Evening journal., 1912-05-22

by the city and disposed of the market for about
$4,000 .000-assuming that the city does not want
70 own its own waterfront-now planning in
the city ten cents the 800 for tho
assessed valuation of all properties within the city
to cover a paltry deficiency of 100000 They
see their way clear to do that although they
arc SO brsy looking after the interests of the viii
mington Terminal Company and its associates that
taey seemingly rather would fritter away from $780,
600 S20OO.000 of State or city resources than de-
their energies TO conserving those resources
Certainly the taxpayers Of Delaware and Of the city
OF Wilmington never win consent to such a shameful
waste Of public resources. The Wilmington Terminal
Company and It's associates claim that they own that
land under water That is dsproved by the Bulkhead
Law Of 1901 and by the clause in the agreement with
the city as it was proposed by the Wilmington Ter
minal Company and its associates. It also is dis
proved by the very deeds on record in this county
bearing such waterfront property and the claim
Of these people TO ownership beyond low water mark
is denied by such authorities on riparian rights as
Robert G. Harman, William f. Kurtz and Alexander
b. Cooper.
But bear this fact in mind That as soon as the
Federal Government builds that bukhead the owners
of that waterfront land will be in position under
the Bulkhead Law of 1901 demand from the Attor-
neyGeneral and the Secretary of State title that
State land. Also bear in mind that the marsh own
ers know that and that they seeking TO use City
Council TO induce the Federal Government to build
that bulkhead they may obtain that State title
And also bear in mind that Councilman Stover Coun-
Gilman White and certain other Councilmen not only
manifest Willingness but eagerness to be
used for that purpose by the Wilmington Terminal
Company and its associates Those Councilmen even
are to try to put this thing through that they
refuse TO obtain the opinion Of the City Solicitor
the decision Of the the important legal points
involved.
II is time for Wilmington taxpayers who are con-
fronted by proposed increase of ten cents in the tax
rate, to demand explanation from these Council
men why it is they eager TO fritter away the
state and the ciys resources for the benefit of the
Wilmington Terminal Company and it's associates and
az the time TO increase the burden every tax
payer the city when If those public resources we're
conserved properly. and If that rverfront were taken
and sold in plots there would be no necessity
for increasing the city tax rate and the city debt
might be wiped out almost from such sale Of wa
erfront lands.
Taxpayers and voters should not take from these
City Councmen any evasiye equvoca replies. They
should compel them tell why they rather would as
sst In turning this State waterfront property to
the Wilmington Terminal Company and it's associates
for the benefit of private interests than assist in
conserving II for the public good.
II these Councilmen reply that It would cost to ad-
vetse these acre plots of State land bukheaded and
filled in by the Federal Government, reply them that
THE EVENING JOURNAL will give free advertisement
TO all such sales Of those plots matter whether
they be made by the city the State And we have
doubt that there other newspapers in the State
that would do the
Our advice TO the taxpayers and voters is not to
accept any explanation OF evasive nature from
these Councimen. They elected by the tax
payers and voters Of city. and they are account
able to them and not to the Wilmington Terminal Com
pany and its associates