Evening journal., 1913-03-01
SATURDAY. MAR. !. 1913.
ENaLANp ANp PuRpY RALkEp.

Z, RUTHLESS efforts we're made last night by par
4 tsans Of the Wilmington Terminal Company and
its associates array the Wilmington Mercantile AS
sociaton in opposition to the efforts that the people
Of this city making to obtain the Delaware river
waterfront for Wilmington.
The special meeting OF the association called
with the understanding that it take action in
favor Of the municipal ownership OF the waterfront
Howell s England, who formerly prominent In
tho old Board OF Trade, but who dropped out when
that board merged with tho Manufacturers Asso-
citation and the new Chamber OF Commerce formed
went to the meeting with cut-and-dried ypewritten
resolutions in opposition to the Legislature taking any
action which would ieopardize the interests OF the
Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates un-
der the Bulkhead Law OF 1901 by which they hope
to obtain the ownership OF the 500 more acres OF
State land and the absolute ownership and control Of
the three miles of the citys waterfront from the mouth
OF the Christiana river to Edge Moor.
With him went o. c. Purdy, formerly president OF
the old Board OF Trade and another partisan OF the
Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates, who
also apparently has friendly Interest in looking after
the fortunes OF those marsh land owners. Seemingly
those men thought they had the thing well set up.
they never would have shown their hands by offering
and supporting the resolution in favor Of killing of
any and all efforts save that waterfront for the
people by the repeal Of those sections OF the Bulkhead
Law Of 1901 which made conditional grant Of that
State land to the lttoral the Wilmington
Terminal Company and It's associates. That their
scheme failed due to the fact that there were
members OF that association there who refused to per-
nit it to be packed used in the interest of the
marsh land spectators by Mr. England, Mr.. Purdy or
anyone else.
The upshot Of it all that such storm OF pro-
test against the resolution that it not
adopted and then the friends OF the Wilmington Ter
mina Company and it's associates tried another plan,
which, only for the far-sightedness of OF the
members. probably would have had the same effect
That by Offering a motion that a committee be
appointed to consider the waterfront question That
committee appointed and Mr. England and Mr.
Purdy, two who perhaps lowered above all others
in the old Board OF Trade favor Of delivering the
Wilmington waterfront to the Wilmington Terminal
Company and its associates we're appointed members
OF that committee They seemed well satisfied with
that that t aroused the suspicion OF the friends OF the
waterfront at the meeting and Of them moved that
that committee report the association. In the face
Of the resolution that Mr England offered and that
Mr. Purdy supported, it seems to be foregone con-
clusion that they will work for a report OF
that committee which will be in favor Of the
State making the delivery the Wilmington
Terminal Company and its associates. regard
less Of whether the public is that action
evidence that the association which organized
TO promote the commercial interests of the city of
Wilmington, is being used by Mr. England and Mr.
Purdy their friends the selfseekng inter.
ests OF the Wilmington Terminal Company and its
associates 1t has been remarked before. and tn,
light OF what has occurred it doubtless will b,
remarked again. that If Mr. England and Mr.. Purd,
we're stockholders or agents for the Wilmington Ter
mnal Company and it's associates they could not labo
more faithfully in this behalf They swung the oil
Board of Trade favor OF making the delivery Of tha
waterfront 10 the Wilmington Terminal Company an
its associates and committed it a scheme that after
ward driven out Of City Council and the
seemingly attempting TO the Mercantile Asso
citation in the same way
The point is that effort has been made TO us
the Wilmington Mercantile Association in behalf Of IN
Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates b
the same men who used the old Wilmington Board
Trade with the end in view. and that It wa
nipped in the bud by the determined efforts Of mem
bers who are determined that 1t shall be used 70
such purposes. No doubt those will watch tn
report of that committee and that it, too is nc
loaded for the benefit Of the marsh-land specuator
who want the State land for nothing, the Government
bukhead and fiji for nothing. and who sought th
cys friendly interest in the development Of the prop
erty on a that little better than nothing.
The right-thinking members of the Mercantile Assc
citation will be Influenced by a committee repor
on record with respect to this thing. nor will
report emanstng from such source have innu
whatever with members OF the Legislature.
will require than few minutes for thos
members to size it up and give TO it its full valu