can safely follow where It
points The Delaware is not 40 feet deep
along the Wilmington shore as at Phila-
delpha or Camden. But Philadephia's s
navigation is no deeper than the channel
I'm front OF Cherry Island. This channel
is close in shore at Edge Moor and runs
southwark along Cherry Island consider
ably west OF the middle bar OF the river
until IL reaches the Christiana; then IL
defects towards the New Jersey shore
TO Deep Water Point in the latter state,
leaving the Delaware shore a long dis
tance to the westward. It Is we'll that the
Baltimore and Ohio Company holds its un-
used franchise TO cross the Christiana
west OF the light house.
1t is true that the water Is shallow be-
tween the Cherry Island shore and the
channel but it is 10 feet at low water and
deep enough for ordinary river or ferry
steamboats,. This is the first business
sought Tho second is ocean traffic; and
tho modern dredge and the government
will make quick work Of finding way
from the channel to the wharf when the
ocean steamer seeks to visit wilmington.
The most feasible place for the ferry
viii be either from Fourth street at the
river or from Edge Moor outs de the city.
From Fourth street the ferry boats could
pass the south end of the river bar at any
stage Of the tide The obstacles at tho
river front are not great and can be over
come by careful planning. we must not
forget that It requires a vast amount OF
planning and engineering to keep the
lChristiana at all navigable. And pennsyi-
vania has this year to put up $4,000 to
have the river dredged from the state line
TO Philadelphia. To drcdge a way 1000
feet long from the new channel to a short
wharf at Fourth or Twelfth street (where
there is 10 feet Of water) would be almost
nothing compared to keeping navigation
in the Chrlstiana open. The city will al.
ways have the creek. then why not also
have the river7
These are the propositions: Build a
wharf at the end Of the North Christians
lefty at the channel widening and rails
ing the ietty as "A way to the outer pier.
OF build the wharf at Fourth street. which
is 1000 feet from this jetty using the jett,
as a breakwater and secure a fine harboi
1900 feet square between the wharf and
the jctty; or go 10 the south end OF the
government bulkhead now finished. abou
one-half mile below Edge Moor. and max,
"a wharf using tho space towards Edge
Moor behind the finished bulkhead for al
enormous and secure harbor.
Within these three propositions ther,
are facilities and advantages for river de-
velopment sufficient to overcome tho OBJ.
jeotions Of the most pessimlstlc doubters.
George A. Talley.
Edge Moor. September II.