Evening journal., 1912-05-16

Three hundred citizens and tax
payers assembled in the City Council
chambers last night. filling the room
TO the doors. to discuss the proposed
river front agreement between the
city and the riparian owners Of the
Delaware river front Had many
more attended. II would have been
necessary to hold an overflow meeting
outside the City Hall.
The discussion on the subject was
general, all that President Of Council
Benson required was the name of the
speaker and whether he represented
himself or some organization Before
the meeting had progressed far II was
easily seen that the most of those
within the room, while agreed that a
river front would be a benefit TO thecity
felt the present proposed agreement
did not give the municipality what q
was entitled TO-. and the members Of
Council were urged 10 delay action
on the agreement until such time as
the ownership OF the river front, a
much mooted question, could be taken
into the courts and settled. There
appeared 10 be n sentiment 10 allow
the Government 10 go ahead with tho
construction Of the partly finished
bulkhead. If this had 10 be done now,
in order 10 get the mud from the
bottom Of the Delaware river. the
contract for the dredging Of which
stream In front OF Wilmington will
shortly be let by the Government. but
not TO sign the agreement. allowing
| this end OF the proposition 10 go until
Council Is sure of the validity of the
ownership Of the Delaware river front
north Of the Chrlstiana river. vest I'd
by an act of the Legislature IN 1901
I'm the present owners. Is established
II Is quite possible that this theme
will he carried out
There was not a man in Couuci
chambers last night who does no
favor river front. realizing thai
some day, perhaps not during his life
time. Wilmington may become a grea
port but The majority OF them clear
} ~ indicated their feeling with re
spect 10 the present proposed agree
ment, and IN that they are not Il
accord.
No Action Taken.
Council took no action last night
and the meeting on motion Of Colone
Weller =. Stover. adjourned COun.
Gilman Edward A. Higgins, of IN,
Third ward, thought that il would b,
wise 10 adjourn to next "Wednesday
night 10 hear further discussion o.
i the proposed project. but no action
was taken on this suggestion.
When the meeting was called 20 or
der by Presidsnt az coIncil Bepson
tnere were pfobahIy three hundra,
persons In the room. business men
professional men and working mel
standing elbow to elbow around M
J railing enclosing the space allotted
TO the members OF Council. n wa
representative gathering of al
classes and showed what a keen IN
terest the people Of the city are tax
ing in the river front proposition. de-
spite the efforts Of some members q
Council to make light Of the Op3osi
ton 10 the agreement several Of then
having stated publicly that so far a
they could learn nobody appeared 4
be against the proposition. This belle
must have been dispoled. iudgih
from the voices heard in opposition q
the adoption OF the proposed agree
ment last night.
Colonel Stover unconsciously pai
tribute to the efforts of THE EVEN
ING JOURNAL in bringing the pro
posed ag cement between the city AM
tho riparian owners 10 light by init
mating ,hnt the big meeting last even
ing was due to the effort Of one news
paper. THE EVENING JOURNAL. HI
said he was convinced that the ma
iority Of those present at the meet
ing had gotten all the information the
) had on the subject ou. Of THE EVE,'
Z ING JOURNAL.
! Labor Largely Represented.
Il Several organizations were repre-
sented at the meeting. including IN