Evening journal., 1917-12-11
RECOMMENDATIONS.

transit sheds, railroad yards operated by 1
tho City, fireproof storage warehouses /
and sites for industrial manufacturing /
concerns.
l2l That the volume Of business Of |
Wilmington and vicinity is ample to
Justify the amount of money which it !
will take 10 carry out the proposed har-
Dor development and construct the first |
unit of piers
(3) That the response we have re- |
celved TO our request for tonnage in |
formation is evidence OF the fact that |
the big manufacturers and business in |
terests Of this city favor the proposition. |
Based upon careful investigation Of the |
volume OF business and personal inspec-
tion of the water front on the Deia-
ware from Claymont southwardly 10 New
Castle I MAKE the following recommen-
datiOns;
REQUIREMENT OF SITE FOR PUB
Lie WATER FRONT TERMINALS.
| would recommend that the Board Of
Harbor Commissioners, under tho terms
OF the Act creating the Board by and
with the approval Of the Mayor and
council, by gift. purchase or condemna-
tion proceed TO acquire as a site for the
proposed municipal docks and terminals.
! property fronting on the Christiana and
Delaware River between the Lobdel Car
| Wheel Works and Pigeon Point termi-
mails Of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad, approximately between two
and three hundred acres, which IL is
deemed will be sufficient for the needs
Of Wilmington's public docks and termi-
mails possibly for the next 25 years. A
great advantage Of this tract is the
three trunk line railways serving vii
mington, namely, the Pennsylvania, Bal
| timore and Ohio, Philadelphia and Read.
| ing, all enter into II, as against only
one road entering the tract 10 the north
nf the Christiana River on tho Delaware
frontage Another potentiality in its
favor is its olose proximity to the great
manufacturing plants at New Castle
construction Of docks and terminals on
the site recommended viii have the ten
dency OF linking the cities Of Wilmington
and New Castle and making available
for new industries this six miles OF
water front along the Delaware deep
water channel.
This recommendation however, Is made
subject 20 a very careful investigation
being made by competent civil engineers
n order 10 ascertain the physical con-
dition Of the ground for foundation pur-
poses, the costs of bulkheading and fill
ing etc.
Before a final decision is made as 10
the site, I would recommend the Board
OF Harbor Commissioners request spe-
cisl board OF engineers be appointed by
the Engineers Corps Of the War Depart
ment 10 secure from them their idea as
to this site being the very best poss bic
one for the purpose we have in mind.
In my opinion the future Of the Della
] e. E-ear.k rr
dustrial and manufacturing standpoint
that eventually the city OF Wilmington
should also acquire control Of the water
front on the deep water channel from
the north side OF the Christians River
entrance up to the State Line OF Della
ware and Pennsylvania
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST UNIT
After the site has been selected. ac-
qulred and decided 20 the City I would
recommend the construction of the first
unit of piers with transit sheds thereon
slips and bulkhesd, together with a suf-
ficiently large reinforced concrete FIRE
proof storage warehouse TO the rear.
with the necessary number of railroad
tracks TO serve piers and warehouses
connecting them in a switching yard
TO which all railroads now here and
which may come hereafter viii have
equal access.
INDUSTRIAL SITES
/ would recommend that your engi-
neers lay out a certain portion OF the
tract Of land acquired for industrial
sites, TO be leased by the City 10 manu-
facturers desiring 10 conduct their bust
ness in close proximity to the public
docks and terminals. such layout having
in mind the future development Of piers,
etc, along entire frontage acquired by
the City
! ESTIMATED COST OF SITE AND
CONSTRUCTION OF FIRST UNIT.
After a consultation with Mr.. John
Meigs, c. Z. of Philadelphia, who pre-
pared the tentative plans, both OF US
have arrived at the conclusion that the
recommendations above, namely, acquire
ment of sufficient acreage Of land fo-
% years in the future, and construction
of first unit Of piers, can be secured for
between two and one-half million and
three million dollars.
SUGGESTION AS TO FINANCING
PROPOSED HARB0R DEVELOP
MENT.
Under the Act creating the Board Of
Harbor Commissioners after they have
submitted the proposition and plans to
the Mayor and Council and they have
been approved, the Mayor and Council
row upon the faith and credit of the
city Of Wilmington such sum Of money
are authorized and empowered TO bor-
as IL by ordinance shall determine, 70
enable said Board of Harbor Commits
sioners to carry out the provisions of
this Act in accordance with the plan
proposed and submitted by said Board
to the Council and approved by H." The
raising Of this necessary money would
naturally be by the sale of City Bonds,
10 be issued and sold as needed 10 pro-
coed with the work.
The assessed valuation of the City of
Wilmington for 1916 was $40 92l,325
The 1917 assessed valuation was
$50. .4gS OPS. showing an increase in one
year in assessed valuation of $3.50, 200.
Owing to the increase in property values
during the past year it is expected that
the 1918 assessment rolls when made up.
will show an even greater increase than
appears between 1916 and 1917. Under
its charter the city is permitted TO bor-
row up 10 the limit of 1000 of the above
valuation, secured by city bonds The
following is the present status OF bonds
outstanding and the amount available
up to the 1890 limit.
Bonds outstsuding ........ teo5a-loo T.8f%