The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-25
IMPROVE THIS HARB0R.
rn,s sENTENTIOUS LITTER TO
ooycRrssMAN CUMMINGS.

..a . clear way In for the greatest
..,., nj All rldcs-Not all other Pabho
~-..,on, combined Arc Moro HniPortant to
.p.rre,cntatire- or Now forh-A warm
r,... who May Prove Delinquent.
v,,nord Croker has sent this letter 70 Con-
gresham CUMMINGS
~, mar Congressman
.na.,ro the year 1897 tho commercial snow
s,ho nort of New York was relatively bad.
ing sa.,cr, did IL bear to tho sum total tho
o,tion that it should have borne.
pVgT,.so facts give great concern 10 al inter-
"s ,ho rr,spcritv Of New York. Our nat.
~ w, .drontagcs Of location. OF harbor. ana OF
r"..s,hiIlty from all points are complete But
- Natural advantages must be supplemented
"., bv iudicious effort and well directed en-
o' In these dir cctions the citizens must
.r. AZ once and with united vigor.
.T,o demands Of ocean m constantly
~. ,ho size Of vessels. But New York
~. m. adequately respond to thcm' either IN
w. bereavement Of her sea approaches or In the
uor, NJ her docking and other harhor
..n,,,.s In these vital particulars 1t Is not
49, urch 10 say that New York is trying to ac-
'.uuodate the of to-day with the
s..I,,,es ~ ten years ago. In other words, New
yo,t has not kept pace with the growth OF her
.. nmc and NJ this moment gives no
,.,n.ble promise OF adequate ehort elther 10
ss.,,h nm or TO keep pace with 1t in the future.
.sThe approaches by sea are or course con-
ND nv tho United States. Year by year
~, become less and less adequate to easy or
van ssfe navigation by vessels or the constant
:. Increasing dimensions which the
~ Nav York demands and creates.
-Eyery grounding ola vessel IN these ap-
-..oh,. "a A reproach to New York, a blow at
h.r prestige as n port. and a menace 10 ner
commercial supremacy.
ar IA not enough that New York's approaches
"a h.rbor facilities should be equal to those OF
,iv,l ports. They must be superior. Just In
,,o,ortion as they are superior will her ascend
~, a, the emporium and metropolis of the
U.s,srn Hemisphere be assured. And In pro-
cort,on as rival ports approach equality with
ysv YORK, in such ratio must New horks su-
premacy decline.
.Other cities are making the most strenuous
,co,,s To reach equality with New York in such
.~ord,tions. Is New York putting forth COM
u~ensurate endeavori No.
"such a state OF things must exist no longer.
n IA not an affair OF politics or OF parties; not
a concern of classes or factions. 1t is not mere
~ Tia common concern Of every person who
Ssnends on the prosperity Of New York for
.ccnnation and bread. 1t is more than that.
II IA the common concern Of the general public
NJ tbe United States, infatuated to regard New
York As the natural emporium of the nation,
h, every law Of geography and climate, by
avery rule OF convenience and economy. The
,.s approaches to New York harbor must be
placed In a condition that will dismiss the quea-
ton Of tides from the problem of navigation.
our organization, no less by tradition than
br platform, is pledged to every possible effort
for the material ACKNOWLEDGMENT of New York;
and this obligation has been vastly enlarged in
weight and scope by the new municipal condi-
lions. upcn our representatives in Congress
must New York depend for the national action
made necessary by the demands of her COM
nerce. Whatever may have been your vigil
lance and vigor in the past, the situation at this
moment demonstrates that they cannot suffice
for tho future. They must be redoubled. Tho
people sec clearly their needs. They will not
long remain content with representatives I'M
able to demonstrate by practical results that
they are equal to the peoples requirements.
IN conclusion let me impress upon you that
ct this moment not all other public questions
combined are more important to the represent
tatves Of New York than the subject of this
hter. Yours truly. RIcHARD CRoKER.
Hon. AMOS J. CUMMINGS, Washington, D. @.
NEW YORK, Feb. d."