The New York herald., 1878-03-31

lmprovcment OF the Harlem River.
1. is unnecessary to repeat the descrip-
tions given from time to TIME by the
HERALD OF the many natural advantages
possessed by New York as great CONNER
cial centre. Every important Improvement
that has been projected in connection with
the metropolis and port has brought prom
inently into notice many facts bearing on
the subject of our superior location. with
its ample water areas, deep and navigable
channels and easy access to the ocean.
Everybody who has any knowledge OF the
situation of New York Bay and Harbor on
the Atlantic seaboard admits their unrivalled
natural capacity tor the development OF the
grandest commercial enterprises and pur-
poses, and the fact that despite Of the COM
parative slowness of our people to seize on
and utilize the advantages within their
reach trade has been attracted to New York
in Il proportion SO far beyond what has come
to other Atlantic ports is proof that even In
the face of artificial difficulties its natural
centre is here. The chief obstacles to
more rapid development OF our trade inter-
ests are created by the very defective AZ
rangement of the material facilities for con-
ducting it with economy. 1t is true an ex-
tensive water line, with docks and piers,
fronts the business portions OF the city.
Direct approach to this is unobstructed
and the largest ocean steamers can
discharge their cargoes on the wharves.
But these are mainly old and de-
fective and do not afford the needed accom-
mediation for freight, except on sections OF
the water front distant FROM the railroad
termini, whefe the freight must OF neces-
sity arrive for transportation inland or ex-
portation abroad. The reason for this is as
old as the city itself. New York commerce
existed before the railroads and the latter
were forced to terminate where they have
because of conditions that had no relation
to commercial interests, but were entirely
local. To overcome the difficulties thus
created should be the aim OF all who labor
to maintain and advance the commercial SUI
premacy Of New York.
Ore of the most effective means of accom-
plishing this object is the establishment of
complete and unbroken line of water
communication around the city. AS we
cannot bridge the space between the rail-
road termini and the docks in New York
city by extending the railroads to the pres
ent available dock and pier lines the next
thing to be done is to carry the docks to
the railroads, or at least as near them rs
possible. It is not difficult to accomplish
this on the Hudson River front, but it is not
altogether desirable to do SO for many rea-
sons, at least not until the necessities Of
special branches of trade demand it. A far
more important interest can be served by
carrying out what is known as the ''Har-
lem River improvement" or the connection
OF the waters OF the East River and the
Sound with those of the Hudson by means
OF wide, deep and navigable channel. fol-
lowing the line OF the Harlem River from its
mouth at Randalls Island to the entrance
Of Spuyten Duyvil Greek. BY this i'm
proyement tho water communication around
the city would be completed SO that vessels
or lighters could reach any point from the
Lower Bay and the Sound and land their
freight on wharves directly connected with
OF our trunk lines converging on New York
cross the line of the proposed Harlem River
improvement, but their termini in this
city are considerably removed from
the available dock and pier front. A
vast expense is entailed for trucking
and the storage and extra handling Of
freight that becomes necessary from the
depots to the piers, which must be added to
the cost of the goods exported or imported.
This extra expense weighs heavily against
the trade of New York by rendering the
handling of freight very expensive as com
pared with that in other ports. Undoubt-
edly additional lines of railroad will in time
enter the city from the northward, as the
great system Of roads embracing all the
North, West and South becomes extended.
1t is before these are built that we must pre-
pare for them by improving the communica-
tions with the sites OF their probable ter
mini
Many plans have been discussed from
time 10 time for this improvement of the
Harlem River, but all have been based OH
the opening of a deep and navigable chan
mel from The East River to the Hudson, the
differences being only in questions Of detail.
The surveys Of the United States Corps of
Engineers, conducted by General Newton,
and by the Department of Parks, have fur
nished all the necessary data for reliable
estimates of the cost Of the undertaking.
The estimate prepared by General Newton
and published with his report on the
scheme is a very moderate one considering
the magnitude of the work ana the i'm
portance of its results to the commerce
of the port us well as the sanitary
condition of the northern sections of
the city. The expenditure of two
millions of dollars would bo, indeed.