New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-22
EAST CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS.

While a State Commission Is investigating
the causes Of the decline Of New-Yorks COM
merce, and the needs of this port for its restora-
ton, II Is encouraging to observe that the Ma
tional Government Is not unmndful of the
same important subject. Representative Ward.
Of the Westchester District, has introduced into
Congress joint resolution directing the Score
tary OF War to submit a report OF survey and
estimate for the improvement Of the East Chan
mel nj the entrance to this harbOr. on the basis
of making that channel 800 feet wide and 30
feet deep, and to-day an important and repre-
sentative delegation Of business men from this
city will appear before the House Committee
Ons Rivers and Harbors 10 urge that that chan
mel be made 1000 feet wide and 40 feet deep
at low tide Opinions may differ as to the
merits Of this or that plan Of harbor improve
ment but NJ Wards proposal Is at least an
intelligent sincere and practical attempt to dis
cover what Is the best plan ard what will be
the cost Of It's execution, and the maximum re-
quest to be made by the NewYork delegation
Is for an ocean gateway not n fraction OF an
inch larger than the interests of this port re-
qure
There are various channels through the
mighty sand and rubbish bar which the At
lantlc Ocean and the New-Yorli Street Cleaning
Department have built across the entrance TO
the Lower Bay or these only one is available
for the passage OF large ships, and even 1t is
by no means safe, as occasional groundngs and
much waiting for high tide testify. That is the
Main Ship Channel, the southernmost of all,
having a crooked route along the northern end
of Sandy Hook Bay, and passing close by the
point of the Hook North Ct 1t lies Flynn's
thn Channel
tween the Knoll and the great shoal marked
with the Romer Beacon. North of the Romer
Beacon. and just about midway between Sandy
Hook and Coney Island IS the East Channel,
the central entrance-way to the Lower Bay.
Finally north Of II Is the FOurteen-Foot Chan
mel. and then the water shoals on the East
Bank up to the Coney Island beach. The East
Channel would he the best means Of entrance
into and exit from the Bay If II were deep
enough. But for many years the Atlantic
Ocean has been plling up sand Mt that point
and this city has diligently supplemented lis
efforts by dumping street-sweeplngs and other
refuse there, until now the channel IS Of little
USE save for small craft To improve 1t rs ~
now proposed will probably be costly and
tedious job. But cost should not be taken INTO
account for moment, If It be made sure that
that Is the best scene OF operations, loT III 'Hr
cost will be mere trfe compared with tho
benefit that will be gained and the loss and
ruin that will be averted.
For the commerce Of this port to be dependent
mon the state of the tide is a scandalous thing,
and utterly needless. A mere tithe of the en-
terpriso other ports have shown would give us
what these propositions aim at. n channel that
at tho lowest possible or conceivable tide VIII
be deep enough and to spare for the largest
shin in the world To traverse 1t in perfect safety
and wide enough for half n dozen ships to pass
through il abreast without fear of jostling.
That Is what this port must have If IT IS not
TO fall 10 n low level We have frequently
urged that such channel already exists at the
northern end Of the harbor, nj its junction with
Long Island Sound. and we believe II should be
Immediately utilized for transatlantic rs well
"a for coastng traffic. But New-lork Is plenty
big enough 20 Use and mpcratlvely 10 need two
ocean gateways, and there can be no question
that the old southern gateway. Mt the entrance
10 the Bay. should be improved to It's fullest
capacity and made adequate TO the demands OF
tho worlds commerce.