Evening journal., 1915-01-26


STATE HOUSE, DOVER, Del, Jan.
26.-Two bills affecting the Will
mington waterfront on the Delaware
river, were introduced in the House
by Representatives today.
One, introduced by Representative
Vaughn. simply repeals Sections and
6 of the old bulkhead act. It is as
follows:
section 1. That an act entitled
An act to establish bulkhead, wharf
and pier lines on the Delaware river,
in front of the city of Wilmington
and vicinity being Chapter 2, Vol
ume %, Laws of Delaware, be and
the same is hereby amended by strik-
ing out all Of Section five (5) and
Section six (6) of said act"
In other words it repeals those por-
tions of the old bulkhead law, which,
under certain conditions, not yet COM
piled with, would give to private
marsh land owners, hundreds of acres
of reclaimed State land between pres
cnt high water mark and the proposed
bulkhead
The Downward bill is AN act TO au'
thorize the city of Wilmington to ac-
quirc, by purchase or condemnation, the
land on or adjacent 90 the banks or
shores of the River Delaware and limit
ing its use OF the land between the
westerly bank OF the river and the
bulkhead line" Its text is as follows;
Whereas, by act OF the General As
semblv of the state of Delaware, pro-
vision has been made for the establish
mcnt OF bulkhcad line or lines of
solid filling and the pic- line OF the
tidewators of the River Delaware, lying
between the Christiana River and the
northerly boundary of Edge Moor, and
authority thereby given for filling in
the space between said lines and the
westerly bank of said river;
"And whereas, large part OF said
bulkhead line is opposite the city ol
Wilmington and within tine boundaries
thereof and when the said space is filled
in viii make n large area Of dry land
out to a point of navigation in SAID
River Delaware;
And Whereas. it is expected that
the United States will build said
buIkhead and fill in said space by
dcpositing the dredged material taken
from said River Delaware. in the pro-
And Whereas the said space be-
tween said bulkhead lines and tbs
westerly bank of said River Delawar'
is now covered with water and is hel'
BY tho State In trust for its citizens
And Whereas. in the opinion d
the General Assembly. this space
when filled in could be made mor'
beneficial to the public by being II
e IF
than Il could be if II remained II
tho control Of the State, now. there
fore,
BE II Enacted by the General As
sembly of the State of Delaware
uwo-thirds of the members of eacl
House concurring therein):
Section 1. That the Council o
The Mayor and Council of Whining
ton be and Il is hereby authorized
10 purchase or acquire any land oi
or adjacent to the banks or shore o
the westerly bank of the River Deia
ware. and all the riparian rights o
the owners thereof, within the limit
of the said city of Wilmington, Wnen
ever. in the opinion of the said CIT
Council. such purchase or acquisition
is necessary to give TO the city bet
Ter facilities for building docks
wharves. or piers. or to improve naVl
cation: and if The Council shall b
unable TO agree with the owner o
owners of any such land for the pur
chase thereof the same may be take
in the same manner and subject I
the same conditions and proceeding
as are or may be prescribed by lay
for condemning and taking lands 10
the purpose of extending, widenint
LAYING out or opening streets in sal
citv.
"Seetion 2. Whenever the Mayo
and Council of Wilmington have S
purchased. condemned. or otherwis
acquired any such land, and the spac
between the bulkhead lines establish
cd in the Delaware River and the Wes
torlv bank thereof, opposite or in fror
of the land so purchased, condemne
or otherwise acquired. shall be file
in. whether the same be done by tn
Mayor and Council of Wilmington.
the United States. it shall be the dut
of the Attorney General. upon salts
factory evidence to him of that faC
and the tender to him of the reason
able and necessary expenses of pre-
pairing the conveyance or conveyance
hereinafter named, to seasOnably pr.
pare, and the Secretary of State
forthwith execute. under the seal {
The State, a grant. assuring to the sal
the Mayor and Council of Wilmint
ton. its successors, the land in tror