Evening journal., 1919-01-31
TOWN Meeting
GIVES APPROVAL
TO RIVER PIERS
toontinued from page Ons)

which has been discussed lOr years Du'
which had amounted TO nothing but
the marking OF time by citizens here
tofore.
That the project as outlined by the
Harbor Board Is considered the most
feasible was the statement made by
John Meigs, harbor expert Of Phllsdel-
phis, who spoke on the supjest. Major
F! william B. Gray, Of the Army, who Is
! a Wilmingtonian, educated In the public
! schools here and az Delaware College
! and considered an expert engineer; VIII
! ham T. Budd. Of the local plant OF the
! Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
! William d. Mullen. who led the night
for the water front for years in the old
Board Of Trade; John Taite, who has
been representing shipping companies
. in Philadelphia for twenty-five years ;
( Former Representative Henry c. Down
ward. George T. McGovern. James
T.. OKane, Of the Central Labor Union,
who declared organized labor was in
favor OF the Harb0r Board project, and
others.
Former Mayor James F. Price 90
supIed seat In the front OF the
chambers and took an active part IN
The town meeting.
At the opening OF the meeting at Q
O'Clock. Charles Warner. president Of
the Hsrbor Board. who was present
with the other members OF that ,yody,
had a blackboard with a map of the
two water front projects on it placed
on exhibition. He referred 10 the flrst
meeting held last week when the at
tendance was large. despite the heavy
rain storm, but he said that last nights
attendance was gratifying. No opposi-
tton OF discussion was made on the
1rst project. known as the municipal
wharf project, which calls for the
construction Of truckers wharves along
ahe Christiana river at Church ST. eet.
The second project, known as the
;t1ver front development, calls for the
purchase Of two hundred acres Of
land, one-half Of which Is above tide
water from the Lobdell Car Wheel
Company's land at the mouth Of the |
Christlana river. The owners, he stated, |
were willing 70 sell this tract at $1,000 |
an acre, on the basis Of 1000 acres,
which Is high land, and they were Will |
ing 10 take city bonds for the same. The
total cost of this project. he added, was
estimated at S233,O00
Councilman Mearns asked Mr.. War
ADA WY ~ was HAUHOcIu u HAuiN llAt
seaport piers on the Christiana river,
instead Of on the Delaware river. Mr..
Warner stated the Delaware river piers
would be too costly, the shore line
being some distance from the channel,
and TIE dredging would be an expen-
sive proposition Major General Black,
Of the United States Engineering, Corps,
he added, had stated the present pro-
tor n haitian fhnu tIaFfpur fhn III
1iers on the Delaware river, as little
q edgins would be necessary and the
Channel would allow for vessels draw
ing IS feet Of water. sufficient to care
for traf1c for sometime to come.
Frank r Jones, a contractor, stated
that at the present time there is but
two feet Of water at the point at high
water, and that It would cost 100000
10 build a road 20 the proposed piers.
Mr.. Warner said 10 was felt that the
city would expand IN time, so that the
piers would not be far from the city.
As for the siltage, that was 10 be ex-
pected, but that engineers held this
could be remedied by dredging, which
was not a serious matter.
George Rommell, Of the Philadelphia
and Reading Railway Company, said
that the lower ietty caused the river
20 shoal and dredging was necessary at
ell times.
George H. McGovern said that he had
3 report OF Government engineers on
river front conditions and their sound
ings, ct every twenty feet, showed the
siltage TO be such that constant dredg-
ing would be necessary. Mr.. McGov
ern stated that II we were 20 have river
front piers, place them on the Delaware
river, where they belong"
Mr.. Warner contended that the chan
mel Of the Christisna river had TO be
kept open and Il was not a serious
problem.
President Of Council Lyon announced II
the appointment OF the following mem
bers OF Council 10 cooperate with the 1
Harbor Board and to devise means 20
raise the money needed, as was sug-
eested at the town meeting last week.
Those named by Mr. Lyon were Coun-
ollmen Robertson, Forwood and Nc
ponough.
Mr.. Meigs was introduced by William
p. Megear, president OF the Chamber
OF Commerce, and he demonstrated by /
the aid Of large map just what was
proposed 10 be done TO the river front
lie said that the development Of the
,orth side Of the river jetty and be-
ween there and Edge Moor was out OF
he question, as the Government was
tanning TO MI in the lands there,
Thich would take years, and on the
,uth side, AZ poroposed by the Harbor
commission, the lands were high and
ould be used at once. The railroad
cilities were better on the south side,
g said.
Mr.. Warner then called on Major Z
ray, who said that it was a pleasure
} be present and hear plans made FOR
he development Of a dream OF his
oynood. Major Gray said that while
u the High School In his boyhood days
le was called on to write an essay on
ss she facilities Of Wilmington, and at
So, 49, TINE ne suggested the river front
.o,'ls so that PhilsdelphIaps
shos sealo come to Wilmington IN make
shelr purchases. W H40Ae
roriner Representative r.,.,,-
bas1u shas much laughter when he sats
seN se.as nc ieit Wilmington had start.s 80
~ narcn 10 the sea after so-s., ~ .e. ol
" marking time, but thai ts EeIe
tsiins 10 prevent the marchers 80 onlE
sressing was finances. He re.d slo-
suggestions, which he said vvo,,Ia nss ~ oi
tne city TO secure funds To carr, ~ Seese ss
work. These included the leeaiizin,' 'e
boxing exhibitions, the citv IN 1s. y.
portion OF the receipts; the taxins 20
Sunday baseball games and "moyiesa
On Sundays; the taxing Of all beverages
HE increasing Of street car fares TO |
seven cents, the city to get one-half
mAk