Evening journal., 1912-05-06
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UIIILENS III
PROTEST GRAB
OF RIVER FRONT
Mass Meeting and Visit to
Council Have Been
Suggested
BESIRE VIEWS OF
DECK COMMISSIONERS

Wilmington taxpayers. aroused
thoroughly by the fear that the Will
mington Terminal Company Will try
to jam through City Council on
Thursday night the plan for the eX-
ploitation Of the Delaware river wa
ter front, discussed yesterday the
feasibility of holding a protest mass
meeting in one of the theatres or in
Turn Hall Plans also were put un-
der way, it was said, TO have many
taxpayers go to City Hall on Thurs
day evening and serve notice on the
City Councilmen that they must
abandon their star-chamber and
jamming-through program or suffer
condemnation by the Wilmington vot-
ers, regardless of political aihlia-
ton.
The plan to hold a mass meeting
was discussed seriously yesterday by
substantial taxpayers who reseut the
suggestion that the Federal and the
city treasures be exploited for the
benefit Of the Wilmington Terminal
Company and those associated with
Il in attempting to jam this deal
through.
It is known by those who are inter-
ested in putting this deal through that
public sentiment in favor of munich
palizing the waterfront is growing
daily, and that the public is beginning
to realize what a rich thing the plan
now under consideration would be for
/ the Wilmington Terminal Company
and its associates. Therefore, it was
said in official circles today. that 1t is
the plan of the marsh land specula-
tors to put the jackscrews on City
Council on Thursday night and force
the deal through. regardless OF amy
and all protest. Il also was said that
the Wilmington Terminal Company
and its allies fear that II. hnal consid-
Grafton of the scheme be deferred FOR
one week there will be such an out
burst of public disapproval that neil
Their the City Councilmen nor the
Street and Sewer Directors will dare
to disregard il.
"If the meeting of protest be held
one of those interested in the proJec
Of calling It said this morning, !
should be for the serious discussion
of plans. for the municipalization o
the waterfront and should not b.
confined merely to a denunciation o
those who are seeking to put thi
Wilmington Terminal Company eX
ploitation scheme through, real
with interes THE EVENING JOUR
NAILS dignified editorial comment o.
the undignifed speech made at IN
Board OF Trade meeting by o. {
, Purdy. In view of the fact that MI
2 Purdy admitted that Calvin Tomkini
Dock Commissioner, of New Yorl
r told him that Wilmington should ow
( that waterfront, even If II had :
4 pav 81 OO0000 for IT,, and borrow th
= money to get IT, why wouldn't II
I. well to invite Commissioner Ton
1 kins to come down here and tell u
= what he thinks OF this present e.
e ploitation scheme?'
II. also was suggested today tina
Commissioner North. Of the Depart
, ment Of Docks. Philadelphia. be in
vited to address a protest mass meet
ing il one be held. Although Com
. missioner North is an official of
CITY in which the waterfront ha
: been gobbled up by private interest
. through schemes much akin to tn
one here, he is earnestly in favor G
the city being in control of its waite
! front At a dinner held in Philadel
phia last week he said:
After a careful study OF river iron
conditions. I have come to the cor
clusion that all waterfronts shoul
be owned by the city.