Evening journal., 1909-03-25
EXCHANGE FREIGHT
FOR COAL TRADE
Warner and Bush Companies
in important Business
Deal
CHANGE EFFECTIVE APRIL !

CnaTles warner Company has sold TO
the George w. Bush and Sons Com
pany its Wilmington and Philadelphia
Freight Line, including barges, tug,
freight delivery wagons, and the lease
of pier No. 9, South wharves. Phila-
delphia.
II is further announced that the
Charles Warner Company has pur-
chased the retail coal business Of the
George w. Bush and Sons Company,
with all the coal of the Bush Com
pany delivery wagons. and lease OF
their storage bins.
The exchange is one Of the most i'm
portant business transactions in VIII
mington business circles lately. II af-
fects business that has been in the
hands of the Bush and Warner fami-
lies for five generations. Both COM
panies were the pioneers in their lines
in Delaware and have interesting
histories. The sale becomes effective
on April 1. II. H. Graham, formerly
manager of the Warner freight line.
will be associated with the Bush Com
pany, and located at the foot of French
street. George f. Cornell, for years
general solicitor with the Bush con-
cern. will be connected with the
Charles Warner Company, in the same
capacity, with ONCE at 907 Market
street.
This move on the part of the Bushs
and Warmers concentrates each concerns
business along specific lines. The Bush
concern will be engaged only in the trans
portaiion business.
In addition 10 being miners of bitumi-
nous coal and distributors Of bitum nous
as well as anthracite. the Charles Warner
Company is extensively engaged in the
manufacture and sale Of lime, cement, wall
plaster, sand, brick, terra Gotta pipe and
general builders supplies, their aggre-
gate shipments amounting to upwards of
5000 ctAloads annually. This business is
taken care OF through the sales offices in
the Land Title Building, Philadelphia;
Metropolitan Tower. New York; Compton
Building. Boston, and executive offices in
the DUPONT Building, Wilmington.
Two Old Companies.
Samuel Bush. founder OF the Bush
freight line. was son Of Charles Bush,
West India importer. He had followed
the sea for several years, at times acting
as captain of vessels in the West India
trade After his marriage 10 Ann Mckee,
daughter Of Brandywine hundred farm
er, he resolved to settle here and engage
in business He decided upon freight
line between Philadelphia and Wilmington.
buying a sloop of thirty tons burden,
which he named the Ann He proposed
taking produce 10 Philadelphia, in return
bringing back merchandise for the local
business men. The venture proved a sue
cess but when the British came TO Will
mington after the battle OF Brandywine
the Ann was run 10 New Jersey and sunk
in a creek there. Later il was raised and
put in service again.
In. time another sloop, the Nancy. double
the size Of the Ann. vas built and provided
for the use OF passengers as well as
freight Samuel Bush had been captain
of the Ann, but as the business had in
creased he decided to remain in Whining
ton and take charge Of the shipping and
receiving of freight. Samuers son, ,NDavid,
was made captain OF the Nancy. In 1901
samuel's son Charles was taken into the
| business, and when he died three years
| later David took his brothers place, yet
/ for nearly twenty years ran boat. In $50
at the age OF seventy-three years. Samuel
Bush retired and the firm became David
and George Bush. his sons.
In 1916 David, aged seventyfve. retired,
and his youngest son, George W. Bush,
took his place. the firm being known as
George and George w. Bush. George died
in 1868. but George W. continued, in ls'a
his son, Walter d. Bush, becoming his
partner. the firm being George W. Bush
& Son. In 1882 George w Bush, Jr., was
admitted as a partner. the firm name be-
, ing changed 10 George W. Bush x Sons
l Later the firm became knowP as the
/, , George W. Bush & sons Company. Georgt
o. w. Bush died in 1900 and Walter d. Busf
= in 1904
S The officers Of the company to-day
are: Lewis p. Bush, president; j.
4 Danforth Bush, ce-president; Walter
ID. Bush. Jr., treasurer; Henry I.
q Bush, secretary. The company. evel
since its start about the year IVA
has occupied the wharf at the foot OF
French street on the Christiana. AZ
the start the business was solely that
OF transportation, but when the use
OF coal became known the firm en-
gagged in the coal business and has
Il been known as one of the oldest firms
in that line of business in this part
Of the country.
The Warner Concern.
For more than a century the wharf
on the Christiana at Market street has
4 been occupied by one or more members
OF the Warner family. Joseph War
ner. believed 10 be the first Of this
family in Wilmington. and his sons
John and William. were engaged in
the West India trade. About 1894
William Warner bought the wharf
property ever since used by the fam
lily. The father and sons engaged in
i the general wholesale and transporta-
tion business.
In 1920. when John was appointed
United States consul TO Havana, VIII
liam became the sole proprietor. II
1887 Charles Warner. son of William
became a partner, the firm beinl
4 known as Charles Warner & Com
4 pany. In 1S45 William died ans
\ Charles had entire charge OF the bust
4 ness Two sloops were then used e
+ carry freight between this city an'
II Philadelphia, making four trips I
& week.
In 1876 Charles Warner completed
& his first steam packet and named (
4 E. I. dupont following with the sloop
B Fame and Mary Warner. Four trip
a week were continued until 1866
s when the Anna and Mary, OF 125 ton
y each. were secured. towAd daily b,
n tugs between this city and Phialdel