The New York herald., 1876-09-26
THE REEF DESTROYED.
What Commerce Will Derive from an En-
ginecrs Achievement.
MAP OF THE SOUND ROUTE.
Changes in the Tides and Currents
Noticed at Hell Gate.
THE CROAKER'S DREAM.

The commerce of New York has OF late been sadly
1amped for available space where0n 10 undergo
yEmstrical development In keeping with the growth
N tho metropolis Trade is as sensitive to physical
obstacles iree flow the currents Of river
70 submerged distractions, aud follows sometimes
tortuous channels sookng the centres whcro mana.
fActuring industry and commercial enterprise most
active. In acquiring and retaining large trade the
community 60 favored by fortune by every
means At It's disposal smoother the road
Gtraighten and deepen the channel by which
the precious tidal will pass TO enrich
thc merchant and employ the mechanic 1t Ia almost
impossible 10 draw trade TO ineligible centre 1t Is
uncontrollablc and will follow only its natural low
fake, for instance, the Atlantic seaboard and mark
thereon tho many fine harbors and roadsteads that in
sent tho limo from Eastport Savannah Any of these
ports offer certain facilities for the reception of
mercc but yet New York aCno takes the lions share
simply because her facilities Tor importation and
porasion superior to those OF any city along tho
coast She possesses spacious harbor, land locked
and deep enough 1oa: tho largest ships in tho world
She has . noble river leading northward into the
heart OF the State Of Now York. and connected with
tho great akc system OF tho North and Northwest by
tho Erie Canal. The wealth and produce Of tho Wost
flows In numerous and we'll regulated streams to her
- the natural outlet to tho Eastern Hemisphere.
Locally, hor water fronts extend for miles along her
shores, inviting tho manufacturer his work.
shops close to deep wator and the wharves OF tho
transatlantic limos OF steamers Her insular position,
between two deep and navgaolo rivers, gives her
markable advantages, enjoyed, perhaps, in a similar
degree by other city In tho world A
vast basin, tho Sound, land lined for hundred
and nfty mies, extends eastward from the northern
extromity Of tho city, aIordng facilities for
trado With all New England and tho British possessions
OF the Atlantic ALL in fact. tha could lend to her posi-
sion as commercial centre the pre-eminence Of
metropolis OF trade hers. But blcmish alono
remains to mar the almost perfect symmetry OF her
water communications, And that is the rocky bar
stretching tho He'll Gate channel From the
beginning Of the expansion Of New York from u
hshing village into city the rugged pass at
He'll Gate was recognized obstacle to her
prosperity. The hopes Of tho early merchants aud
AavigAtors centred tho possibility Of removing
hcse distractions and openings watcry highway for
rads through the Sound TO tho Atlantic The interests
81 the coast towns barred out as II were from Now
York by the rocks and REEFS demanded their removal
Tho defence OF the city and port against tho assaults
and blockades by foreign enemies created tho
necessity. Everything in fact that could In the
rcmotcst degree tend to increase tho i'm.
portance OF the Empire City to hinge
this improvement directly to render Its prose-
sutton 10 completion imperative obligation tho
people Of tho United States. And here may be well
70 remark that tho welfare OF tho whole country s
imately connected with that OF New York Trade has
some US as naturally water obcys tho laws OF
gravity in ITS low Tho geographical position Of New
York with relation to tho manufacturing nations OF
Curope-such Great Britain, Germany, France, Bel
yium and the Nethcrlands-is such to bring
about natural selection OF this city as tho
point at which the productions OF tho East should be
iistributed 10 the West In like IL II tho out
let for the wealth and commerce of the Western
World Therefore at New York centres a largo pro-
portion Of the trade which benefits the whole Union
and every additional facility which be Afforded
She development OF that interest increases the benefits
which tho whole country must derive from It's expan
non 1t has been said in connection with the He'll
Cato Improvement that opposition gwen
70 tho appropriations therefor by members Of
Congress from districts in the Interior
but such opposition could only arise
out OF the grosscst ignorance the part Of these
Bhorsighcd legislators regarding the object and effect
Of the expenditures proposed. Whence does the gov
crnent dcrvc It's vast revenue from foreign !mports
IL II from Cincinnati, St Louis Cleveland, indianapolis
PIttsburg and other large cities In tho Middle and
Western Staess No. Eight tenths of all the money
received by the government is collected IN New York
on goods destined for these inland citics II is easy
therefore, to how closely associated in interest
she States Of tho Union regarding OF rade
facilities at New York.
Accompanying this article is a map showing the new
line for transatlantic trade opened by tho improve
ments at He'll Gate In the age of steam tlmo is an
element OF the greatcst importance when calculating
che development OF commerce. The fastest steamers
and tho fastest trains will monopolize trade The
value Of day can hardly be estimated in the trans
portstion OF pcrlshabe goods and conditions OF
trade constantly arising progress IL mado
In the improvements of machinery which result
In an increase in the rapidity of communication Not
only is this tho casc but interests spring up which
twe their existence she saving effected tho time OF
ocean voyages-take. for instance, tho fresh meat
radc with Europe, which, thanks quick voyages.
opening up market for the farmers of the West
and South that will enrich thc beyond their iondest
dreams. Such tradc impossibilty In tho days
when two weeks voyage TO Liverpool regarded
~ last trip across the Atlantic. Now that tho
time has been reduced to seven days Europe comes
10 Us for fresh beef vegetables other commodities
which were drugging markets homo and scarcely
making any returns to the producer.
II our improved steam machinery lesson the
time consumed in voyages, how much moro must a
ducson Of tho distance be travelled ovor ;cnd
facilitate trade! IL s to accomplish this that
she He'll Cato obstructions being removed,
Ior they barred tho route by tho Sound to
iho Atlantic VIII ch Is from fifty TO hundred miles
shorter ON the voyage TO Europe according 10 the
eharactor OF the vessel When leaving New York city
IN ocean steamer passes down the Bay, through the
Narrows. into the Lower Bay and past Sandy Hook-a
distance OF over twenty milcsbcforc she reaches the
ocean. During the latter part OF thus passage her
course rs over comparatively shallow water and at Its
termination noar Sandy Hook bar has to DO crossed
which ut law water Is dangerous obstacle vessels
D hcsvy draught In order to avcid Inc trcacherous
shorcs oi Long Island tue eastward hound vessel io
lows curved course toward the south she clears
Mou,suS Point, whence she advances into tho broad
Atlantic Tho deviation IRON her direct course TO
s nend Is very considerable, und when its length
r"nI"rcd with that OF tho route va Tho Sound 1t will
D. seen Vt once how tho saving Is effected OF
:Uurse the sound has its own disadyantaucs duo
foPs aud groups OF Islands at rs east
wn cnd; but thtso objections can be az