Evening journal., 1907-09-25
Streets and Trolley Lines to River
Wharf

Streets and Trolley Lines to River
Wharf.
Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL.
The time has now arrived for the
buildin gof wharf at Fourth street at
the river 1t has ceased to be ques-
ton of 'if'' and "and1 and doubt" 1T
would be just as appropriate to argue
against the policy Of the Brandywine
waters continuing TO flow over its
rocky bed as to set up any clap-trap
argument against the Feasibility Of es-
tablishing wharves and business on the
Cherry Island front The r., b. g w
Railroad Company has made almost
fabulous improvements in shops and
freight yards on the meadows. and are
daily engaged in extending these I'M
provements. This work was evidently
done by approval Of the railroad board
of directors. Some of these directors
are business men of Wilmington, and
when we hear unknd words spoken
OF Cherry Island all we have to do is
to call on the resident railroad direc-
tors and secure a certificate OF unim-
peachable character for these river
front lands.
The wharf, Of course, is to be built,
and Fourth street Is the location. But
we must not expect this street to ac-
commodate ali the travel to the pier.
Other ways have, years ago. been rec
commended. Twelfth street should now
be pushed to the river, or at least to "a
junction with the Marsh Hay road now
leading to Edge Moor from Fourth
street. To extend Twelfth street to the
hay road we will cross only three sep
arate properties: the lands Of Tarey
Brothers, Lawton & Baynard and the
railroad lands. We are informed that
ali these owners, except perhaps the
railroad company will willingly donate
to the city a street wide enough for ali
legitimate travel even for trolley line
OF course there is no use Of wasting
valuable lands. Then again: The hay
road, running parallel with the river
and leading down to the wharf site
and now SO feet wide, including the
hlied-up side bitches. should be
wdened to a proper street by volun-
tary donations from the abutting own
ers. There is no trouble about these
ways being opened up If only the wharf
project Is assured.
Vandever avenue, leading from the
big end OF Wilmington, east of the
Brandywine, now passes under the
elevated" east Of Landlith and should
be continued direct to a union with the
present terminus Of Twelfth street at
Shellpot dam at the Brandywine.
Traffic from northwest Wilmington
and from the city beyond the Brandy
wine and from the old hundred could
pass down these two ways to the juno
tion at Sheilpot dam and then by "eX-
tended" Twelfth street to the river and
down to the Fourth street wharf. Cen
trail Wilmington would, of course, use
its own especial way already provided,
down Seventh to Fourth street and by
the latter on to the landing at the river.
Now as to trolley lines: Both city
lines have pointed towards the river
for years. The Peoples line is already
but a few hundred yards from the
wharf site. It's line runs to the jack
son and Sharp works now. The Will
mington city line runs to the Pullman
shops. at Twelfth and Claymont
streets. We are thus fortunate in
having competing lines 10 the river
front There Is something more in
this marsh deal for the trolley COM
panies. The Wilmington City line
could continue down extended Twelfth
street and up TO Edge Moor without
let or hindrance; the thing so urgently
demanded for years. The trolley lines
should be up and hustling as a boun-
.tiful harvest awaits the malong these
ways to the river wharf.
We should plan new streets now, for
M the switching yard should be ex-
tended southwark it will then be too
late and Twelfth street will be forever
blocked. We propose to use these
new made lands. and the owners there
know that building lots must always
bound on streets. These meadows to-
day hold Wilmington's great controlling
industry, The immense office build-
ing and railroad station at Front street
ARE resting quietly on just such made
land as Cherry Island IIarlan's yard
Us mostly on made land, and nearly all
of the packet and coal wharves are
built on the flats of the Christiana.
What does this talk against the Della
ware river mean? II is only through
the deep and broad water OF this mag
nificent stream that the Christiana Is