Evening journal., 1916-11-28
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER %. 1916.
OUR WATERFRONT PROBLEM.

NIll4MlNGIONS improved and municipality y-oWned
waterfront should extend, the Delaware river,
from Edge Moor the north 70 New Castle on
the south with OF the banks OF the Chrstiana
river, from the railroad bridge TO the mouth OF that
stream be acquired without disturbing existing
industrial enterprises and interfering with their proper
expansion.
II 1T be conceded that Wilmington needs water
front II also must be conceded that the Delaware and
the Christiana rivers must supply Il.
II also be conceded that experience in Boston New
York, Trenton Philadelphia, jacksonville. New Or
leans Galveston, San Francisco and other cities
veals the wisdom Of having municpay-owned
terfront, it also must be conceded that the only way
for Wilmington to obtain such a waterfront is to
qure. by purchase condemnation or grant, the lands
bordering upon the Delaware and the Christiana.
II It be conceded that municipal improvements placed
upon lands thus acquired will enhance largely the
value OF contiguous lands. it also must be conceded
that the proper thing for the city TO do at first is to
acquire all the waterfront going prices and to do
the development work afterward free from the Inn
portunities and the Vaccinations of land Spectators
With the land once acquired tho development will
in the natural course Of events.
An important question that inevitably arises in view
of the renewal OF the waterfront agitation is where the
work Of acquisition should begin. Some favor
the Delaware river waterfront north OF the Chrisana
others the Delaware river waterfront south OF the
Christana and others again. the lands bordering upon
the chrstiana river itself
There substantial why the acquisition
should begin the Delaware river shore north OF
the mouth Of the christana river. They are:
First The electors OF the city OF Wilmington
after educational campaign lasting several months
decided, by the significant vote Of 90 l. that the
waterfront from the Christiana up to Edge Moor
should be acquired and that if necessary oondemna-
ton proceedings should be resorted to 70 effect such
acquisition.
second-The holdings OF land along the Delaware
river waterfront north OF the Christiana were OBJ
tanned by a small group OF individuals for the
express purpose OF getting subsequently, through
the Bulkhead law. a State grant Of several hun
dred of State land. under water and
free improvements from the Federal Government
sisting of S250OO0 bulkhead and fl back IT, worth
tens of thousands OF dollars Therefore, by
quirng those holdings which straddie the marsh bank
which assessed at low figure for county pur-
poses and which pay city taxes the city would be-
the beneficiary under the Bulkhead Act and also
OF the bulkhead-and-hll improvements which
templated by the Federal Government
Third-The Federal Government will not complete
the bukhead and hl in the 500 acres between
It and the present marsh bank long the littora
lands in private possession Adequate public in
terest and benefit must be shown under the gov
policy that obtains with respect to the in-
provement OF waterways at Federal expense
Fourth-The Federal Government stands ready to
complete the bulkhead and make the fill within year
alter city becomes the owner OF the marsh bank
strip back Of tho proposed improvement
Fifth-The original proposition of the owners OF
that strip that Wilmington should assist In pro-
curing the Federal improvements by posing as wa
erront partner receiving in return for It's invaluable
service to such private owners small portion OF the
reclaimed waterfront a small portion Of the hun
dreds OF acres OF reclaimed land water
front and the expensive privilege OF keeping UP the
bulkhead, only in front OF its holdings but also
front Of the Infinitely larger holdings of the small
handful Of private That proposition driven
out OF Council and repudated Overwhelmingly at
city referendum.
sixth-The hundreds Of OF land under water
the line OF the proposed bulkhead and present
high water mark along the marsh bank State land
Under the Bulkhead act It cannot become the prop
erty Of those who hoping TO get it until the bulk
head is completed. The instant, however, the bulk
head is completed they have a right to demand from
the State the title to all that land under water
and Wilmington loses its north-side waterfront.
seyenth-There is valid reason why the State
should give hundreds of OF state land all within
city limits, TO small group OF who have dono
nothing Of a public private nature to earn it
and which land would be of incalculabe our
city a city and toits people peoIee
Eighth-There is no valid reason why nation
should give to that small group OF men public i'm
provements valued at approximately s50OoOO when
they have done nothing of public or private nature
to earn them. and which Improvements would be OF
ncaIculabe value to city city and TO its peo
ple people.
THAT small group OF individuals is no en-
s5 to that State land 10 those Federal improve