Evening journal., 1911-07-17
Peoples Column
CHRIsTIANA BRIDGE.
Some Suggestions as to Where
Should be Located.

Should be Located.
Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
The proposed location OF. the new
bridge to replace the Third street
bridge as far as it is made public
Will we'll bear careful looking into
by the citizens of Wilmington unless
as in the past the interests of the
community will again be betrayed in
that vicinity.
When the present Third street
bridge was built there was consider
able sentiment in favor of locating
the structure at Fourth street. That
IL was not placed on the latter site
in the writer's humble opinion has
been responsible for the tardy devel-
opment Of South Wilmington.
Now what have we in the shape OF
proposition. That the approach to
the new bridge will begin East of the
elevated railroad at Church street
This approach shall proceed in a
diagonal direction across the leased
park TO a point Just north of Third
street bridge where the western
abuttment Of the new structure will
be placed. On the South side the
abuttment will be placed where the
b. and O. slip Is now located.
This to the writer appears like an
/ impossible program To build an ap-
preach on the lines here laid down
would eat up in damages probably all
the money appropriated for the new
bridge. The utility of the park lot
would practically be destroyed for
any other purpose and, of course, the
county would have TO pay for this
very valuable property. Then the
slip and docking facilities of the 3.
and O. on the South side would also be
done away with and this, too would
have to be paid for and they also are
worth a great deal Of money.
Aside from this matter of cost.
however, there is another and an
even more vital consideration. The
coming of this new bridge offers an
opportunity for Wilmington to right
mistake of the past and to provide
for development in the future.
A wise and a courageous consid-
GRAFTON for the interests of the COM
munity will suggest that this new
bridge be built at Fourth street or at
least as near the latter thorOughfares
is practicable. On arriving at the
South side a street should be laid
out as a continuation of Fourth street
which should reach the Christiana
some three or four hundred feet west
of the cut off bridge This would
practically carry the city of Whining
ton that much near the Delaware
river. Il would also open up on
both sides of this extension of Fourth
street facilities for manufactures such
as Wilmington does not now possess,
and it would go a long way towards
making Fourth street the important
thoroughfare to which its stragetic
location entities t.
To persist in the program outlined
at present, In the writer's opinion
will finally locate the bridge on its
present site which, taking everything
into consideration, would indicate
that those having the matter IN
charge. to say the very best for them,
believe that the interests of the peo-
pie of Wilmington and In a less de-
gree perhaps the interests Of the peo-
pie of New Castle county are a negligi-
bic quantity and not worthy Of serious
consideration.
The writer would never do violenc,
to the interests OF an individual
II were avoidable. There comes times
however when it becomes necessar,
for an assertion of that excellen
principle that the rights Of an in
dividual should never be allowed Il
conflict with the rights of the com
munity and now and here Is one o
those times. This new bridge shoul,
not be built at Third street and
should be built where it will do tn
most good to the taxpayer Of VIII
mington and New Castle county.
John S. Hamilton.
Wilmington, July =