Evening journal., 1913-02-20
FIGHT FOR THE wATERFRONT.

THIS question Of the city Of Wilmington owning It's
waterfront the Delaware river is in no sense
political one. II is purely utiaran and economic.
Republicans and Democrats, PrOgresses and PrOhbi-
tonists. and Socialists and Single Takers all favor IT,
Our City Councilmen and the members Of the Chamber
Of Commerce and kindred organizations could do no
one thing that would bring TO them greater credit
greater satisfaction in the future than work for
municipality controlled waterfront and obtain II. II
clearly the duty Of City CounciImen to take the
initiative in the matter, and If they do it, il also is
clearly the duty OF alert citizenship TO support them
in every way possible and to give them full credit for
everything they may do in TINT behalf.
This is time for looking backward. II is n time
for looking forward. What has been done water that
has passed the dam. II grinds grist. The
chief thing needed is quick action looking to the
securemen Of that three mile stretch Of waterfront and
that G0Oacre tract Of land under water for city and
for the general benefit Of the Delaware public Discus
sion Of the specific public uses 10 which II shall he put
after il has been obtained should he deferred until il
is in the possession Of the city and the Federal Gov
ernment has completed the bullhead and made the
hll. II Is useless TO plan specifically now for some
thing that the state and not the city possesses. There
will BE- ample time for all that when the Legislature,
with the interest Of the people Of city and the entire
State in view. votes TO give the land TO the
municipality. Tho crying need is that the city,
through is Council shall ask the Legislature TO right
the wrong that was done In 1901 and urge that the
Bulkhcad Law Of that yoar he repealed amend
Pu 10 lhc fnd TIC lllr 10 lnU Snhli
in our cit, and not in the Wilmington Terminal Com
pany and IFS associates.
Those who hope 10 benefit by that Bulkhcad Law
may contend that such act is urged will he
void and that ii II he passed, action will he taken in
court TO upset IT, II such fight has TO be met LET il
and LEI the city 20 into court and win il. That
Bukhcad Law was passed twelve years ago We shall
not discuss the conditions which il was con-
ceiyed, framed and put through. Let suffice to say
that il passed and that under its provisions the
private interests TO obtain the waterfront and the
State land from low water mark out to deep water IL
they would build a bulkhead. Despite the fact that
they have had twelve years in which to do IT, they have
not driven pile made fill Of any sort. and the title
10 that land under water still vests in the State. II is
that title that the city Of Wilmington wants and needs
and That City Council and the Chamber OF Commerce
and kindred organizations should obtain for ii II the
present prospective benefcares under that old Bulk
head Law fight. either In the Stale House or
in the courts LET them go ahead and do Il. That viii
make victory by City Council and the Chamber OF
Commerce. and kindred organizations all the graft
flying. II would be outrageous for the Wilmington
fcTmiuHi tOmpHny and lis ass0cinics 10 ne permitted
70 walk away with that riverront and the hundreds
Of thousands Of dollars worth Of bulkheading and I'LL
ing that the Federal Government purposes doing there
We would not urge taking away from the private
interests anything that properly belongs 10 them;
would favor anything that would deprive them Of
suitable award for the impairment Of any of their rights
oral owners but we would take from them al
prospective BENEFITS under that Bulkhead Law, because
IL passed for selss purpose and the State has
waited frutlcssy twelve years for those benefcarie
to carry cut their obligations under that law. Apar
from certain work that has been done by the Fedora
Governments that waterfront is in the condition
today that Il when the Bulkhead Law passed
AT the people Of Wilmington ask OF the Legislature
is that il in the city the States title TO that lam
under water and authorize il to appoint commission
/ 10 assess damages for deprving-if there shonId b
hath Tho oral att fhn r;u
access to the wafer. II the Legislators will do tha
The city Of Wilmington Will do the rest. and II wi
attend 10 whatever fighting may he required to def'u
its waterfront against the private interests that ar
seeking 70 obtain II and to control II close cor
poration.