Evening journal., 1915-02-12

built. and il served for years both as a
State House and Court House for the
county. II was not until 1913 that
State House was built at Dover. About
17OS an addition was made TO the New
Castle Court House: and it was fur
ther enlarged about 1867. and eighty
years afterward. In 1880 the present
Court House building in this city was
completed. TO which the county rec.
ords were removed in January Of the
same year; and the first sessions OF
the court we're there held in the fol-
lowing month.
What a step from Fort Casimer in
1861 to the joint Municipal and County
Building in 1916. More than two and
a half centuries Of labor. time and
growth. II is impossible TO tell how
much we owe to the early settlers and
their successors. but It is quite certain
that the qualities most effective then
as now. were industry. honesty. cour-
age and common sense BY the eXer-
else of the same qualities great results
have been accomplished since. but
greater ones will yet be seen: and not
the least ofthem will be this magnii-
cent building whose cornerstones are
laid today.
In conclusion permit me to con-
graJulate the county and city on the
progress both have made in recent
years. and express the hope that even
a greater advance may be accomplish
ed i'm the next decade along every
proper line. The county. and especial
ly the city Of Wilmington. in which tho
arc rapidly growing in population.
wealth and beauty. In all desirable
things may the future eclipse the past;
and may the strong materials. splendid
workmanship and firm foundations OF
this building which is to add so much
to citV and county in beauty and
strength. also typify the strong char.
acter. sturdy industry keen intelli-
genco and enduring honesty of their
people for generations to come"
Chancellor LaudS Delawareans.
Speaking for the city, Chancellor
Curtis said:
I'VE are here today TO lay the cor
ner stones of these two buildings be-
ing erected together. the one for the
city of Wilmington and the other for
New Castle county voice the thought
of my fellow citizens in saying that
congratulate the members of the com
mission in the splendid result OF their
wise management of this great enter
prise. and voice their and my admira-
tion of the Stately building here being
erected.
1T was two hundred and seventy
seven years ago that the adyeniurOus
Peter Minuit landed two shiploads of
Swodos on the shore of the Christi
ana river. The colony he founded
which was the first permanent one
of those that sailed up the Delaware
river, grew apace until at one time
/ there were about four hundred peo-
pie in the village of Christianaham
near Fort Christiana and the old
church. Thomas Willing laid out his
/ little town at the foot Of the hill away
/ to the west of the Swedish settle
ment and named IL WillingtOwn. 4
few years afterwards William Shipley
brought here from Philadelphia his
fellow members of the Society o
Friends, and in 1889 there we're abou
six hundred inhabitants Of the town
This growing community was chart
cred as a borough in 1889. and it!
name changed to Wilmington. In 1873.
1t blossOmed into a city. with mayor
and other officers incident TO larger
and more important municipality.
From a cluster of about thirty
houses in 1882. and an area of a few
acres on and near the shore of the
Christiana river. this municipality has
enlarged its borders until II covers
ten square miles. numbers nearly on,
hundred thousand people and ha'
prospered and become strong and pro
gressive. The leather, paper, iron
railway cars, ships, powder, machin
cry and tools made here go far an,
wide. In fact, the city of Wilmington
has grown up. II has outgrown il
official home and is here building III
new one worthy of its new condition
This will be its third municipal build
ing. The first town hall was locatel
over the Market House built in 177i
at Second street fronting on Marke
street. Its second is the present one
a shapely brick structure of pure co
lonial architecture. erected in l79S
and TO which additions have beer
made.
what will this new imposing struc
turo mean to Wilmington? Surely
will be a mark of progress alread,
made But what kind of progress
Material progress only? II will meal
more than that. II will mean that tn
city has felt an impulse to go for
ward to higher and better civil
achievements. Just now this city ha
growing pains Prosperity and growtl
have brought new responsibilities
have stimulated a desire to improv
the material things that go to max
a beautiful city, and have stirred me
to combine to broaden its infiuenc
; commercially. industrially and artist
cally.
I'VE hear much of the inspiring sic
gan. Do il for Wilmington Do wha
for Wilmington? Make IL commercial
great so that the wares here mad
may be carried throughout this an
other lands?
Spread its borders and fill it wit
homes, industrial enterprises, schools
churches. libraries and art galleries
with stores and shops and otheu agen
cics for distribution? Make il IN fac
metropolis Of the peninsula, at th
head of which it stands. with all tn
5 power and might which comes wit
I wealth and population? Is that al
5 that is needed TO make the city trul
> great? Is that all we are TO do for it
prosperity and bigness do not q
themselves make city great. II
no greater. i'm any true sense, tha
IFS inhabitants are A better sloga