Delaware
History in News Journal Dec. 28-Jan. 3 with state’s growth, budget woes
Hear about Winterthur’s historic 1890 train station gingerbread replica
Diana Anello reveals the artistry behind the Winterthur gingerbread train station by Bredenbeck’s Bakery & Ice Cream Parlor.
- Excerpts from The News Journal archives from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3 include draining Sussex swamps 100 years ago.
- Delaware deals with budget deficit 50 years ago.
- Large population growth in state 25 years ago.
“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.
Dec. 29, 2000, The News Journal
Delaware’s population rises 18% in census
Delaware’s population grew by almost 18% in the past decade, a larger increase than state and federal officials had projected, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday.
Delaware now is home to 783,600 people, up by more than 117,000 since 1990, according to the initial release of Census 2000 figures.
That is the largest relative population increase among Northeastern states and nudged Delaware past South Dakota to become the 45th most populous state.
But even that growth wasn’t enough to garner the First State a second seat in the House of Representatives. Delaware fell about 128,000 people short of earning another Congressional slot.
“That’s OK, I enjoy my role,” said Rep. Mike Castle, one of seven House members who are the single representatives of their state. “I am not lonely. I have a lot of friends down there.”
The Census Bureau in March will release more detailed numbers showing population by age and race down to the neighborhood level. That will show where the population has risen and fallen and provide a wealth of information for government, businesses and scholars.
Jan. 1, 1976, The News Journal
Analysis: Big budget squeeze sets tone for state
The tone of Gov. Sherman W. Tribbitt’s administration amounts to variations of one theme – is there enough money?
This year, state revenue estimates have dropped from $408.5 million in August to $401.5 million in December. Meanwhile, the pressure to increase spending has remained constant.
Delaware faces a deficit of $8.7 million, and Tribbitt recently ordered an 8% spending cutback to try to reduce it.
The problem has been aggravated by two changes in traditional budget procedures.
Income tax refunds had been left out of the budget by Tribbitt’s predecessors, making spending appear to be less than it was. Tribbitt obtained a court order to change that. Now, the refunds – totaling $20.7 million this year – are included in the budget to give an accurate spending picture.
Full funding of the state’s pension program also has added a significant burden since it was started in 1971. The tab for fiscal 1976 is $33 million.
So, more than half of the $99 million increase in the state budget was unavoidable. The remainder can generally be attributed to increased costs, particularly salaries and utilities….
Jan. 2, 1926, The Evening Journal
Work begins to drain thousands of acres of Sussex swamps
Probably one of the most extensive drainage projects ever undertaken in the eastern section of the United States is underway in the lower part of Delaware, just east of Frankford.
A large dredging machine is cleaning out Vines Branch Canal and when the work is completed, a waterway capable of draining 25,000 acres will be made.
The canal starts near the head of the Pocomoke River in Maryland and terminates a mile east of Frankford at what is known as Long’s Pond. …
In addition to the immense canal, there will be many miles of lateral ditches which will make their way into it and drain valuable tracts of land which heretofore have not been arable because of the low, boggy conditions and heavy undergrowth.
More than 7,000 acres of land adjacent to the project will be drained besides several thousands acres from the lateral ditches which feed into it.
Several years ago the plans and surveys for the gigantic undertaking were prepared for the government at the request of Dr. Hiram R. Burton, of Lewes, who was then Representative in Congress from Delaware.
The cost is being maintained by the adjacent landowners who will reap thousands of dollars of benefits.
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.