Evening journal., 1912-04-27
SATURDAY, APRIL 27. 1912
rIlRN ON TnE LIGHT.

TURN ON THE LIGHT.
THAT there may be no misunderstanding in the
public mind to what follows we wish TO say
that THE EVENING JOURNAL has advocated for
Years the wise and comprehensive development of the
waterfront on the Delaware River from the mouth OF
the Chrstiana River up to Edge Moor we DO not
think however that any development which Is tramsu
un in a series of star chamber meetings between mem
bers of City Council and the Board of Street ana
sewer Directors on the side and representatives
of Waterfront Monopoly the other side Is eithsr
wise or comprehensive. Therefore, in the name oil the
business men taxpayers OF the city Of Wilmington
and the people the United States we protest ear
nestly against any star-chamber agreement OF bind
ing nature being entered into between the City Coua-
cilmen and the and Sewer Directors and repre-
sentatives of the Wilmington Terminal Company the
Edge Moor Iron Company and the National Dredging
Company We demand that the people of the city o'
Wilmington and the state OF Delaware and that tho
Government of the United States be informed fully
relative the terms and conditions of the proposed
agreement before IL is signed in behalf OF the city OF
Wilmington. II that be not done, and If certain ru
mors relative to the proposed agreement be true the
participants in the star-chamber action will precpt
tate a scandal in this community that will lead TO
serious results those public officials who assist
IN putting the proposed deal through
Wilmingonans. who will contribute the citys share
Of whatever expense may attach to the proposed
development certainly have right TO know what the
city to get out Of Il and what the Wilmington Ter
minal Company, the Edge Moor Iron Company the
National Dredging Company ana the owners OF MARSH
lands back Of the river front will get out of It,
The people of the state OF Delaware through whose
representatives the Delaware Terminal Company OBJ
tanned exemption from all city taxation on it's water
front property. also have right to know what the re-
suit the proposed agreement would be on the COM
mercial interests of our State.
The Federal Government which is looked TO to con-
struct a bulkhead ont beyond low-water mark aud
to fiji in back Of il with material dredged in making
deep-water channel, has right 10 know whether, un
der this proposed agreement that has been framed up
in a series of star-chamber meetings the benefits ac-
crung from the construction of this bulkhead and
The making of hundreds of acres of new land are to
20 TO the city of Wilmington for the public good or
70 Waterfront Monopoly that will have the CONNER
cal interests OF city in its grip for all time.
These are ample reasons for demanding that tho
fun light of publicity be thrown upon what has been
done in the star-chamber meetings. in which sub
ect of such far-reaching Importance TO every mau,
woman and child in Delaware has been under discus
sion It also is incumbent the city officials to
give TO Federal Government square deal, to the
end that when city desires aid from the Govern
ment its requests will not be viewed. with suspi-
cion.
Certainly Wilmington cannot lend itself TO any par
which, in return for paltry concessions on the river
front will enable a Waterfront Monopoly to use the
city influence to assist il in exploiting the Fedora
treasury that millions of dollars may be put into tho
pockets of private individuals who will be in posi-
tion to control absolutely the destinos of our port
Nor can our city officials that the city treas
ury exploited for the benefit of such private
interests
If the proposed agreement contains those elements
of exploitation either the Federal the city treas
ury assist the Wilmington Terminal Company, th'
Edge Moor Iron Company, the National Dredsinf
Company and other of Cherry Island marsh tc
get a stranElehod the commerce of Wilmington
it's adoption would constitute both municipal and
national scandal.
Wilmington needs harbOr development II Is no
necessary, however, for it to set up a Waterford
Monopoly and assist in financing It. To consent e
take a short stretch OF that waterfront and th
taxpayers money 10 build marginal boulevard the
length Of the marsh for the benefit only Of its
little bit of property. but also for the benefit ms
property Of Waterfront Trust and then, on top o
amounts of money in bulkheadng and filling in the
whole stretch of waterfront, largely for the benefit
Waterfront Monopoly. would be a foolish thing 70
the city to do. Il would better and cheaper in IN,
long run for the city to take by condemnation pro
cecdngs all that waterfront property as il exists to
day and thus get for the taxpayers the full benefit
all the improvements, municipal and national an,
work out harbor plan for the benefit of tn
public and not for the enrichment of a monopoly
When the city is dealing with corporation that get
through the Legislature act exemptng its propert
from city taxation; when star-chamber meetings ar
held with representatives of a corporation that pay
taxes county assessment Of only $4,000 on 5S
acres Of riverfront land; when the understanding
that that land is held in the market wort