Evening journal., 1913-02-15
SATURDAY. FEB. is. 1913

GET THE WATERFRONT FOR WILMINGTON.
n rOW that the Chamber Of Commerce is organized
IN fully and the Legislature is in session, il time
that something be by the Chamber to obtain from
she State for the city OF Wilmington, and for the gen.
eraI public benefit tho States land under water from
the mouth Of tho ChrstIana river nOrtiwnrd to Edge
Moor.
n Is highly important that action he taken now, be-
rause the FIRST thing that should he done is 10 obtain
"a repeal Of certain portions Of the Bukhead Act Of
1901, under which Tho Wilmington Terminal Company
ma allied private interests hope 10 get this valua
Ale stretch Of waterfront land the strength Of im
pr6Fomeuts 10 be made by the Federal Governments
There Is no doubt that majority Of the Whining
ton delegation the members Of which know the Intense
snterest Of the public In this matter. will gladly CO.
oporate with the Chamber Of Commerce in the work
of so amending that Bulkhead law that the city, and
not tho Wilmington Terminal Company and its ASSOC
Ciaies shall DO the benehciaries Of that act
II the Chamber Of Commerce really stands for the
rommercnI and Industrial Development Of our city
can do for the public better turn than to assist
II IN getting that 500 Of land under water i'm
duCing the Federal 6Ovornment to complete the bulk
head and mako che fl and then develop il for wharf,
Industrial plant and riverside park purposesall for
the benefit Of tho general public
We think this suggestion should appeal TO the mem-
bers Of the Chamber Of Commerce and the Legislature
II also ought 10 appear TO the members of City Coun
city, most Of whom realigo and frankly admit that they
came near making serious mistake last year when the
oiier OF the Wilmington Terminal Company and It's
socates was before them for consideration We know
that action by the Chamber by Legislators and by
our Counclmen looking TO the acquisition by city
of that State land for public purposes would make an
exceedingly strong appeal 10 the general public and
popularlse in the public mind every man who might
PLAY part in its accomplishment We also know that,
IN these days; when one Of tho chief things which
hampers city officials and Chamber Of Com
merce in their Efforts 10 develop Wilmington is the
dnicuIiy in getting Industrial sites the 600 acres
Of rlyerfront land, which the government purposes
send to all who are interested In the Wilmington up
lift movement, and also to the city itself.
should be understood at the outset that there will
be opposition 10 such movement. II will come from
tho private corporations that hope, result Of mac
ton by the Legislature, City Council the Chamber OF
Commerce, and others, to get away with this 60Oaere
tract Of State land which Is TO be bulkheaded and
filled In by the Federal Government That opposition
wholly selfish one viii he easy 10 II
there no anything approximating concert Of action
by those who have at heart the interests OF Oui
city.
1t is useless to enter into discussion Of the de-
tailed to which the 800 may be put for The
benefit of the public The pressing need is tha
BuIkhead Law of 1901 that when the Federal Gov
ernment has built the buIkhead and made the fiji, tn
improved land shall pass into the possession OF th
city of Wilmington and not into the possession of th
Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates
which have done nothing 10 deserve Il and In who's
behalf the law should have been passed.