Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-03-22

of simple justice to the owners of the
land. The whole matter was laid be-
fore City Council, he said, and before
Council We're placed maps showing
just what the effect OF the bills would
be. Mr. Ward read resolutions City
Council sent down to the Legislature
at that time approving Of the bulk
head bill and urging that II be enact
ed.
Recently, a few month ago, said Mr.
Ward, when there was pending an
agreement for the completion of the
bulkhead and filling IN the land. and
the owners had agreed to give $500
feet of the river front to the city.
Samuel H. Baynard. who was a mem
Der of the Legislature of 1901 said he
remembered that an officer of the
United States government came to the
Legislature and explained the bill
The journals of the Legislature bear
this out. said Mr.. Ward
'The fight conducted by the news
paper has been conducted against the
Wilmington Terminal Company" said
Mr.. Ward. 81 am a stakeholder OF
the Wilmington Terminal Company.
Two years after this had been passed,
my attention having been attracted to
thisSI on the faith of the State bought
waterfront land because of the ripar-
ian rights and paid an enhanced price
for II. The effect of this pending bill
is to take away from the owners OF
the land the rights conferred under
this law ! submit 1t takes away from
them their property Just as much as
| If the Legislature passes an act to
/ take away my house or your farm,
| for riparian rights are as much pro-
perry as a house or farm"
Mr. Ward read a statement that the
present owners of land along the
Delaware river are Wilmington Ter
minal Company. the National Dredg-
ing Company and the Edge Moor
Iron Company. which altogether own
about 5000 feet of frontage. the
United States government which owns
] about 200 feet, the Gordon Munges
/ estate, which owns about 400 feet, and
the Mayor and Council of Wilmington
which own 100 feet
Quikzed by Grantland.
Mr. Grantland asked who comprise
the Wilmington Terminal Company,
and Mr. Ward replied
"The estate OF s. Redmond Smith,
William G. Mahaffy and Herbert Fl.
Ward"
what position did you occupy IN
1901" Mr. Grantland asked Mr. Ward.
Attorney of the State OF
Delaware" replied Mr. Ward.
sWhat position did Mr. Mahaffy &C.
cupy in 1901" asked Mr. Grantland.
He was deputy clerk of the United
States Court in Wilmington said Mr..
Ward.
"And what position did Mr.. Smith
occupy" asked Mr.. Grantland
He was clerk of the United States
Court" was the reply.
Would they have been in a position
then to know what the intention OF
the government was as to bulkhead-
ling before the law was passed" Mr.
Grantand was asked.
They might have been" said Mr.
Ward. 81 did not know"
Mr.. Ward said that Mr.. Mahaffy
owned land on Cherry Island long be-
fore 1901.
What statements did they make tC
City Council and this body when they
got this bill through asked Mr.
Grantland.
Ct don't know of any" said Mr.
Ward.
Didn't they make the members o
Council and the Legislature believ
they were going to spend thousand
of dollars" asked Mr.. Grantlapd
Il don't know" replied Mr.. Ward
Reading tonight's newspapers yol
will find what City Council thinks,
remarked Mr. Grantland Every
thing done about the bulkhead wal
done by the Government and not b,
the private owners, and I understand
work was stopped because It was e
benefit private owners"
Mr. Ward reiterated that the govern
ment knew the bulkhead would bene
At private ownership, obtained theii
consent and knew that was the stu
alton when the bulkhead bill wa.
passed.
What stopped the construction o
the bulkhead? asked Senator Rein
hardt
Mr. Ward said il was due to Tho
failure of the Wills Construction Com
pany which had the contract III
said the work was stopped opposite