Evening journal., 1919-11-08
POINT OUT CITY'S
HARBOR CHANCES
Opportunity for Developing
Ideal Port, Business
Bodies Agree
WANT OLD TOWN
TO GET BENEFITS

An attractive pamphlet has been
printed Jointly by the Chamber Of
commerce and the Poard Of llarbor
commissioners. outlining the advan-
taees Of Wilmington as a port This
pamphlet will be sent 90 the Charles
ton Convention Of The Atlantic Deeper
Waterways Association, which opens
on Monday. and also the Galveston
Convention az the American Associa-
lion Of Port Authorities. which con-
Nenes on November i6.
The front Of the circular shows
birds eye view of The contemplated
improvement 90 The port Of Whining
ton. The drawing is in a brown tint.
and was executed in the office oNJOha
Nleigs. Philadelphia port designer.
The circular YVES written 'by Charles
n. Grant secretary u the Harb0r
Board. 10 follows
Hand IN hand with the Increase in
shipping Of this country and The
greater use Of our inland waterways
which has been accOmplised during
the past few years. there must 90 The
development Of port facilities 90 care
for our vessels. That fact is a self
evident one and am OF cur critics realize
this and are planning and constructing
piers as never before. And 70 behOuNes
an cities. whose location Is such that
they may do so. 10 attempt 90 care FOR
q proportion Of this rev enterprise NJ
our government Much has been said
~ the necessity for more ports along
the Atlantic SeabOard. The United
~tatesnecd more ports 90 serve as out
let's for lis Ocean-going cargOes, and
Wilmington Is so situated that 10 may
rightly make for itself a special place
among these shipping centers. And
at the opening OF the Chesapeake and
ohio Canal. that new ling in our in
land waterway system. the advantages
Of Wilmington as a staging point are
easily apparent
There is an opportunity. here. for
the creation Of an ideal port. Three
great railway systems. 10 which ready
access may be had, are available for
The services Of the port Three river
fronts are Included within The ciiy's
boundaries. and save for q few small
wharves along the Christiana and Bran
dywlne, the waterfront is undeveloped.
We have, then. the necessary railways
70 care FOR the land end Of co-ordi-
mating transportation system, We have
frontage on three rivers. the Delaware
The Christiana and the Brandywine. an
Of which may be used IN connection
with the harb0r. And. finally. we are
UnhUnpered by a poorly designed lay I
out or by old and misiit piers, which /
hight have been built without regard /
for transportation facilities and with I
no effort 90 affort economical hand f,
ling OF goods.
In May, 1871. by an act Of the Legis- /
ldture OF The state OF Delaware, a I
Board Of Harbor Commissioners was /
created for the City Of Wilmington. /
This act recltes. in part, that the mis- 4
sion Of this board shall be: ITO pre-
1are q plan for The Improvement Of The
water front. and 10 increase the har- I
Jor and shipping facilities Of the City
n Wilmington, on or adjacent to the /
banks or shores Of the navig3ble waters I
within the limits OF said city" This /
net Is the one under which the present /
Board Of HarbOr Commissioners IS act
.ns. Although their plans were held
~. for some time. because OF .he war
he movement In now under way TO
hat Of a possible port TO that Of
port in fact The City Council has ap-
proved a bond issue 10 the amount Of
S300O0O for Harbor Improvement. and
$4,000 Of this sum Is available for i'm
mediate use.
Recognizing the fact that the Della
ware, the main artery of the water
ways OF the eastern States. should be
utilized for piers TO accommodate large !
yessels.a "A tract Of land, comprising about
100 acres. has been acquired at the
junction Of The Christiana with that
stream. This is the location on which
the major project. now contemplated
will be constructed and 10 Is expected
that during the winter months. deli
mite plans will De made for the deyel-
opment Of this site.
smaller vessels. bearing produce.
foodsiuffs and the like, have long
lacked adequate space for the unload
ing Of their cargOes. At the present
time. we have under construction a
bulkhead wharf, 800 feet long, with
suitable sheds for the temporary stor- /
age Of such goods. This wharf Is To-
Gated on the Christiana. close 10 the
renter Of the city and thc markets. A
broad plaza, behind the wharf. Is in
'luded In the design, and the whole |
Effect Of The wharf will be In tho ma
lure Of an adornment 10 the water
front, aside from its usefulness.
Located thirty miles nearer the sea
nan Philadelphia, Wilmington is the