Evening journal., 1919-01-09
TOWN Meeting TO
DECIDE PRODUCE
WHARF QUESTION
lcontInued from pase ones

kIonUnueQ from pdSb oncsl
whole held conference. Presiden
George T. Lyon, OF City Council, ques
Toned whether cheaper wharf OF tim
Der instead OF concrete construction
might not do as well.
The people OF Wilmington viii be IN
vited to say what they think the citl
should do as to immediate construction
of the produce wharf and In gard T.
further development Of the river front
at a town meeting to be held in th'
Council chamber at an early dale
The Board Of Harbo- Commissioners
was represented by Charles Warner
chairman and James p. Winchester. AL
members Of City Council were present
Copies OF the report OF the Board OF
Harbo- Commissioners on river front
DEVELOPMENT were formally presented
10 City Council by the commissioners.
Mr.. Warner said the Board OF Harbor
Commissioners recommended immedi-
ately the building Of g concrete pro-
duce wharf with storage sheds, al
Front and Church streets md the pur-
chase OF the Lobdell property, at The
mouth OF the Christiana river on The
south side.
He said the executive committee Of
the Chamber Of Commerce was 10
recommend both OF these measures 10
the Chamber Of Commerce.
In reply to questions. Mr, winchester
said the HarbOr Commissioners hao
made no general canvass OF public opin-
ion as vet wishing 10 do 50 at the in
tended town melting but most OF the
opinions he had heard favored the i'm
mediate construction OF the produce
wharf. He said government ownership
Of railroads had complicated the har-
Dor development plans.
Asked for an estimate. Mr.. Warner
said the cost Of the larf. including
piling. piers, street sections in the rear
digging out channel. uiaag in, sheds
and purchase Of secti9l n land from
the Pennsylvania Railroad would not
exceed $4,000. With a sliding scale
in the contracts the city would benefit
BY whatever reduction IN cost OF ma
terial and labor should now occur.
Il believe the year 1919 will sec oil
the reductions in cost OF labor ana ma
ferials that will be made for several
years to come. With The comlne ei
of prosperity. / believe cosis viii work
up again A" stated Mr.. Warner.
Mr.. Winchester also said II was his
belief. and that OF many big employers
OF labor that cost OF labor would not
90 on much He thought that costs OF
material would be lowered now for a
period TO encourage builders TO take
up construction work again. after the
war and now would be the cheapest
time to build for several years TO
come.
Il can give you an evidence OF my |
belief" said Mr.. Warner. II have rec
commended 10 the executive committee |
OF the Warner Company the biggest
production program ever undertaken
by the company, even ahead OF the
production outlook. ! think ii the best
chance for flve years to come"
Mr.. Warner explained the proposed
wharf would have a 800 foot frontage,
with total depth Of $50 feet. If more
room was needed In the future, the
city could take the adjoining i50 feet
now leased TO the Pusey and Jones
Company.
President Lyon asked what the cost
VI a ilhluti VIAL MNhiu Hts MI Noi-
ner said he did not know, but he doubt |
ed II the city would save more than
$4,000 by a timber instead Of concrete |
piling, and IL would wear out In ten |
years, while the concrete would be
good for fifty or more years. He said
the Harbor Commissioners would not
a timber wharf. but at re-
quest OF Council agreed 10 get esti-
mates upon one.
President Lyon said he could not un-
ierstand why the Park Board had al
lowed land between Third street bridge
and Fourth street TO go TO the Wilson
Line when 10 would have been Just
the place for a produce wharf, and at
one time the city had a wharf already
there. He said they could have given
the wharf a try-out for a couple OF
years before building permanently and
see whether it would pay. Now, he
said. the city only owned a lead pencil
in Fourth street terminus.
"Ihe produce proposition now Is not
what II was ten years ago" said Mr..
Lyon. Then YOU used TO see the boats
coming over from the Jersey side from
sundown to sunup. Besides you pay
more for Jersey produce here than in
Philadelphia"
Mr.. Lyon also thought the proposed
wharf should offer piers for excursion
boats.
Councilman Harrington said that Jer-