Evening journal., 1917-12-11
LAND AND FIRST UNITS
TO COST THREE MILLION

Commissioners his survey or the mar
hor possibilities OF Wilmington. IN
eemprshensive report covering ten
,sv,snaner columns Mr. Richardson
makes recommendations for the deVei-
anr,ent on an elaborate scale OF the
Delaware river front.
Ne suggests as q choicest site Tor
definite development the land south OF
ne mouth Of the Christlana river ana
extending 10 the Philadelphia Read
ge recommends that the War Dc
rartment name a commission or ensi-
reers 70 look over the available sites
and express their expert opinion az 70
which IS the most desirable lot coui-
urehensive development. on the sile
south OF the Chrlstiana Mr.. Hcnaroson
would build bulkheads, piers, storage
and other warehouses, connectlhs viii WI,
switching yard open 10 the tnree iaii-
roads that now tap that sectloh'
AZ further action Mr. Richardson
recommends that The land along the
nsIsyvars river north Of the Christlana
ha houeht FOR use az industrial sites
a. he leased by Council TO desirable
MANUFACTURING concerns, keeping IN
mind the necessity for building docks
and warehouses along the entire front-
age later on - ,,,,..
hafbor EXPERT OF Philadelphia, esu
r,ate mat the acquisition Of the land
r.sntioned necessary for twenty-five
vssrs in the future, and the con
struetion Of the first unit OF piers ana
warehouses will cost between ez'oVo'-
600 and s3,00O.000, -,
AIR Richardson suggests plan ior
financing the harbor project. IL 70
that the city issue bonds ior that pul-
nose and that the owners or Liberty
Bonds sell those securities and use the
money to purchase the new haIDor
bonds. -. -.
nieta with statistics, demonstrates the
following salient points. -.
In NV opinion. after the Close
s.,ay uhieh has been made OF the
,,nfIa crestion Of harbor Development
A.. WILMINGTON. the report VIII dem q
ons,ra.- the following salient polhea.
The absolute ana imneulass :
ueea Of modern docks, termir ais any
nreyroof warehouses, aece-slo.e ~
me deep wattr channel Oh 1he D0''
wate river ,....,-.ss a
Wellington and vicinity is sufhcien
20 ,ust,sv the i-.vestmeht and tina
,s-iir,inrtcn can secure shtre
hns'rce- from a vast hinteriand OF
con rates as are I'M effect at otnei
neal by ports ...-,.- .,d
huab.ess interests OF the cit. desire
the early construction OF "orN
That plans Of financing the
proisct car be arrived az without
much difficulty a..
"5.-That this is a war measure IN IN
aid Of tho government duIihs .nis
war, as appears from the enuois
merits It's conside ration at th'i unie
has received at the hands OF proini-
REM men OF the nation
'erhis report is the result Of four
n,ontSs' survey, made for the Board
of Harbo- Commissioners, VIII IN VIII
doubtless be USED by them as a oasls
f,r recommendation TO be made ns
tbeno to the City Council, hose hnal
anororel has TO be obtained and who
u,iil have then TO provide the mtans
~ carving the rrojeet through. -
Wilmington. Delaware, Dec. llth, l0lI
To the Board Of Harbor Commissioners
City.
Gentlemen rhu.
In accordance with instructions l nave
now made the Commercial ana lnaus'
trial Survey OF Wilmington and vieh.
itv for the purpose Of ascertainlng, az
,esrlv as possible. the volume of in
bound and outbound annual tonnage, foi
the purpose of arriving at an estimate
OF the possible amount OF business when
could pass over and through the public
docks and terminals proposed 20 be con-
structed and established accessible q
the deep water channel Of the Delawari
opposite the City.
As a basis TO secure the statistic.
hereafter given, lists Of manufacturer
and merchants doing business in New
Castle County we're prepared. Person
ally signed letters from the President
af the Board were sent 70 each urging
their cooperation in the work which
vas followed by personally signed letters
from myself enclosing blank forms pre-
pared for the purpose .or them 70 hl
in giving the following datai
Average annual tonnage, on basis
ot past three years Of inbound and
outbound raw materials and man.
ufactured products
Origin and destination BY geo.
graphical ioTeig1 and domestic
Tonnage by rail- ana water sep.
ately.
Expression regarding patronage Of
public dockf and terminals and stor.
age warehouses.
Considering the Board had no col
pulsory powers bestowed on it TO CO.
pei the furnishing OF the informati,
and that it was purely voluntary on ga
individual concern. the response
been quite satisfactory, sufficiently
as 10 be able 10 arrive at close
proximation Of Wilmingtons busu
tonnage. Manufacturers and large sh
pers OF course found themselves in b
ter shape 10 give the desired inform
ton by reason Of having a more p
feet system Of cost accounting than
aVcraie merchants. / aul sure IN
those who failed to respond did 50 q
from unwillingness 70 give the info
nation but rather from inability TO
70 by reason OF iaiiing 10 keep accou
Of tonnage Of their businesses.
As nearly as IL was possible | ha
checked up the tonnage returns cor
pied with the rail and water transpo
tation lines operating here. Gnd the
check up approximately close.
I am strongly Of the opinion tn.
from a careful study by the Board
the following statistical tables they wi
be convinced Of the absolute and in
mediate necessity Of modern docks ar
terminals and that there is a sufadel