Evening journal., 1913-03-12
WHERE THERE'S A WILL,
THERE'S A WAY


To the Editor Of THE EVENING
JOURNAL and, Through the
courtesy of THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL, to the Chamber of Commerce,
the Mercantile Association, to all
Citizens Who Desire the Advance
and Prosperity Of Wilmington, and
to the Council OF Wilmington and
the Legislature OF Delaware.
Gentlemen:-A wise man once said,
"A man can always find an excuse
Tor what he doesn't want to do"
The important point in this agita-
ton for WILMINGTON'S DELAWARE
RIVER DEEP WATERFRONT is to
evidence your jealous and hearty in
terest and will and determination that
wilmington shall have the Delaware
Waterfront, and that the lands of the
state of Delaware now under water,
to be hlled in by the Government in
side the bulkhead, shall be decided to
the City of Wilmington, and not to any
private land spectators, and that this
matter shall not be put OFF, but urge
that it be done at once. Given the
WILL and DETERMINATION. am
sure our COUNCIL and LEGISLA-
rORE can readily find the WAY.
IL seems perfectly reasonable that
the Legislature has full power to re-
peal the land grant sections of the
Bulkhead Law of 1901 and also has
full power TO grant the title to the
State lands in front of Wilmington.
to the City of Wilmington.
That is the direct and most straight
forward course. but there are other
courses of action that will accomplish
the result
No doubt. a test case would result
in court decision that the Bulkhead
Act OF 1901 is unconstitutional be-
cause its title conveys no intimation
that the land grant is embodied in the
Act
But an act of the Legislature would
afterward be necessary to grant title
to the lands to the City of Whining
ton. and now, while the Legislature
is in session, is the right and best
time to get this act passed.
Again. the Park Commissioners
have full authority to recommend that
any portion Of the land on the shores
Of the Delaware river be bought
carrying any riparian rights with it,
and the Mayor and Council of VIII
mington have full authority and power
to take the land by purchase or by
condemnation
Again, the port wardens have full
authority to recommend that any por-
ton of the land on the shores of any
of the three rivers of Wilmington be
bought for , the Improvement OF
navigation and the Mayor and Coun-
Gil OF Wilmington haYe full authority
and power to take the land by pur-
chase or by condemnation, carrying
all riparian rights with IL.
Can anybody question that the TAX
ing Of the Delaware shores and the
completion of the bulkhead on the
lands so taken and on the lands OF
the State of Delaware now under wa
ter. would be for the improvement
Of navigation" Surely the United
States Government engineers pro-
posed and advocate that work for the
improvement of navigation
Again the Street and Sewer Depart.
ment and the Mayor and Council OIL
Wilmington have unquestioned au
thOrity and power to take by pur
chase or condemnation any portion o.
any land within the city limits foi
street or avenue, and feel very sur,
they could make this power cover tn,
necessary shores, carrying all ripar
/ ian rights with il.
Let us at once be Jealous and ag
gressiYe for the protection Of Tho
city's waterfront interests and to pre-
vent its exploitation by any private in
terests that If they get the title from
the State would control the entire
waterfront and bottle Wilmington
up inside for all future Where
there's a will there's a Way.
Very respectfully,
George ChandlersOn.