Evening journal., 1912-05-16

Il attack the position of anybody who
says the riparian owners do not own the
land along the Delaware river front he
low the low water mark so far as this
proposition is concerned" he said.
Mr.. Ward contended that the State
owns the land under the water for pur
poses only, Of navigation and fishing. The
riparian owner, he said. own TO the mid
die Of the bed of the stream, unless he
interferes with navigation or fishing. a
common right. Mr.. Ward said he had
studied the question for ten years and
he considered that the title and power
OF control Of the State is not in any de-
gree proprietary. He said the State
simply held the ground under the water
in trust for navigation and certain al
he'd public uses, while the riparian own
er retains all and the only right TO the
bed Of such streams land TO utilize the
same, by right of nature. Private own
ers could build out a wharf in a stream
but not so that il would interfere with
navigation. He claimed that the ripar-
ian owners held title TO the land on the
river front regardless of any statute.
and that the bulkhead act OF 1901 did
not create this condition and if repealed
the title Of the riparian owners would
be unaffected as the spots on the sun.
DEFENDS BULKHEAD ACT.
Mr.. Ward said that the government
was the promoter OF the bulkhead act,
passed by the Legislature and not the
owners of the river front land. He said
the government had to have the act pass
ed TO extend the then existing harbor
line. Nothing was put in the act, Mr..
Ward said, inconsistent with its title and
he added that he was not afraid of that
proposition IN any court in the country.
He said that in order that the govern.
ment might extend the harbor line the
State had TO give its consent and the
bulkhead act was the result.
AT this juncture Mr.. Ward was re.
minded by President Benson that his ten
minutes had expired, but on motion OF
Colonel Stover, the speaker was allowed
time TO finish his remarks.
Mr.. Ward said he wanted everybody
present TO believe him honest in the re.
marks he made. He said that the boule.
ward act did not create the title of the
riparian owners, but simply recognized
it, natural right they possessed
Mr.. Ward said that ii by act of th,
Legislature or municipality, the bulk
head act should be repealed, the case
would be taken TO the United States
Supreme Court for Just the same reason
should the State of Delaware endeavol
to grant his house to the city of vii
mington. The riparian owners believe the
river front property is theirs, he said.
Mr.. Ward said there was an exiQency
why something should be done now. "a,
said that the riparian owners could pc
ahead without the help of the CITY. "Wh,
don't they, somebody will say" said Mr.
Ward.
Well the reason we don't is be.
cause we we're asked TO come be.
fore the Council in good faith and tc
discuss the proposition with tha
body.
There is a feeling among In,
three soulless corporations, riparian
owners, along the river front" h
said, that the public interests o
the city of Wilmington should b
served You may not believe
but It is So" said Mr.. Ward, "an
! you can believe it or not as 20
choose"
He said the riparian owners coul
better afford TO deal with the Go,
ernment than give the city one-ha
the ground they have offered 70 Civ
He said the city could make littl
use Of the ground unless piers wer
built and at 100000 apiece. sever
for which there is room. would cos
about S2,0O0.000. He asked where tn
city was going TO get the money. 81
IL builds one pier. II will be doin
something" he said. "and IL wi
I probably take from 100 TO 500 year
to construct the remainder Of them.
Mr. Ward contended the city wa
given the cream" Of the river from
between Fourth and Eighth street
and at Twelfth street and stands I
: it's own light II II does not approx
the present agreement
In speaking OF the proposed boule
ward and streets on the plot MI
Ward said the riparian owners wer
willing TO give the city the land 70
streets when IT was needed.
There Is nothing In the agree
ment." he said. compelling the cit
to expend monev or ever lay out street
on the land. The only stipulation.