Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-30

ne IcDOTL Ot IeSfdtIit ~. ~. "0htol
and Secretary William T. Budd showing
the work of the Chamber Of Commerce fol
the year just closed, and which was pre-
pented at the annual meeting Of the cham
Der last night, shows the things accom-
plished, the difficulties that had TO b<
overcome and some of the projects that Il
hopes 10 see come to pass this year. Tht
important sections Of the report follow
HARpoR DEVELOPMENT.
We have been and arc cooperating
most cordially with the mayor and Coun.
Gil and the Board of Harbor Connie
sioners in their endeavor to push forward
The projected development OF the harbor.
In that connection, City Council, IN
response to request from this organiza-
eion, held two public hearings in the coun-
Gil chamber last winter. when IT was
shown that q strong public sentiment ex-
istad endorsing favorable action on the
report of the Board of Harbor Cornmis-
noncrs.
In July your officers and members ac-
oompanied delegation of city officials,
- guests Of = member Of the board, TO
inspect the wharvce and docks Of Phila-
6elpbia, shortly after which City Council
authorized bond issue of S.. 10000 for
harbor development and 500, 900 Of this
SIM has been uadc available at once for
the use of the board. During the past
year contracts have been made for thecon-
0tructiou of city-owned wharf at Front
and Church streets, and it is expected
that bv the early summer this wharf will
be ready for the use of shippers of pro-
duce from the Peninsula and New Jersey
points BY this means food stuTs can be
received here directly from the producers,
thereby enabling dealers TO secure con-
slant supply of such commodities, fresh
r and st less cost than heretofore and
enable them to sell same at profit TO
themselves and at price proportionately
lower to the consumer.
The new harbor development at the
confluence OF the Christiana and Deis-
ware rivers, which will place Wilmington
N q most favorable position to compete
for fair share Of the country's commerce
and 10 become known as one of the worlds
commercial ports, is In a satisfactory state
of progress.
The Lobdell tract, the acquisition of
which has been recommended by every
engineer who has studied the subject, has
been purchased and engineers arc now
husily engaged in preparing plans along
the lines approved by the Board of Har-
Dor Commissioners and its consulting
engineers.
The Federal authorities are co operat-
ing most encouraging,y with the city
officials and their engineers and, AT the re-
quest OF thus chamber, the Congressional
Committee on Rivers and Harbors has
included in the bill which IT is now framing
an authorization for the government
engineers to make a survey OF the en-
trance channel In the Christiana river In
connection with the projected wharves
and docks.
During the last fall we were enabled,
through the courtesy Of Col. ]. P. Jervey,
Z. S. engineer officer IN this district, who
placed the U. s. S. "Alinquas" at our
service, TO bring together various federal,
State, county and city officials for an
inspection of the harbor.
HOUSING.
IN connection with the needs Of ad-
ditionsl housing for the growing popula-
ton Of the city. your officials have con-
tinted their interested efforts.
The Union Park Gardens project was
completed during 1919 and the houses are
now all occupied, thus affording marked
relief 70 the congestion existing here.
Plans are now under way by which the
extra cost, due TO the conditions under
which these houses were built, is being
written off as a war-charge and they will
be offered TO the public at prices in keep
ing with fair valuations, thus enabling
their prospective owners to purchase and
secure permanent homes.
The Appraisal at fair valuation, for
both sale and rental purposes, is being
made by board Of local men, intimately
acquainted with real estate values
This operation stands out as the great
st single achievement in the history OF
he city IN the field Of providing better
ot,sing farilitiee for our citizens.
Your oficials and members are CO.
rating with the municipal committee.
ointed by Mayor Taylor, during the
{ year. to study the housing needs and
recommend some form Of relief from
shortage which still exisis here lin
unon with nearly all the cities of the
ted Staten. and which is seriously
'pcring our Industrial growth.
one Of the chief handicaps which the
chamber r experiencing in securing the
location here OF new and very desirable
industries is the lack of housing accom-
modations for employees and we have
host several concerns on this account
a large number Of workmen, who came
her during the preceding year and who
were. otherwise, well satisfied, both with
Their work and the city az permanent
place of residence, have b*en forced TO
save due 70 the fact that they We're un-