New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-11
NETWORK AND ITS HARBOR.

This city," said Jedediah Morse, A. NJ, II
1888 writing of NewYork, sis esteemed the
most eligible situation for commerce in the
United States" Being Boston, or Charles
town. man, the eminent gaographer spoke from
intelligent conviction rather than from preju-
dice Spoke too, in the spirit of seer. For the
little city of $4,000 people on the southern ex-
tremity Of Manhattan Island Of which he wrote
has in few more than hundred years grown
TO metropolis OF two millions, with a million
and q half more Immediately tributary COM
handing as a commercial centre some GO per
cent OF the entire foreign trade of this Nation OF
ty-odd millions, and ranking among the
three or four chief ports OF the world Howbelt,
eligibility Is not all After il has done It's best,
energy and enterprise must do their share to
conserve and to develop TO utmost funess its
primal gifts
So is well that at this moment in both houses
of Congress plans should be afoot. they are.
for enhancing by artificial means this natural eli
gibility of New York as the commercial centre of
the Union. There is need of them. For. granted
its unchallenged supremacy. its more than
clear majority all rivals and nOn.rivals put
together this city iS/not keeping up to the height
either of demands or Of its own capabilities.
| 1t has not the depth Of water ut It's harbOr en-
| trance that ii should have. 1t has not the docks
and piers and other terminal and transfer facili-
! ties it should have. SO some commerce that
| should belong here goes esewhther, 10 other
| and remote ports. Even in this port all man
ner Of uniting shifts are made TO meet the I'M
met demands of growing trade Steamship lines
have had their terminals the New-Jersey
shore when they should have been in New-York
City. Plans have long been pending for great
shipping terminal on Staten Island. Within the
month others have been set afoot for the crca-
ton of a new Liverpool on the Communipaw
fats These are feasible. They would he bet
| ter than nothing. But they would not be the
best possible solution of the problem.
| What IS proposed in the measures before Con-
gress is TO increase enormously the available
| waterfront of this city itself and It's access-
| bity from the ocean. At the junction of the
| East River and the Long Island Southland also
of the Harlem River and Ship Canals one Of
the most eligible spots in all this eligible cap
ital. 1t Is geographically near the heart OF the
| city, and easily accessible from all parts OF it,.
! 1t is already in immediate touch with two Of the
| greatest railroad systems Of the country, and
one Of these days bridge across the Hudson
will connect it with all the others that now APP
! proach this city. 1t has ample water area and
water depth beyond all conceivable possibilities
| Of need. Instead Of waiting for high tide and
then gingerly feeling their way In past shoals
and bars, ships could come in to IT without hest
taton at full ebb Of tide, with fathoms Of clear
water underneath their keels; and they could do
so by route from European ports hours quicker
| and far safer than the one followed.
All that is necessary for such a consumma-
| ton Is the carrying out Of the plans made by
| De Witt Clinton three-quarters OF century
| ago. and reafiirmed and fnrthered by his snc-
cessors in these latest years. The Erie Canal
was the first and greatest OF the steps taken
for NETWORKS commercial supremacy. The
! Harlem River Canal was the second OF the
series: far smaller. yet Of great importance.
| The third now waits TO be done, the smallest of
| all in point OF labor and expense, but in poten-
tial value worthy TO be ranked with the others.
! The Improvement Of the Bronx Kills will make
not only possible but certain the establishment
| at Port Morris OF one Of the finest and most
| commOdious deep-water harbOrs In the world.
1t will almost double the practical waterfront
: age Of this present city. and 1t will more than