Evening journal., 1913-03-12
WEDNESDAY. MAR. IL. 1913.
EYES ON THE MAIN ISSUE.


THESE resolutions relative to the municipal owner
ship and control Of the Delaware river water
front adopted by the Wilmington Chamber Of
Commerce at its bi-weekly meeting in the Hotel
DUPONT yesterday afternoon:
Be it resolved, by the Chamber OF Commerce That
the city Of Wilmington should own for the benefit OF
all people Of the city and State such portion OF the
Delaware River front. either north or south Of the
Christiana, both as may be sufficient for all prob
able future municipal needs BE IL further
Resolved, That this ownership should be secured at
the earliest possible moment consistent with good
business methods and that all proper steps should be
taken to develop the BE it further
Resolved, That the Chamber OF Commerce take such
steps in connection with the Mayor and Council OF
Wilmington. and any civic bodies to carry these plans
into effect BE It further
to the rights vested by the Bulkhead act Of 1901 in
the riparian owners referred to in said act and in
view of the legal uncertainties that would result IN
the repeal of said act unable to advise to
desrabniy of the repeal Of said act and therefore
request the board OF directors to make further and
prompt investigation Of the whole situation and report
iis recommendation to this body.
Wilmington taxpayers and voters should read those
resolutions until they grasp their import fully. The
declaration in favor Of the municipal ownership and
control such portions Of that Delaware river water
front as may be auihcient for all probable future
municipal needs unquestonably will meet with public
favor viii the declaration In favor OF quick action
and good business methods and cooperation with the
Mayor. City Council and civic bodies interested in the
waterfront project No doubt the public also will
commend the Chamber for directing It's board o, direo-
tors to inquire more fully into the question Of the
effect OF repeal OF those sections Of the Bulkhead
Law of 1901 which were framed for the ultimate bene-
fit Of the Wilmington Terminal Company and rs
oiates but. the legislative session drawing
close. there must be prompt action in that respect
the Chamber of Commerce is to be participant in
the laudahe act OF compelling the Wilmington Ter
mnal Company and its associates to dsgorge the val
liable tract Of State land that they attempting to
swallow, and which they would have swallowed long
rro had f,rt tha Of
the taxpayers and of city supported by the
opinion OF City Solicitor Daniel 0 Hastings and the
informal and parioucally volunteered opinions Of for
mer City Solicitor Robert G. Harman, William Kurtz
and other lawyers who to the relief of the city
when they realized that its commercial
being subjected to such menace,
There is feature Of the Chamber OF Commerce
resolutions which certainly should not and will not
commend itself to the taxpayers and voters That
the suggestion TO extend at this time the citys pros
pectye waterfront acquisitions the Delaware river
waterfront south OF the Christiana river No doubt
the taxpayers and voters will think that the south
side matter will be all right hold for consd ration
IN future For the time being. however the spotlight
Of publicity must be kept upon the three miles
Of city waterfront the 600 OF State land and the
proposed Federal bulkhead and MI extending from the
mouth Of the chrstiana up TO Edge Moor
THE MAIN ISSUE IN THIS WHOLE CONTRo-
VERsY JUST NOW is WHETHER THE TAXPAY-
Frs AND THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF VIII
MlNGTON SHALL HAVE THAT MAGNIFICENT EX-
PANsE OF STATE LAND. THAT 100000 or 100000
BULKHEAD AND FILL THAT ARE TO BE MADE
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ALSO
LUTE CONTROL OF THE DEEP-wATER AND TER
MINAL COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF THE PORT
or WILMINGTON OR WHETHER THOSE THINGS
WHICH IN FEW YEARS WILL BE WORTH NIL,
LIONS OF DOLLARS SHALL BE TURNED OVER AS
FREE GIFTS TO THE WILMINGTON TERMINAL
COMPANY AND ITS ASSOCIATES AND THEY MADE
THE AUTOCRATs OF THE PORT OF WHINING
TON
The taxpayers and voters as citizens Of the stat,
OF Delaware that 600 OF valuable state Ian,
that the Wilmington Terminal Company and its asso
ciates are trying get The taxpayers and voters a,
citizens Of the United States. own the hundreds O.
thousands Of dollars that the Federal Government
would spend in building that bukhead an6 making tha
fll
THE ONLY REAL ISSUE BEFORE THE TAXPAY.
FRS AND VOTERS OF WILMINGTON TODAY is
WHETHER THE WILMINGTON TERMINAL COM
PANY AND ITS ASSOCIATES SHALL. BE PERMIT.
TED TO GET AWAY WITH THOSE THINGS AMI
ULTIMATELY REAP THE MILLIONS THAT PROP.
ERLY SHOULD co TO THE PEOPLE
No sensible taxpayer or voter viii permit his atten
ion to be distracted for an instant from the main
ISSUE He viii pay strict attention to the trouble
spot which is to- the north and not to- the south
of the mouth Of the chrstians river
The proper TO ursue is for the lozis, ..ur,
nroee the interests OF the taxpayers and voters Of