Evening journal., 1913-02-24
MONDAY. FEB. "a, 1918.
GET THE WATERFRONT.

GET THE WATERFRONT.
T>HOSE who at All skeptical with respect TO tho
Importance Of the city Of Wilmington obtaining
possession of the Delaware river waterfront should
give heed 10 the TACT that nj the present time the ports
Of the world spending billion dollars In making
public Improvements for The handling Of deep sea
Much Of that money is being spent in
America, and wherever Il is being expended II will
bring rich returns in increased business In all parts
Of the world this movement IN favor OF the municipal
control and development Of waterfront facilities " In
progress, and the surprising thing Is that own city
has been aroused sooner to practical activity in
that behalf. II is encouraging TO know that at last
the people Of Wilmington awake and inslsten that
City Council, the Legislature aud the civic associa-
ons do something that will prove to be both practical
and useful.
Let survey for a few minutes the activities of the
ports Of the world In the matter OF the conservation and
public mPrO, ement of their facilities for handling wa
terborne Hos Angeles has pledged itself to
spend SlO,OO0,O0O dock Improvements within the
next decade. San Francisco has made bond issue
of S9OOO0OO for the securement Of funds with which
TO operate a port development plan. Commissioner
Tomkins of the Dock Department OF New York city,
has submitted proposals which call for the cxpendi-
ture Of almost 100000 in addition TO many millions
previously spent by that great municipality. New
Orleans, which already has spent many millions for the
establishment OF seven miles OF municipal docks and
belt railway connecting them. has decided to spend
additional S6O0OOOO for great cotton warehouse
the riyerir0nt II is estimated that Philadelphia will
spend this year S3,s5O,OOO in municipal port improve
ments Boston has made appropriation OF $1,000 900
great harbor improvements projected. Charleston
has decided to build municipal docks and warehouses.
Port Arthur, Texas has received S2OOOO0O from Con-
gress for harbor work All the gulf ports OF import.
ancc have projected large municipal improvements.
Nor the ports In our own country the only ones
which are alive 10 the necessity Tor immediate action
looking to the public Development OF their facilities
for handling uater-borne commerce. Halifax, Nova
Scotia viii spend $4,000 goo for public mproveme
They will include docks. six piers capable OF
docking thirty ships, hukhcad loading pier at
which the liners will land, new Immigration
building, grain elevator new union passenger sta
'ion ample tracks at the terminals for the econom-
cal handling Of the business Of the wharfs and tho
union station and proper facilities for the housing Of
engines and the of passenger cars
Official information shows that the government Of
Chile has authorized a SSOOOOOOO loan for port Inn
proyements at Valparaiso and San Antonio. valparaiso
alone is to spend from S12OOOOOO to s1S0000OO In the
next four five years. This means impro, ements Of
the most modern and efficient character. OF course
with the improvement Of Pacific ports goes proposed
important extensions in Pacific coast and trans Pacific
ship services.
Peru a prO-American country has the port Inn
prOyement spirit hut not yet the available wealth
trade for extensive expenditures such as are being
planned by Argentina Brazil aud Chile. In five Bra
zian ports the great Of Sls5,00000O may be de-
voted TO port development
In the next five years ss7,OOOOOO will be spent ON
docks at Buenos Ayrcs.
London, the worlds greatest port proposes TO spend
on Improvements in the Thames S7OOOOOOO one new
dock consuming this purpose more than slOOOOOOO
and five years OF labor.
Hamburg, which is finishing in the steamship I'M
peraior the worlds greatest craft. Is preparing ample
accommodation for the new type Of passenger vessels
The city Of Hare. France. progressing in port i'm.
prorements which viii cost about $4,000 O00.
The port OF Boiogne is spending about So OO00o0
and by the way. il may be said in this connection that
German shipping companies have taken especial in.
tercst in the development Of this deep sea French
harbor. They propose, when facilities ready for
them to send more ners to tina: port aud even ia
abandon Cherbourg. The point OF this Is 10 max,
speedy communication between Germany and North ani
South American ports The port OF Calais Is under
development. On the other side of the world Yoko
hama is preparing for the Panama canal with expan
sion Of harbor limits
Other cities doing all these things and spending
all these millions, and yet here is Wilmington, III,
shores Of Of the most important rivers in the world
and with the lines OF three Of Americas greatest rail-
road systems passing through IT, not only not spending
anything of moment for port improvement but
actually Tanifesting a hesitancy about asking the
Legislature to give II title TO Delaware river water
front and not to give IL to private interests What sort
VI iutufe VIII our CITY nave IN commercial sense
II II continues to pursue such policy that while
other cities, much less advantageously situated are
doing things and forging ahead in the transaction OF
the worlds big businessl
II is time for City Council, the Legislature and the
Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations
10 wake and do something that i really worth While
In this matter and not spend their time idle talk
about il and striving for small things that DO not enter
~ this waterfront question does, into the yer, heart