New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-08
NEWCOMERS II they do net ascertain that
cause. nor to their energy and enterprise II they

cause, nor to their energy and enterprise II they
do not overcome 1t.
The Mayor as a correspondent elsewhere In
today's paper recalls, recognizes the fact and
attributes 1t to the lack Of dock facilities. That
no doubt has much to do with II. Dock room
In New-York has long been VIGOROUSLY scanty.
To limited extent steps are now being taken to
remedy that evil. The waterfront Of Man.
haitian Island is being improved. Docks are
being deepeped and piers made longer and more
substantial and cOmmodious Thus 1t Is reason
ably expected to WOO back some OF the steam
ship lines that have sought dockage in Jersey
City and HObOken. But that will not strike ut
the root Of the matter. for Jersey City and Ho-
bokcn are already part Of the port OF New-lork,
and that will be only transferring traffic from
one part of the harbor to another. 1t Will not
affect the total volume Of New-York's COM
merce. Moreover, the dock room OF Manhat-
tan Island Is limited. Almost every available
inch Of II Is now occupied, and all the projected
improvements can merely make 1t somewhat
more commodious They cannot increase ITS
actual extent. Yet increase of actual extent
is ono Of the things imperatively needed.
Three elements enter into the making of a
great port: Means Of inland communication.
facilities for storage and transfer and means
of ocean ingress and egress. The first of these
was provided through the genius Of Dewitt
Clinton. three-quarters of century ago. and
has since been greatly supplemented and in
creased. 1t Is not yet what 1t should be. but
the projected improvements Of the canal sys-
tenn of the State will 20 far toward making 1t So
The second element is deplorably deficient.
The connection between the canal lines and the
ocean steamers Is most unsatisfactory. That
between the railroads and the warehouses and
steamships Is grotesquely slow, cumbersome anu
costly The businesses Of truckage and light
erage are profitable to these employed In them.
and, so long as no other means Of transfer are
provided, are legitimate and necessary But
they are a fearful drag upon the commerce or
New-York What is imperatively needed Is
such reform Of terminal facilities that canal
boats can be readily and safely brought along
side the ocean steamers, and freight trains from
ell the trunk lines be run straight to the docks
That is what other cities are effecting. That Is
what NewYork must have. If her commercial
rank Is to be maintained
The third point named also requires atten-
ton. and 1t In a measure involves that just dis
cussed. New-York has fine harbor, and an
entrance-way from the ocean that once was
good. But lno FORMER Is ONeTcIo"ueu, anu wv
latter has, through abuse and neglect, been
much Impaired. But, as the correspondent al
ready quoted we'll suggests, there are another
harbor and another ocean gateway not yet
brought into use. The establishment of suita-
BILE docks at Port Morris would well-nigh
double the capacity Of New-York Harbor. The
use of Long Island Sound would give deeper
and safer avenue Of ingress and egress than the
old. and much shorter route to Europe. And
there, too could the question of terminal facili-
ties best be solved The fleets from the canals
could come through the Harlem River straight 10
the docks of ocean steamers AS for the rail
roads. two great trunk lines already have ter
minals there, and the building of an uptown
bridge across the North River will give all the
others direct access to the same centre There
is ample room there, near the geographical heart
Of the city. for all the warehouses that may he
REQUIRED Under such an arrangement. New
York would have the full use of her three great
WATERWAYS The North River and canals would
bring hther the produce Of the West, the old
Sandy Hook route would continue to give pas
sageway to the southern-bound fleets. and the
Sound would prove an unrlvaed avenue east
ward TO European markets. Then with proper
port charges. this city would be in way TO re-
gain and TO maintain all OF It's Oldtime SUI
premacy as the one great seaport of the East
ern United States.