Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-06-03
pROrECr QUO wArERrRoNr.


the city c;,c'ion next Saturday Tic vote shou q
be full and decisive While ether cities have been de-
roloplns their watcrfronts and preparing 10 obi iin
their fair share Of tho waterborne commerce OF the
world, our own city has been standing still. despite
the fact hat municipal limits extend TO the shores
Of the Delaware river of the most important
streams In the world With the deop-sca and COAST
wise commerce constantly increasing in volume: with
the Panama canal on the eve of being opened; with
the Federal Government working the great inland
waterway from Massachusetts to North Carolina and
with canal in the lower part OF our state as
sured. noins is being done by this city of 10000 i'm
fabtants to obtain any part Of the great tide
merce that Inevitably will up and down tho Della
ware river and that will not be diverted from that
broad fairgay into the Chrieana.
II we are to be a seaport and to have what We
ought have Of the deepsca and coaswise TRAN, we
must have waterfront the Delaware river. rhe
state from SEQ to 500 acres Of land along the
Delaware from the mouth of the Chrlstana river to
Edge Moof The Federal Government is willing to
hulkhead and 20 MI It, Public favors it Only
thing stands in tbs way. That Is the Dukhead Law
Of 1901, by The operation Of which handful OF men
hope to ge nway with the land the Federal bulk
head and M end the cys waterfront on tho Delaware
and all for nothing
II that Bukhoad Law Of 1901 be not upset in the
courts, the small group OF marsh-land Spectators
above referred to will receive absolutely nothing
the following property belonging to the people and.
n II be upset the ownership Of that property will re-
main in the people for their use and benefit:
From 600 to 500 acres of land within the corporate
! limits of the city OF Wilmington.
Almost two miles Of waterfront on the Delaware riyei
and only short distance from the main ship channel
A Federal bulkhead and MI valued at from $4,000,
to 100000.
Tho control Of the deep-sea and coastwse terminal
facilities of city
The spectators who endeavoring through the
operations of that niqutous Bulkhcad Law Of 1901 Ia
obtain a free gift this valuable public property
have done absolutely nothing to deserve it. They
bought narrow strip OF land along the Delaware
river bank Of Cherry Island marsh hoping thereby
obtain all the state land and the Federal an from low
water mark out to and including the bulkhead to be
made by the Federal Government
Competent lawyers assert that the Bulkhead Law is
unconstitutional and that should upse the courts
It also has been suggested by them that the city
place itself in position to condemn narrow striI
of land along the marsh bank that If the Bukheat
Law be upheld by the courts. tho city and not the
small group Of spectators may become the possesso
Of the hundreds of of State land beyond low wa
ter mark.
Several weeks ago between 1000 and 5000 qualified
voters Of this city hled petition that two questions
be submitted to the voters Of this city at the munich
pal election next Saturday. One was whether the Cit!
Solicitor should test in the courts the constitution
atty Of the Bulkhead Law of 1901 under which thu
marshland spectators hope to obtain the public prop
erty they covet. The other was whether the city Off
cias should take steps to condemn a narrow strip o
land along the marsh bank that the city and tn
spectators should be able to obtain cy's newly
made waterfront in event the Bulkhead Law be sus
tanned by the courts
II was agreed at the outset that the fight for tn
preservation Of the ctys waterfront for the beenHt
the people should not be partisan one Republicans
Democrats. National Progrcssiyes Progrossves So
cialists Single Takers, Prohibitonsts. Referendum
Leaguers and. in fact Of all parties joined tn
Wilmington Waterfront Association and signed tho pa
tition for the submission Of the two questions Me
Of all parties will join Saturday votins 10 pre
vent tho marsh-lsnd spectators from getting ava
with the city's waterfront
All such persons will make their mark in tn
squares containing the word Yes and thereby recor
themselves in favor Of the preservation of this inya
liable public property for the benefit Of the people Tn
partisans Of the Wilmington Terminal Company an
its associates viii place their marks in the square
containing the word NO" That is because the
wish the spectators and not the people enjoy IN
benefits that would from the possession of IN
Wilmington waterfront the Delaware.
OF course IL there be any Wilmingtonian who is
philsnthropc to desire to give away to handfi
Of spectators the cty's waterfront the Delawar
600 to 500 Of State land within city limits
Federal bulkhead and fill valued at from $4,000
20 100000, he should vote mo" both question
submitted. We doubt, however that the Wilmington Tc
mnal Company and its associates will find many sue
phlanthropists in city. Everyone who loves h
city and who believes in its commercial future wi
his in favor of upsettng Bulkhead La
Of 1901 and II necessary OF condemnng enough Of n
marsh land along the Cherry Island bank to ensure
city the possession OF land beyond IT an
e the Federal bulkhead and MI.
4 cubas new President has the consolation Of kno,