Evening journal., 1913-02-12


We all know OF the Bulkhead act
OF 1901, passed by our Legislature,
authorizing the littorsl owners to
build this bulkhead and make the fill
and, when they did that work. au-
thorlzing the State officials TO deed 10
those liitoral owners the States title
10 the land under water
We all know that these littoral own
ers have never received deeds to this
land, because they never yet could
ask for deeds, and again. because, for
sOOth, they knew. as we all know,
they never did the work nor made the
expenditures TO entitle them 10 ask
for. and TO have received the deeds.
To whom does the land belong?
To whom does tho land belong to-
day?
Who can possibly own it but the
State OF Delaware?
And who has absolute right to dis
pose of this land now. today?
Who, but the sitting Legislature
now in session in Dover?
Gentlemen Of Wilmington, and OF
our Chamber of Commerce, you are
at present taking very commendable
steps to prevent Wilmington being
side tracked in the matter Of the Gus
toms Department. Your Italy is just
beyond this Alps. Take the immedi-
ately necessary steps to make VIII
mington, on its own riverfr0nty a port
in fact with some proper semblance
and evidence that 1t intends TO be a
port Of entry, in fact. and with satis-
factory facilities and opportunity for
shipping, and there is no doubt it will
receive recognition and encourage
ment.
For a moment, look at what this
FIVE hundred acres of riverfront would
mean to the city of Wilmington.
Suppose Wilmington had today five
hundred acres of ready-made land
there on the Delaware frontage. AL
low amply for streets and avenues
and wharves, say one hundred acres,
and set aside for Riverfront Park,
public squares and Fairgrounds an
other one hundred acres You would
have three hundred acres of land for
business use.
Shouldn't it be quite within reason
that this land could be sold, if de-
sired, for business and manufacturing
uses, possibly for enough in a few
years to entirely pay the cost Of all
improvements, and the bonds for the
cost of the city and county joint
public building, too.
or, better it would be, to lease the
lands in desired parcels for not too
1 long terms of years for immediate i'm
proyement and use, bringing large
new additions to our population and
consequently increased business and
largely increased income of taxes TO
city and county
It shouldn't stretch the vision too
much TO see an average Of one hum
dred workers to each acre of this
three hundred acres of land for manu-
Ffacturing and business use and that
would mean thirty thousand workers
which at the usually estimated rate
of FIVE persons to the family Of a
worker would mean an increase in
the population Of our city from this
source OF improvement of approXim-
ately one hundred and fifty thousand
\ people.
y Wilmington would then be going
some, wouldn't il? And il is entirely
within reason that this development
and enhancement can be realized
within next ten to fifteen years.
Gentlemen Of our City Council, cuI
Levy Court and our trade organ "a
tions: You have taken very com
mendable and splendid interest in the
; most excellent project for new city
aud county public building, because
/, it is needed; because il is the steI
TO our having a most attractive anC
effective center of civic interest anG
, it will be advantageous and profit
able to this community and TO th'
whole State of Delaware in man.
ways.
IL some may not agree that the 10
cation selected is the best in ever.
way. and as TO taxes to pay the bill
and the bonds therefore, yet individ
ual preferences must give way TO tn
wish of the majority and be sunk il
the benefits to the whole public an
! such a splendid Improvement for tn
: city and county will certainly be yer
much more valuable as located tina
: that no step at all be taken for sue
an imperatiyely needed impgovemen
This improvement is needed an
should be had at once, even If IL doe
necessitate the issuance of bonds {
a very large amount
And now, in the securing TO th
city of the valuable Delaware river
front, which can be secured. pract
cally without cost, there Is opportun
ity for the city TO improve that river
front and not only get all the advar
tages of the deep water riverfror
that We all desire and the city ha
planned for. for generations, but th
city also will get the direct incom
from lease, or from sale, of such pan
cells OF the FIVE hundred acres, IL ma
be desired 60 dispose of and the cit
8 and county will also get the indireS
income from the riverfront improve
It ment OF very largely increased take
due to the large increase Of popul;
tiOn.
This grandest city enhancemeI
most desired for a long time fro
s itself and it's benefits will give fort
q the income necessary in the futul
o 10 pay for all the bonds for the pul
lie building improvement and for a
n the expenses Of the waterfront's on
improvement, too, and be OF FAR grea
z er benefit to this city.
You are wisely and commendab
d ready TO help the community go In
n debt; don't fail 10 take up the o.
It portunity for the city's best and grea
is est development. that will be of Il
N greater benefit and will in itself pr
J. vide the means 10 pay these debts 4
le the future.
e. Wouldn't ID seem entirely reasonat
that II our aggressive and wide-awa
re City Council and Chamber Of Coz
D. merce and public-spirited citize
should ask the Legislature, now S
s ting, to repeal the Bulkhead Act
h 1901, or Just repeal Sections 4, 5, 6 a