Evening journal., 1911-01-13
MAYOR WANTS
THE RIVER ROAD
Suggests That Council Con-
slider Feasibility Of Build
ing the Highway
CONSIDER SUBJECT
AT LATER MEETING

Mayor Spruance sent reply 10 City
Council last night 10 the data on a
road to the river front project, recent
" submitted to him by City Engineer
Taylor and Street Commissioner Pier
son, I'm which he recommends that
Council look into the feasibility of
/ building road TO the river. The
communication was referred TO Coun-
! Gil as a committee of the whole. II
! follows:
Some time ago I asked the Street
and Sewer Department for suggestions
| as to a proposed road to the river, and
an estimate OF the cost for same, and
/ I herewith send you a copy OF the
report submitted by Alexander ].
/ Taylor chief engineer, and Frank W.
| Pierson. street commissioner, TO the
Board of Directors Of the Street and
Sewer Department, and by them for
warded 10 me
You will notice in this report three
routes TO the river front are consider
ed. the first being Seventh street, the
second Fourth street and the third
Christiana avenue. The report recon-
mends that Christiana avenue be inn
proved and extended to the present
river bank, stating that such route is
the most convenient and the least eX-
] pensive. From the Christiana river 10
the land of the Lobdell Car Wheel
Company, a distance of 500 feet at
its present width, Christiana avenue
is owned by the city between these
points
Prior 10 1889 Christiana avenue, or
G street between the land Of the Lob
dell Car Wheel Company and the Dell
aware river, was owned by the Mayor
and Council OF Wilmington. BY an
act Of the Legislature passed at Dover,
April 26. 1889, all that part of Chris
tiana avenue, or G street between said
two points, was vacated as a street,
and on September 8. 1889, the Mayor
and Council Of Wilmington conveyed
to the Lobdell Car Wheel Company,
the land formerly known as Chris
tiana avenue or G street, the consid-
GRAFTON being 81.
A street or avenue can be opened
between these two points by condem-
nation, the Street and Sewer Depart
ment having the right to take an prop
erty or ground for the purpose of
extending, widening, laying out or
opening any street. square, lane or al
ley. ! do not believe that the con-
demnation OF this particular land
would be very expensive to the city
OF Wilmington. The commissioners,
in estimating the damages, are requir-
ed by law to investigate the benefits
according to the owner II the property
condemned. as we'll as the detriments.
In this particular case Il seems to me
that the owner or owners of the land
to be condemned would be greatly
benefited by the opening of the said
street. The remaining land would
greatly Increase in value Immediately
and such increase would greatly lessen
the amount Of damages sustained by
the owner or owners. While any
route to the river front mus. necessar-
lily be expensive. yet It seems to me
that Wilmington should be placed IN
such position as to compete without
a handicap with Philadelphia, Chester
! and even New Castle.
p The building Of bulkhead at this
point will undoubtedly be done some
time by the United States Government
and it is possible that arrangements
might be made. whereby the Govern
ment would refund to the city the cost
of the bulkhead. II the city we're to
. build II. This enterprise Is essentially
one Of a public nature, as the benefits
, to be derived therefrom are public and
must be done, If at all. by the city OF
, Wilmington. l recommend that a
i committee of your body be appointed
, to consider this matter and that at
least will investigate the conditions
! surrounding same; so that we may
have as much light as possible upon
, the subject Respectfully.
]. Harvey Spruance,
Mayor.