Evening journal., 1917-05-12

AFFECT its development, is one deterring
factor against its adoption as port
terminal site; and the other and more
serious objection Is its isolation from
the benefits Of competitive railroad
service.
Pennsylvania Railroad service Is
the only one now available in this sec
ton, and the two other trunk lines
are shut out from easy entrance to II
by typographical considerations on the
north, the p. r. r. freight yards on
the west, and the Christiana River on
the south Another drawbridge over
the Christiana to accommodate thosA
roads would be both an unreasonable
expense and an unreasonable obstruc-
ton to river navigation. Tho COM
hining of the service OF the three
roads on the present bridge, or a re-
constructed one on the same site
would create there tremendous con-
gestlon OF train movement which
would preclude the possibility of easy
and prompt freight transfer % and
from the new terminals. as we'll as
from the Edge Moor yards, and would
violate the first principle of modern
marine terminal planning-that is, the
into through and out OF the port.
( "1'his area is highly suitable for in
+ dustrial sites, OF will be so when proper
" paved streets are extended into It, and
/ doubtless eventually some waterfront
development Of it will be made in order
to afford berthing facilities for vessels
! laden with cargo to or from the factories
; located within it. This development has
been indicated on the plans submitted
| herewith.
"The serious obstacles in the way Of
the terminal utilization of the two sites
! Just considered leave us, then, the choice
! only of the third, or south Of the Chris
tiania. site, which in fact is not only the
least Objectionable of the three-a mega
tive virtue-but possesses very positive
! qualities in itself Of a highly admirable
character for our purposes.
"Ihis tract of nearly 400 acres-ex-
tending from the Lobdell plant TO Pigeon
! Point pier-with a utilizable pierhead
I length of nearly two miles, is capable of
: development into one of the finest and
most efficient port terminals in the
world The space available is ample for
the purpose. and should it be developed
in an intensive manner, with proper CO.
] oINludllon OF lle NhfluuS component clc-
ments that 20 TO make up an efficient
and harmonious design. it would enable
a business TO be created in it equal to
that of the port of Montreal-one Of the
finest on the American continent.
"The entrance and exit Of vessels into
and out of their docks would be from
broad channels unhampered by obstruc-
ton of any kind.
"Two railroads, the Pennsylvania and
the Reading. are at present on the very
edge Of the property proposed TO be used,
and th b. & o. requires only a short and
inexpensive extension to enable it to
reach the site over its tracks.
Necessary Depth of Water.
"Ihe necessary deep water channels
are attainable at a not excessive cost,
if inoeed the Federal government itself
may not be induced 10 bear the whole
of the burden of this item. II is now a
well-formnlated government policy that
aetive and ample cooperation should be
extended those port communities which
are animated by sufficient self-confidence
and civic spirit 20 enter into serious and
! practical programs Of hsrbor improve