Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-29

local production and consumption, and
that the prospective ocean ship terminals
will be confined to the section down
stream of this bridge. This area il within
about two miles Of the industrial centre OF
the city, and from the standpoint OF pres
ent day means Of highway locomot'on, by
motor truck, this is highly convenient
and accessible location.
The construction Of ocean terminals
on the low areas either TO the north or
south Of the lower Christiana is physically
feasible, but the property to the north
ward il less desirable from topographi-
cal and railroad standpoint, and thus,
by process Of clmination,. the area to
the south of the Christiana, with n 'front.'
age on that stream and on the Delaware
river, has been considered the most
available and desirable local site for de-
velopmcnt for marine purposes. Ihis
tract has frontage of about one mile on
each OF the two rivers-a total buikhead
lenp Tn of more than 10000 feet, and con-
tains approximately $50 acres within the
pier head lines s-nearly one square mile.
As a result of an Investigation made
Jointly for the City Council and Chamber
of Commerce of Wilmington in 1917,
report was submitted TO these bodies con-
tanning recommendation for the aeuui-
sition of the site above referred to, and the
Improvement thereof by the construction
of wharves, warehouses, industrial plants
and other appurtenacnes.
ORGANIZATION OF uAR1oR BOARD.
Following the endorsement of this pro-
icct bv these bodies, immediate steps were
| taken TO organize Board of liarbor Com
missioners, with powers adequate To han
die the entire port problem OF the city
| and TO proceed with definite plan ol
| development. The necessary legislation
| to bring this about was perfected a Board
/ of Commissioners was appointed, and
| prompt measures were taken by them fol
] n complete study of the port situation
with a view to the adoption of genera
| policy of improvement, and the com
mencement Of preliminary plans therefor
! This Board of Harbor Commissio ners
| while bipartisan in character. - not poli.
tical in the ordinary sense but composed
| of substantial business men and manu-
faoturers, who have approached the sub
ject earnestly, ENTHUSIASTICALLY, with a iui
realization of its Importance and firfi
| belief in its successful working out. Zach
member of the board has oonscientlousls
and independently investigated every
phase of the matter, working IN closest
touch with their engineering advisers.
The president Of the board, Mr. WI
lard A. Speakman, is ably collaborates
with bv it's other two members, Messrs
Charles Warner and Joseph Bancroft
They have closely and frequently con
ferred with their technical advisory board
composed of Messrs Calvin Tomklns, Is
+. Cresson and =. w. Hersey, all of New
York. and their designing engineers, Mess
Mcssrs. Meigs, Simon & Fearing, o
Philadelphia and Wilmington.
PLANS roR DEVELOPMENT or PORT.
Il is intended by the board to oonhn
the expenditures for and improvements o
the waterfront for the present and pro
badly for some years 10 come to Tn
lower Christiana tract above described
except for a comparatively minor I'm
provement in the way Of bulkhead whar
located midway Of the present bullt-ul
waterfront of the city, at the foot Of From
and Church streets for the accommoda
tion of river passenger steamers, and o
produce and truck boats from the farninl
districts OF lower Delaware bay.
This produce wharf is 500 feet IN lcngtl
of a permanent conorete-relievIng plat
form type. provided with steel-frame'
, tile-roofed shelter sheds. IS feet wide ant
with an aggregate length of l56 feet an
il designed 70 afford much-necded add
tional steamboat berthing accomm oda
tions. and also 70 contribute toward th
solution of the present problem Of hig
. prices of food oomm0 dltles, by bringin
! the producer and consumer directly Il
: gether without the Interpolation of th
: middleman or commission merchant
; This Improvement Is well under WAY
: and will be completed early in the fall {
| the present year. Already considerabl
I use has been made OF the whsrf even
( its present unfinished condition, an
while this subordinate structure has n
bearing on the larger plans for the develop
I ment of the lower tract. the geaer;
H public interest excited by il has its walt
Il in attracting additional support for u
/ main project Of improvement now belr
II studied by the Harbor Board and it's eng
II neers.
II The tract selected for the main d.
y velopment of the port l. bounded on i
{ southerly side by the Delaware Rive
$ upon which it has approximately one an
one-eighth miles of frontage from PIgeo
Point TO the mouth of the Christiana; Q
? its easteriy side by the Christiana i've
E with q frontage of approximately or
, mile and on the two land sides by th
plant of the Lobdell Car Wheel Co. O
the north; and the rights of way Of th
Philadelphia, Baltimore d Washingto
e railroad-an auxiliary of the Pennsv
| vania Railroad company-and the Wi
mington & Northern Railroad-an aux
liary of the Philadelphia & Reading Raj
: way Co. Between the above land hour
, daries and the waterfront of the trac
: the land is wholly unimproved except fc
few minor farm buildings, so that n
alterations of existing waterfront strut
tures or sacrifices of expensive improve