Evening journal., 1920-02-19

HARBORLNE
IS OPPOSED
Continued from First PAGE.

suffer. If the line were stlll further
prolonged
It Is hoped by the commissioners thai
an amicable adjustment win be reached
and no difficulty Is anticipated in thi;
regard. The board however stand:
firm in iis position to oppose the In
side line as proposed by Government
engineers as prejudicial to the inter
esls Of the people OF Wilmington. The
board wants the outside line as pro-
posed by their engineer, John Meigs
and it IS their belief that this line will
be the best possible line for the future
expansion Of the city, and will in nc
wise interfere with the Government
plan1.
1T has always been understood by
us and Mr.. Mcigs" said Mr.. Speakmn n
today. shat the new plan would be
the projection OF the line OF the new
concrete ietty at Edge Moor, built by
The government recently We had no
other thought but that the new line
Of Wilmington's harbor would be a
line drawn from the end Of the Edge
Moor ietty to the end OF the Pigeon
Point pier"
Mr. Speakman continued:
THE u. s. engineers. developed an
idea yesterday that was new TO US.
They claim that the line from the ex-
tremty Of the Edge Moor bulkhead 10
the end OF the Pigeon Pier would pos
sibly detract from government inter
ests."
Mr.. Speakman said he had consulted
Calvin S Tompkins, chairman OF the
advisory board OF the Harbor Commits
sion by telephone in reference TO the
matter Of the haibor lines. but he did
not state the result OF the conversation.
Mr. Speakman then very concisely
the advantages to Whining
ton and the property owners The ad-
vantages VI the Edge Moor Jet.y-End
OF Pigeon Point Pier line He claimed
that II this line were adopted, Whining
ton manufacturers would have far more
room 10 expand behind the bulkhead
line than II The inside line as proposed
by u. s. engineers were adopted by the
city. lie stated that Wilmington would
have 90 bear the expenses Of the neces-
sary dredging. and that the other prop
erty owners in the vicinity Of the Har-
Dor Boards Bobdell property would
lind that their land would be affected
by an inside line. He further stated
that about 20 acres Of land which 10
would be possible to reclaim at some
future date would be lost 10 the city
and 30 private owners. lie stated that
an persons Interested In this matter
could call at the ofllces OF the Harbor
Board on the third floor OF the Munic-
ipal Building, from which Office lnfor-
nation would be cheerfully given as
to what the new harbor lines mean TO
the city of Wilmington.
Mr.. Speakman further stated that the
matter was not one for immediate
anxiety. but that IL was up 10 the Har-
Dor Board 30 consider the future de-
OF Wilmington as a port.
Mr.. Speakman also said that The most
plan for the development
II the Delaware River front, south OF
he city, was not the moving back OF
ines. but the moving out OF lines. ItI
vas cheaper, he said, TO Ill in than TO
lredge not TO mention the matter OF
pace for industrial expansion.
The crux OF the whole matter seems
o be that the Board of Harbor Com
Missions had no other Idea. but that
he ouls de line would be adopted. II
Mas their idea that this line would
be settled upon at yesterdays joint
with Colonels Jervey, Of The
u. s. Engineer office. and
.aDue OF the Philadelphia office. How
'ver. Colonel LaDue did not favor the
outside line, he claiming that II would
end to be preiudscial TO the interests
" the u. 5. Government TO adopt this
Inc. It was also slated by the u. 5
engineer Office that the engagement
II the river Immediately below the
mouth Of the Chrlstlana was bad
'nough already, and that there was
.ome possibility OF shifting said bars
md damages to the 35-foot channel
maintained at great expense by the
government in the Delaware river, II an
outside line was established.
Before the next meeting, which VIII
AXE place Wednesday, March 3, in
Room 1913, City and County Building,
10Th the government engineers and the
larbor board will carefully review all
aspects of the problem and no doubt
viii come to the meeting armed with
m possible information and argument.
Il is the opinion in some quarters
hat a compromise line will be tried,
lut the Board of Harbor Commissioners
viii exert every effort TO avoid com
promise and will endeavor to get the
outside line accepted by the government
for what they think is neces-
iary for the full expansion OF the city.
10 would be difficult also. 10 forecast
he outcome OF the Christiana problem.
As now planned by Meigs, SimUn and
the engineers for the Will
mington Harbor Board, the lines OF
Ihrstiana river at points within 1000
Yards OF the mouth would be at right
angles It was not stated at the local
offices Of the United States Engineering
Department today that these lines
would be opposed but II was stated
that lines for the Chrlstiana. curving
down stream with relation to the Della
ware river, would be more advantage
Gus for the maintainence OF the river
channel.
Colonel Jervey. head OF the local U. 6.
Engineer Ofilce. said today: ut is our
duty to spend as small amount OF
money as is practicable. consistent with
The proper interests OF commerce. I
think that a channel for the Christiana
IA. n. -