New-York tribune., 1897-07-11
NEW-YORK'S COMMERCE.

Tho voice of DrOgress is not always that or
one CRYING In the wilderness. Or If it seems TO
he the wilderness often becomes vocal WIN an
swering and sympathetic cries. For years lie
Tribune has been urging protection ana nh-
movement of the harbOr of New-1 orE. III mas
seen clearly that, despite Incompatible naturai
advantages and prestige. this port was IN DAN
gersof losing through abuses and neglect. m'"'"
Of the trade properly belonging here; that IL
was and is indeed actually losing 1t. NO one
has yentured 10 deny this But there mas peeh
TOO great an inclination toward an easy-golng
,ndfrerence In spite Of all decline men have
said. 1t would still remain the chier port OF TIE
United etates. In spite Of all abuses anu I'M
nerfections. this must remain the commercal
metropos of the Western Hemisphere IhHh'
since the ointment Is so sweet, why worry ABOUT
q dead fly or two? That cOmplacent ana rum
Gus philosophy is happily at last beginning 10
fail Men are realizing, the men most inter-
ested and influential are realizing, that the loss
of commerce through shortsightedness and lack
OF enterprise is already becoming serious ana
they are beginning earnestly to cast ABOUT ror
ways and means of remedyng the evils from
which this port is now suffering
Elsewhere In today's issue The Tribune
makes some important additions to the mass
of testimony suggestion and argument II mas
already furnished on this question Representa-
tive mon of the commercial world speak plainly
and to the point They cordially support the
contentious The Tribune has long been making,
and re-enforce the demand for harbor improve
ments. for lower port charges, and for better
terminal and transfer facilities. On some de-
tails their opinions vary, but on the chief points
,bev are I'm entire accord. The present channel
from the harbor to the ocean Is too shallow
The big steamships have TO walt for high tide
before they can venture through at ALL Then
they have to move slowly, feeling their way
olonp amid sandbars and shoals. Even then
they sometimes run aground. And for one OF
tho big liners to be sunk In mid-channel would
absolutely blockade the harbor and paralyze
commerce until the wreck could be cleared
away. In such circumstances 1t Is no cause for
wonder that steamship men are dissatisfied and
alarmed and unite In asking that channel at
least thirty-fvc feet deep and 1000 feet wide
he constructed and maintained. so that their
vessels can start at fixed hours without waiting
for the tide. and can go and come In safety.
Nor Is It strange that men are asking for put
ting into use of the already existing deep water
way void of bars and shoals, by way Of Long
Island Sound
Complaint is also made OF the prevailing sys-
TEN of dock and pier rentals. which Is described
as merely the policy Of getting as much as pos
sble out of the company using the dock.
Whether or not that description be entirely ac-
curatc there is unqucstiOnably room for much
improvement in the dock system. Docks need
to be made deeper and piers longer and more
substantial 1t would probably be good policy
for the c4ty also to erect suitable sheds on the
PIERS Of permanent and fireproof construc-
ton and uniform design. instead Of leaving 1t 10
the shipping companies TO put up any ram
shackle affairs they please. Then fixed rental
rate should be esta blished by law. at a figure
that would at once afford the city fair income
from its waterfront property and also induce
shipping lines to seek this po.t IN preference to