Evening journal., 1923-01-24
URGE MARSH TO
BE TAXEXEMPT
Delegation Opposes Plan to
Tax Cherry Island for
City Purposes
CITE ITS HISTORY
FROM COLONIAL DAYS
stan Correspondent.

stan Correspondent.
STATE HOUSE. Jan. 24.-John
Biggs. chief counsel for the Penn
sylvsnia Railroad Company in Della
ware gave to the members OF the
House Committee on revenue and
taxation at hearing yesterday after
noon an interesting history of the
Cherry Island marsh land in VIII
mington, from 1852 up to the pres
ent time.
Mr.. Biggs and others composing
a committee OF the Manufacturers
Association and other interests were
before the committee to oppose
bin introduced in the House some
days ago 10 repeal a law that ex-
empts marsh land in wilmington
from. city taxation. The Cherry Is
land marsh land would be affected
by the bill The Railroad Company
owns considerable of the land
Others in the delegation opposed
to the exemption being lifted were:
F. G. Cox. o. V. Bigham, Jacob
weldin. Colonel George a. Elliott
James z. Stein and L. p. Hudson.
the latter representing the Pyrites
Company
II was explained that Cherry Is
land marsh lies in a triangle bor-
dered by the Brandywine Christi
ana and Delaware rivers. Mr..
Biggs told the committee IL was
banked in under authority OF the
Colonial government in 1852, four
teen years before the signing of the
Declaration OF Independence.
At that time. he said. there were
only five acres under water Now
there are 800 acres not under water
due 10 the fact that the Cherry Is
land Marsh Company and other in
terested land owners and manufac-
turers have built and maintained I
banks 10 prevent flooding of the |
land.
These banks, It was declared, have I
been maintained at a great deal of 4
expense by the owners with no n
nancial returns. IL was cited that IN
1894, as a result of a food, it was
necessary for the owners TO spend
$25, 900 TO restore the banks, and
last year. following a storm, ii was
TO spend $500 TO repair
the sluice bank opposite the Pyrites
Company plant
In 1889. the city wanted to extend
the city limits and took in a portion
OF this marsh land. he said. and IL
was then the law exempting this
and for taxation for ten years after
Il became high and fast land was
enacted. Mr.. Biggs said the law is
a good law and a wise one. and the
people who had Il enacted believed
Il was for the best interests OF the
city. II Il were not for the main
tensnce OF these banks, he said. the
water would food these marsh lands.
Become stagnsnt and breeding
grounds for disease.
Ee contended the owners should
not be taxed by the city because OF
he heavy expense OF keeping these
3a nks up. He said the land is now
sa'ed BY the county on an assessed
'aluation OF between $500 and $500
n acre; that the Cherry Island
dar-sh Company and other land
,wners have been assessing them
N+fr oRNA 0aA4AAaANAN - u - al
Gre each year. which with the !
ounty tax added amounts 10 from
5 70 Sc an acre. and in some cases
more.
II the city took over this prop
rty," he declared. I'VE don't believe
I would spend one cent TO keep up
hese banks"
While after the expiration OF the
period provided IN the law
.or exemption OF land made high
md dry the city has been collecting
axes, Il was claimed the city has
nsde no civic improvements there.
Ind as the improved land IS not oc-
,upied It is not bringing in any reve-
aue 10 It's owners
James f. Stein. secretary OF the
Association. inform
ed the members Of the committee
that one OF the main arguments pre-
=ented 10 industries desiring 10 To-
cate In Wilmington was the nom
taxable features in connection with
these unimproved lands.
There was no one present 10 rep
resent the city. The repeater bill
vas Introduced IN the House by Rep
resenrstivs McManus.