Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-01
RIVER BANK BREAK
Continued from page


reservation sometimes is three feet under
water. and the southern entrance fire.
quently cannot be used because Of the
flood
"RsNI6ED" ON REBUILDING.
In May the Levy Court planned for
the rebuilding of the broken river bank
and during the summer awarded CON
tract to the Jones Construction Co,
whose bid was $4,000 To pay for the
work spportlonme nts were made as
follows: Levy Court and Marl,n-Rockwell,
81 500 each; Lighthouse Board, $4,000;
st. Georges Marsh Co, So 900. The Jones
Construction Co. would not begin opera
tions, county officials say, because Marlin
Rockwell delayed signing papers, and late
IN the summer the contractor was released
from obligation because the federnl
Government comrnandeered the Jones
Construction Co.'S dredgc. County
officials also say the St Georges Marsh Co.
refused 10 meet its apportionment and
could compel the Levy Court TO institute
condemnation proceedings to enable il to
go on the company's land TO repair the
break in the river bank
After the parties Interested had failed
to cooperate, the Federal Government
began tho construction Of n river bank,
which it will complete soon, designed 10
protect the MarllnRockwcll plant. 1his
bank s 5000 feet long tone-halt the length
of the bank for which the Jones Con
structlon Go. contracted and III feet wide
and varies from : to 20 feet IN height, but
does not benefit land outside the mum ton
industry Beyond il IL the 65-foot bre ak
in the old river bank through which n
large volume Of water flows For the
accommodation Of light keepers, the
Lighthouse Board erected bridge over
the breach
LEVY COURT HA NDIchrPED
Meanwhile tho Levy Court readvertised
for proposals and received one bid, TINT
of the Delaware Dredging Co, which
proposed constructing ; ,00O-foot bank
Tor S29. 800 but $500 lcss than the Jones
Construction Co.'S bid for 10.0Oo-foot
bank The Levy Court has not acted
on the Delaware Dredging Co.'S proposal
because the court provided IN ite budget
but sl4 900 Ia pay he county's share
Of tho cost When the budget was
adopted che court thought Marlin
Rockwell and the st Georges Marsh
90 would co-operate The court also
does not want 90 establish precedent hy
lifting burden from the marsh com
pany
Delaware City Is angry because the
Marlin Rock we'll housing projects are
going IN the direction of MlddlotoNn
instead of coming 10 Delaware CitY
MIddletown Is ninc miles from tho Marlin
Rockwell plant and Delaware City one
third thai distance The rlver hank
being constructed hV the Federal govern
menl makes the 81 Georges and Mt
Pleasant roads entrances TO the plant
With the Delaware Eity-Port Penn road
~ ItS present condition the plant can be
reached from Delaware City only by the
81 Georges road, = dctour of miles
The st Georges road frequently ls covered
in some places hy water and is Faid 10
lie almost iIupassablc III spring and winter
The Delaware Citv-Port Penn road
previous to he closing Of the section
passing through the munltion plant WINS
four miles long. but recent detonr made
by the Federal government has lcngthenei
il one and onc-half miles Delaware CITY
saws If the Delaware Gity-Port Penn road
was put in good condition Delaware Ciiy
woad ho the logical place for hc Marlin
Rockwell housing projects and would
atfofi shipping facilities for the muntlon
plan, Delaware City's situation would
lie n strong recommendation. Delaware