New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-10
WHAT Ais THIS PORT.

It is of hopeful omen that In a single day
there should be made two distinct and prac-
teal movements toward rescuing the commerce
Of this port from the decline into which II Is
falling That the necessity Of such action
should at last be recognized Is I'm itself most
gratifying. For years The Tribune has been
urging Ii, in season and out Of season, at the
cost Of not Il little adverse criticism as an
alarmst. To-day this papers warnings are
seen to have been well founded and the courses
It long ago urged are being tarlly entered
upon; late but better late than never. On Mon
day a bill was introduced ut Albany In accord
with the recommendations or the Governor,
providing for investigation into the causes or
the decline of commerce Mt this port ana con-
sideration Of remedial measures. AT the same
time n permanent organization or leading mer-
chants was formed in this city for the gen.
eral advancement Of NETWORKS commercial
interests and especially to deal with the ques-
tons Of charging the canals, deepening the
ocean gateways and lessening the elevator and
other terminal charges.
or these two the latter seems the more prac-
teal and promising Not that the work Is to
he done by private rather than by public eff
fort. but that the plan Of the private organlza-
ton is more direct and to the poin. than that
of the public commission. There Is really no
need Of detailed investigation, save as mat
ter OF form. The causes Of the decline OF COM
merce here are as apparent as the fact Of the
decline itself. And the simple statement Of the
causes suggests with equal explictnesS the
remedy for the evil-to wit, removal Of those
causes. The matter is conclsely but complete
" covered in the brief mention already made
49, ~ re-
which has been formed. The trouble IS three
fold. The system OF inland waterways which
made New-York the commercial capital Of the
continent has not been kept up with the needs
of expanding commerce. or the ocean gate
ways Of the harbor one has been altogether
neglected and the other has been abused and
suffered to become inadequate. The terminal
charges for handling and transfer Of goods
have been made Dnerous far beyond those Of
any woudbe rival port Those are the rea-
sons why the commerce Of New-York Is at
standstill, or actually declining while the COM
merce Of other ports md Of the whole country
Is handsomely increasing
Men do not go into trade for their health
They do not patronize this port or any other
simply for love of the place. They are in bust
ness for profit, and they are going to patronize
that por. which offers them the best opportun
ties Of profit. They will not send goods to
this port for shipment II they can send them
to some other port more cheaply, or II at
some other port the terminal charges will he
less They will not send their steamships to
this harbor II the entrance is so shallow that
1t can be passed at only certain hours, and
then at risk Of grounding. They will seek
other harbors, less expensive and more COM
modlous They are already doing so to an
extent that is menacing the prosperity Of New
York. and they will continue to do so until
either New-York Is ruined or It comes to Its
senses and remedies the evils from which 1t
now suffers.