Evening journal., 1909-01-29

The report follows:
January 2s 1900.
Hon Mayor and Council of Whining
ton, City.
"Gentlemen The undersigned members
OF the Board Of Trade were appointed a
committee October 2. 1907. 10 at IN con-
junction with committee appointed by
your honorable body. TO inquire into tie
feasibility OF securing a river front for
the city OF Wilmington, and beg leave TO
report the following;
Shortly after our appointment we re-
ceived in invitation from the United states /
Engineer. in charge OF the work. In the |
Delaware river. requesting an interview
with this committee.
THE committee had several conferences /
with the United States Engineer at his
office in Philadelphia and received valu-
able information as TO their plals and
wishes IN regard 20 bulkheadins and NIL
ing IN between the bukhead and the bank
OF the river.
''He explained fully 10 our aatsfac-
ton why the building Of the bullshead had
been stopped and stated that wh"n GER
tain conditions which would benefit tho
city had been complied wi.h ,hey would
/ consider the completion of the bulkhead
and hlrng in behind same.
"whcn the building OF tho nulkhoad had
! been completed down 20 point one and
/ one-quartcr miles below Edge Moor. OH
lection was made to divcrting the Shell
pot Creek from its original course and
the necessity Of this stream flowing in 'ts
natural course or into the Rrsndywine.
II was desired that all lralaage be II ade
10 now westward from THIS territory Into
sheilpot Creek and into the Brundywine.
sThe United States Engineer called at
tcntion 10 the act OF the Legislature. Of
Delaware. passed and approved March
s. 1901 volume %. laws Of Delaware,
I chapter 3 IN which certain littoral owners,
whose property abutted upon the proposed
I filed in territory. which Is located be-
tween the Christiana river and Edge
\ Moor were benefited
''The vesting OF the title 10 this land.
between the river bank and tho bulkhead
in the littoral owners. was contingent
upon the bulkhead being completed op-
poste any littoral owner.
''The language Of the act is as follows
section 4. That the littoral proprletors
abutting on the river Delaware. between
Christiana river and the northerly bound
airy of Edge Moor are hereby respective
~ authorized and empowered 20 erect
bulkheads. wharves, and piers on the line
or lines, now or hereafter 10 be fixed, es-
tablished and adopted as provided In sec
ton l. Of this act, opposite their respective
littoral holdings on said river, between
said Christiana river and the northerly
boundary Of Edge Moor and TO nh in
with earth, stones or other materials. the
space between said buikhead line OF lines
of solid filling shown or exhibited on the
map or maps. report or reports. OF afore-
said and westerly bank OF said river;
designating the high water mark thereof,
between said Christiana river and the
northerly boundary OF Edge Moor aforo-
said. providing that nothing herein con.
tained shall operate TO prevent the United
States from using all or any portion OF
the space between said bulkhead and tho
westerly bank OF said river for the de-
post Of dredged material. taken from
said river Delaware In the progress OF th'
improvement thereof. not exceeding
twelve feet in height above mean Low
water. And provided. further that th'
filling of said space between said land
by any iittorai proprietor. shall be unde
and subject 20 the War Department o
the United States.
Section g. That the land under IN
: waters OF the said river within limit
aforesaid. as hereafter determined, on tn
. front OF the iittoral holdings OF said III
4 toral proprietors. res pectively. and be
tween the bulShead line or lines Of soil
filings. as shown and exhibited on map
aforesaid. and the westerly bank OF sal
river designating the high water mar
thereof shall vest I'm fee in said littor
al proprietors their heirs. executors ad
illustrators. successors and assignees. re
spectively. And when a suitable bulk
head shall have been constructed front O
any Of said holdings. Of any Of said III
toral proprletors. It shall be the duty O
the Acknowledgement. upon satisfactor
d evidence to him Of the fact. and the ten
a der 10 him Of the reasonable and neces
u sary expenses OF preparing the convey
!, ance, or conveyances hereafter named 1
seasonably prepare and Of the Secretar
. Of State TO forthwith execute under IN
+ seal Of the state. a grant assuring said III
, toral proprietors respectively. their heir,
executors, administrators. successors an
assign. the lands under water I'm front q
their respective iittoral holdings afore
said. between said bulkhead line and IN
said river bank.
you win observe the conveyance q
this land 10 these said littorsl owners wa
contingent upon certain acts to be per
formed. either by the lttoral owner
themselves, or by the United States Go,
= ernment IN building the buikhead, and a
this has never been completed. and a
there is little prospects IN the iittoral owr
ers doing this work. we believe the cit
has some rights TO this property and "
suggest TO your honorable body that va
forthwith employ legal counsel or secui
legal advice as 20 the validity OF this a,
in view Of the fact that the contingenci,
N Of this act as stated above have not bee
~ compiled with; also determine what rirh
the city Of Wilmington or State of Dei,
ware has in land created by the Unite
States Government heretofore covered I
the waters OF the Delaware river ar
which Is reclaimed by and AZ the G,
pense OF the United States Government.
your committee has prepared plans
II Cherry Island marsh and the river fror
as the committee desired to reconcile n
different interests Of the Wilmington re
oe minal Company and other littoral owne
er and the city OF Wilmington. whereby Il
''t said owners should give TO the city
"a Wilmington an open. boulevard 800 fe
81 wide running parallel 10 the bulIxhe,