Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-08
FRIDAY. MARCH s, 1918
Varbor's Future in the Balance.

II the harhor OF Wilmington is to keep
pace with the c1ty's development general
ly, according TO information obtained from
Washington. as is pointed out in local
article on another page OF Every Evening
TODAY. II must be demonstrated 10 the
Federal government that the watorborne
traffic Is worth while, and the only way
10 do .his is 10 show some material local
interest In the project Frank c Warner,
the United States engineer in charge Of the
Wilmington district which includes the
citv's harhor. has made substantial
recommendation to the govcrnment,which,
relying on his Judgment. has laid the
groundwork tor a gGodly appropriation
for the ensuing fiscal year Therefore,
he Federal authorities have demonstrated
their taith IN Wilmington, and nov i is mp
10 Wilmington 10 prove that this conf
dencc has MT been misplaced
In this behalf our new Ilarbor Com
miSs,on. CItv Council and the Chamber ol
Commerce. a- we'll as the pcopl, generally,
have a direct interest The Chamhcr ~
manifested that interest in q material
way during the last session of the LcgsIa
turr. when Il secured the passage oi the
act creating the Harhor Commission,
but since then It seems aS if vCry httlc h:s
been accomplished ndc- the Eaw Il Is
the duty Of the IIarhor Commission to
find out what Wilmington need and
make recommendations accordingly ~
City Council Next it Is the dutl ol
Council Ia approve or disapprov IL
Council approves. It must make tic
necessary financial provision Tor c.rry-
Iac out such projects - may be decided
upon. and then II becomes the duty u The
commission 10 prosecute the work. ! iro
present board Va~ appointed last MAY
II was deemed advisable Q want ior the
report 81 John NlcIe>, who had been
Engaged 70 make Local va.r'ronl sur
vev Now taat Nir Nl,ic~ report Is in
hand. the vay Uofld SeeIa e. hc clear
Tor action
The hoard i ,rct',.4. ,he Llv SAYS ito
prepar, r,lan + T tie IMPROVEMENT 81 the
water front ara Il increase the hartp,
and stIpynl ,aelIi,l,S Of tie city 81 VII
nnnrto,. On 81 ,dja,-.I. 70 The banks or
shores oi the nay .esblc waters within The
hmll, 81 ,h, sad ciil - the1 ne" e>ist.
or NAV hereafter he extended. &c.
"Sald pian the law continues shall
contemplate Recommendations and iacili-
tIcs for shipping al such place or places a
are deemed most suitable for the purposes
of tins act. and sha. be submitted To The
Council OF the ctv OF Wilmington for its
approval The Council shall approve or
dlsApprove OF slid plan by majority
vote II SAID plan Is approved then sand
board ,laiI proceed 10 acquire &c The
board Is also directed TO construct ON
any such whartes or piers a warehouse or
warehouses and such other structures,
appianccs cranes and machinery Us the
board may determine Tor tho convenience
Uf shipping and commerce =
The board i also directed 10 exercise
1ull power and control over said wharves.
docks, piers, slips harbors and warehouses
under such rules and regulations and
provisions as IT. by resolution, may
establish
As to the financial plan the law says
''For the sole purpose Of paying for land.
the riparian rights and all other rights
ano privileges acquired under the pro-
vlnioIlS OF this act and for building and
constructing wh:.rves, piers, docks, siiE,s,
buLllheads and terminals, together with
the warehouses and rails and tracks, and
operating machinery Is herein contemplat-
ed, The Mayor and Council Of Wilmington
shall, and is hereby authorized and erD-
powered to borrow, uPon the faith and
credit Of the city Of Wilmington, such sum
of money as it by ordinance shall deter
mlne, TO enable the said Board Of Harbor
Commissioners to carry out the provisions
oi tins act, Dc
The Harbor Commission is also auth
orlzed to submit supplemental plans for
development from time TO time, the pro-
crdure, with respect to it and Council,
10 be the same as III the first instance
80 IL Is quite evident that the way is
clear for such action as may be considered
for the best interests Of the city, not only
IN respect OF development Of the Della
ware river front, which is considered of
vital importance, but also Of the harbor We
already have IN the Christiana and
Brandywine rivers The Federal govern
ment, as is pointed out above, has been
doing it's duty BY the harbor, and En-
gineer Warmers recommendations con
template continuance of the liberal
policy of the War Department toward
Wilmington. Therefore, il seems to be up
70 the city TO dc its share toward keeping