The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-11
Cheap Transportation and its Rela-
ton to Now YOrk-supplementary


tion to New York-suppIemcntary
Needs. III.
Scarcely second to cheap transportation In
its Importance to us, as great commercial
centre and distributing point of the products
Of our own country and Europe alike, is the
question-brought home to US the more closely
from the discussion of last night-of the cheap
handling of freight at this port and especially
is this the case in reference to the particular
freight, the excessive cost of moving which,
and bow that may be reduced forms the sub
ject of such active agitation throughout the
country at the present time No provision
that may be made either in respect to addi-
tional railroad facilities, with lower rates.
or increased canal capacity will suffice, how
far soever it may 60, to maintain the COM
mercial supremacy of New York against the
formidable rivalry of other cities anxious to
dispute our empire. We have work to do
within our own limits that should have been
done years ago, which it would be well for
our merchants to consider in its practical
bearing upon our commerce, with the same
fulness of understanding and earnest purpose
to effect reform that they have brought
to the discussion of the matter of
transportation. One has but to read the
letter of our Montreal correspondent in
Tuesdays paper and then take walk along
the river front on either side of our city to
realize how much behindhand we are in the
great struggle for precedence in the forwarding
trade of the West now impending.
For years has New York stood still in this as
in other great improvements, while rival cities
have put forth much effort of that kind
in their bidding for share of the trade
New York appeared to monopolize. Tam
many appreciated our need in this re-
spect but, promising to meet it. de-
layed action to help schemes of private
speculation, while the present reform manage
ment seems to lack even an understanding Of
the important trusts it has assumed. It is
true the natural advantages Of our capacious
harbor, with its safe anchorage, open at all
seasons of the year, are many but these will
not always counterbalance other disadvantages
when modern engineering skill can SO soon
transform dangerous channel into a secure
roadstead. The problem to be solved is how
best to use these natural advantages so that we
may turn our extended water front to more
profitable account in cheapening the expense
of transshipment
Our commerce is twofold in its character,
being in both respects greater than that of
any other city in the Union, and in times Of
special activity is subject to overcrowding
alike in our streets and at the piers In addi-
ton to the new docks proposed along our city
front, but SO long delayed, we want particular
provision for the cheaper handling Of grain
freights. The annexation Of the lower portion
of Westchester county has given us just the
additional water front we need for this pur-
pose and placed within our municipal control
the very locality adapted for great grain
depot Large and important engineering
works are, of course, required to realize the
full advantage thus offered us; but, in the
meantime, while these are in course of con.
struction, much may be availed of. A railroad
bridge across the Hudson River, at point
near Poughkeepsie, proposed years ago, but
as in the case Of other much-needed improve.
ments, apparently still-born in its agitation,
will enable grain-laden cars to bring their
freights close alongside vessels waiting to
receive them, thus reducing the cost of trans
shipment to a minimum, while the completion
of the Harlem Canal project will enable
barges and canal boats to reach the same
point of transfer without the trouble and
expense of passing through the crowded
waters of the Hudson and East rivers lower
down, and thus give great relief to the bust
ness of these waters.
Here are three projects which it would be
well for our merchants to give attention to if
they would retain the commerce in grain now
so seriously threatened by Montreal. That
ancient city, so long slumbering in quiet con-
servatism, has recently awakened to knowl-
edge of its Importance at the confluence of
open sea and inland water navigation, and is
making active preparation to meet contingent
possibilities certain to present themselves if
we prove dilatory. New York possesses equal
advantages with Montreal in respect to the
particular claims that city presents, if we
DIOpcIiy uSo oAoLuS Out VIC CoAAOI th1OIO W
longer stand still in our dock improvements
and in providing for the means of cheap
transshipment, while ten miles of new works
at Montreal invite trade in that direction.
Nor can we longer ignore the necessity of the
immediate widening of the Erie Canal to its
fullest capacity, in order that our inland
water routes may equal those Of our growing
rival. This latter work would largely help
the solution of the question Of motive power;
as with larger locks and deeper and wider
waterway the application of steam would be
less difficult. 1t seems little strange that
in the resolutions passed at the meet
ing last night the Importance of these
improvements was not set forth at
more length We may quadruple the railroad
CARVING capacitv between the East and West