New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-21
THE COMMERCE. OF NEW-YORK.
TWENTY YEARS WORK on A PLAN SEN
ENTY YEARS OLD.

TWENTY YEARS WORK on A PLAN SEN
ENTY YEARS OLD.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The United States Government is now MAX
ing history faster than ever before-h'story traced
in the blood Of the hrstoorn.
Thus far our Republican institutions ana GOV
eminent have appeared 10 be on the defensive. ana
the ability OF our manhood to protect its inaena-
bic rights questioned. even as though we hau no
manhood. Thus in an evil hour, despite the Oh"
Castian blood in their veins. the Dons OF Spain
conceived ana carried out that crime against the
laws Of nations and humanity whereby wellniSh
three hundred Ct our mon on the Maine were In a
twinklng ushered into the other world. The re-
epopsc has come quickly in the rising to fever heat
of the blood Of the Puritans. the Scotch Cove
nanters the Huguenots and the many others-new-
comers-who have taken the oath OF fealty mere 10
our Government
Promptly at the countrys call our young men
individually said: Here am J: take me-.
Diplomacy alone VIII not yet. even among the
civilized nations. change great wrong into SIM
PIE right Force and force alone. Will MAINTAIN
respect for international law and thus we are AT
war with Spain Good will come from IT, Our re-
publican institutions and Government VIII occupy
higher a more commanding. position among the
several nations than ever before
With the Ladrone Islands. Hawaii. the Philip
nine Islands and the gem OF the ocean-Cuba-in
our possession. our population OF seventy-two mill
ion souls will long exceed hundred nlions'
and through these new territories. as In our own
will rise the white church with It's heavenWard
sp!re and the red schoolhouse. with the Stars ana
Stripes above 1t. like so many stars on our ois-
tant horizon. lighting up the dark places Of the
earth Our statesmen will need a broader vision.
and must be free from narrow partisanship ana
sectionalism. Our legislators must legisiate, not
for the few only, but for the many. without fear
or favor.
The productions Of the newly acquired districts
added 10 our own agricultural. mineral. mechan-
icai and other products. will be beyond computa-
ton enormous, requiring merchant marine eA-
ceeding that OF any other nation.
The proper conduct OF business will also re-
oure an American line OF Atlantic liners. unsur-
passed In speed comfort and economy. having
daily departure from Port Morris New-York City.
and out through the Sound. IN order 10 avoid the
restriction OF the tides al the Sandy Hook Bar
BY this route the har5or detentions will be re-
duced to a minimum. and direct transshipment OF
freights mails and passengers will be made on the
docks the liners having an invaTiable hour OF de-
parture-say D. m-and. with the overland train
, service making a schedule OF nine days 10 Lon
don via Bristol from San Francisco. SIX days
from Chicago and FIVE days from this city. This
would indeed become the worlds route IRON
China and Japan TO Europe. offering at this port
facility and precision not otherwise obtainaole.
This route suggested by the writer in 1876 requires
the completion OF It's connections In the port. VIZ,
the canal from the Hudson River 10 the SOUND
through the Harlem River and the Harlem Kills,
a matter contemplated In 1926 by De Witt Clinton.
the builder Of the Erie Canal: and. since his time
remaining in allegiance until the writer took It up
and called attention to it. This action. 1t may he
remar lied. the result of much study. through
travel and observation Of the difficulty and needs
OF transportation throughout the country so closely
affecting every commercial interest. and after
witnessing the entrances of The Great Eastern into
shallow waters OF Sandy Hook Bar, and suisse
queny Without dIienly through the deep yea
about seyenty-tive feet OF water off Port Morris.
And 80 this problem WAS pr9g@unaddd r TO me me
their solution.
in the worlds great highway from Europe to New,
York. Chicago. San Francisco Japan 9nd China II
Could, would not a steamship in round trip
from the said port; 70 and from Europe save yea a
Jersey Ciiy or the North River. thereby lessen
ing the steamships expense some 5000?
that a9c eh sxPeqh the city Of the
harbor of Por, Morris would be rifing Then, with
a daily departure Except Sundays at regular set
hour. independent Of tidal influences, would there
not be such worlds highway as never before OK
II the foregoing questions could be answered in
the Affirmative should We take any preliminary
steps in the matter others do 1t better. and
quietly turn on MI, the other s1f saying; "A lit
The answer to these questions was, without dis
sent in the affirmative. and. for the first step,
reQuisition made to Congress for the improve
ment Of the Harlem River, resulting in the grant
| ing of 100000 by the XLVth Congress with the
assurance that more would be forthcoming as re-
CURED This canal, extending from the Hudson
River 10 the Sound and comprising the Harlem
River and the Harlem Kils-six miles long-mieht
have been well done in 1883 at total cost not ex-
ceedng s3,OtoOo0 provided that the United States
Engineer Corps had not interfered. AS IT is such
paris az have been undertaken at all seem to be
unskilfu!y laid out and poorly executed. But. this
aside the strange part OF the whole affair ia that a
waterway through the first city of the country
needed every day for the use OF commerce. WHO
promising by its completion to completely trans
form the transportation facilities OF the portthat
such an Improvement, discussed and legislat Cd
upon for seventy years. should remain in the
HANDS OF the Government engineers since June i,
ISIS when the first moLey In hand-more than
twenty years-and be still less than half COM
rlced. 49, .o,
locks in a populous city. how much time would the
Government engineers require TO build the Nicara-
qua Canal a hundred miles Ions, With at least six
great locks costing perhaps SiO0onO1nJ?
Meanwhile New-York awaits with Its accustomed
patience the carrying ont OF the scheme of i'm
proyement outlined In the writer's moving papers
II twenty years agc--a scheme which sooner or
essential features the direct connection Of the Hud-
son River with the deep waters OF Long Island
sound with direct transshipment of freigh;s by the
Erie Canal boats and the railways alongside the
docks and the use OF the Sound as the entrance
to the ocean highways. 49, ,-,,,,r,rl..
New-York. July 20. 1898