Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-12-07
PORT possibilities
shown IN Lecture
H. H. Richardson. Harbor
Engineer. Tells How City
Can be Made Great
CITY OFFICIALS
ARE INTERESTED

Members Of City Council, the Board
OF Harbor Commissioners, Chamber Of
Commerce and others heard n. II
Richardson, harbor expert, last night
lecture on the possibilities Of VIII
mington as water terminal. Mr..
Richardson used 100 or more lantern
slides 10 illustrate the lecture, and at
the conclusion those present arose and
sang MY Country It's Of Thee" while
views Of the Minute Men Of 76 and
other patriotic pictures were shown.
Mr.. Richardson said:
On behalf OF the Board Of Harbor
Commissioners. permit me to extend to
you our sincere thanks for affordlng
the opportunity TO address you to-
night on the important subject Of Har-
Dor Development a matter that should
and must appeal to the public spirit,
pride and patriotism Of every citizen OF
this community.
81 know il is the earnest desire Of
everyone here TO see Wilmington grow
and prosper and raise herself into the
10000 population class within the next
few years. Her growth i'm the past
decade has been so rapid that at this
time she Is like growing boy in the
process Of evolution from knee
breeches to long pants You who have
sons know exactly what I mean. Be
fore you realize it the long pants that
you have given your boy are up to his
knees. Wilmingtons growth has been
so rapid that you have not time TO
look after It's clothing.
you find the city has outgrown
practically all its facilities for doing
business on plan commensurate with
its size. You have your problems Of
totally inadequate waterfront facilities
insufficient houses 20 take care Of your
people, and poor marketing facilities,
drainage and filling OF lowlands, be-
sides others which I need not mention.
These are an grave problems but all
capable of solution whenever the citi-
zens Of this city unitedly get together
with an earnest resolve TO solve them.
THE subject Of port development is
80 large that it is impossible to do it
full justice In the brief time at our
disposal tonight and only the high
spots can be touched upon.
Wilmington Is indeed fortunate In
having many great advantages which a
wise providence has bestowed upon it,
and which you have not had 10 work
for, but which you have not availed
yourselves Of
"Splendidly located geographically In
near proximity 10 the coal and steel Of
Pennsylvania and the Virginias. near 20
the large centers Of production and
population and along the bank OF one
Of the most magnificent and deepest
waterways OF the country there is no
reason why the most optimistic dreams
Of its future greatness should not be
fulfilled. You have not had 20 Tight Ia
secure a deep water channel from your
city 10 the sea Your sister city, Phila-
delphia, has fought and won this prize
for you. You are fortunate in other
respects You can start upon this pro-
iect with a clear idea Of operations
You have no port facilities TO discard
or improve but instead you have the
advantage Of availing yourselves Of all
the experiences gained by other sea
ports at an immense cost for expert
mentalion, so that when you decide to
90 ahead and construct and operate
public docks and terminals, Whining
ton can have the most modern type In
the country, equipped with all the lat
est labor and cost saving and mechan-
ical appliances.
ION Tuesday Of next week ] expect Ia
present to the Board Of Harbor Com
mlssioners my report on the CONNER
cial and industrial survey, upon which
I have been engaged for the past -four
months. This report Will in my opinion
demonstrate.
10 The absolute need FOR modern
harbor development here, the advis.
ability Of Immediate purchase Of an
adequate site for % years in the fu-
ture, and construction Of piers, slips
transit sheds, railroad yards, flreprooi
storage warehouses and sites for in
dustrlal manufacturing concerns.
(2) That the volume Of business done
here together with a share Of the
business from the vast hinterland Of
our country is ample to justify The
amount OF money which IL will take Ia
carry out the proposed development
and construct the first unit Of piers.
(3) That the response which we have
received from the manufacturers anc
business men in this city 70 our re-
ar.f. o.. A. anaH