Evening journal., 1911-08-17
WANTS CITY
ON The RIVER
Congressman Heald Has Plan
TO Extend Wilmington In
That Direction
WOULD BUILD ON
DELAWARE DREDGINGS

President o. c. Purdy, of the VIII
mington Board Of Trade has received
valuable suggestion from Congress-
man William H. Head, relative to a
river front for Wilmington. The plan
became known when correspondence
between Mr. Purdy and Congressman
Head was made public. The plan is TO
fill in the river front with dredgings
from the Delaware, work on the thir-
ty-five foot channel, soon to be started.
The course to pursue, it is pointed
out, would be for the city to acquire
the land along the river front or to pay
a proportionate cost of the bulkhead-
ing, reserving space for it's own use.
About $50 acres could be reclaimed.
The riparian owners are the Will
mington Terminal Company, the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company and the
National Dredging Company.
Congressman Heald's letter follows
Wilmington, Del, July 10, 1911.
Mr.. o. c. Purdy, President the Will
mington Board of Trade, Whining
ton, Delaware
Dear Sir: l desire to call the atten-
ton of your board to the contemplated
Improvement of the Delaware river
with the hope that some method of
procedure may be reached by which
the city Of Wilmington can reach some
benefit therefrom
The channel in the Delaware river
is to be deepened to thirty-five feet,
and this improvement will necessitate
the removal Of a very large quantity
of dredging material, which must, Of
course, be deposited somewhere In
the vicinity or taken a long dis
lance to be dumped in deep water.
l believe that this material could
be used for the purpose of MAX
ing a substantial river front for the
city of Wilmington Some years ago
the engineers in charge of the inn
provement of the Delaware River
commenced the construction of a bulk
head in front of the present river
bank north of the mouth of the Chris
tiana River for the purpose of provid-
ing a suitable dumping ground. For
some reason this project was not com
pleted, but If IL could be, II would
furnish a splendid water front extend
ing almost TO the deep water channel.
If there is any reason why the land
in front of the river bank 10 the north
channel cannot be utilized, then prob
ably the land TO the south of the
Christiana River might be utilized for
this purpose
feel that some steps should be
taken in order that the present op-
portunity may not pass without be-
ing thoroughly considered. If this
opportunity is not taken. it may be a
long time before this city can obtain
this great commercial advantage with
out the expenditure of an enormous
/ sum of money.
II your board desires to act IN this
manner I shall be glad to render ans
I service that lies within my power, and
Will cooperate with you In every pos.
sible way
Yours very truly,
William H. Head
The letter of President Purdy By
way Of reply follows:
August 2. 1911.
William H. Head. Esq, Washington
d. c.
Dear Sir: Acknowledging receip
of your communication Of July 10
would say we are expecting to have
a meeting OF the board Of directors
this week, when the matter will b.
laid before them.
In conversation with our city mayo,
I find that he is quite in favor Will
your suggestions.
Hoping we may be of service in thi
matter and that you can let us hav,
the data as to extension Of bulkhea'
and a possible contribution on tn
, part of the city. I am,
Yours truly,
O. c. Purdy, President