Evening star., 1898-12-22
Proposed 0hanna Across Sandy Hook
oc 5aib,n.
HEARING GIVEN AT THE CAPITOL
Leading Commercial Organizations
Represented.
In ~ oi -
D E NJ A N S~r.OF G. MMERCE


senting the leading commercial organza-
tens of that city, was befor, the House
| committee on rivers and harbors today to
urge suitable government attention to the
Improvement ct New York harbor, par
ticularly the proposed east channel across
the Sandy Hook bar, by which a deep,
straight and safe waterway will be given
from the metropolis to the sea. At the
mead OF the delegation was ex-Mayor Schi-
efen OF Brooklyn. chairman of the New
YORK state commerce commission, with
VIM. Q. Corwine Of the Merchants Asso-
citation, as secretary. Following are
ganizattons which were represented: From
the chamber of commerce, A. Foster Hig
gins, Vernon H. Brown; fem the Produce
Exchange, Thomas A. Mcintyre, Gus Hays
and Evan Thomas; from the steamship
| companies, Gustav H Schwab of the North
German Lloyd Steamship Company, chair
man OF the steamship companies commit
tee; Z. A. Griscom, jr., OF the American
line; Oswald S. Anderson of the Wilson
and Phoenix line; Emil T.. Boas of the
famburg-American line; from the board of
marine underwriters. Clifford A Hand,
chairman, and Walter r. 7. Jones; from
the Merchants Association, VIM. F. King,
president of the associat ton John w. Am
brose, Bayard Cutting. Alvah Trow-
bridge, S. c. Mead and VIM. r. Corwine,
and A K. Smith, secretary of the New
York state commerce commission; from
Manufacturers Association of New York,
Charles n. Chadwick, chairman, Archibald
c. Shenstem
The New York city delegation in Con-
gress was represented by Messrs. Cum
mlngs, Mcclellan, Ward and others. SEN
ator Platt of New York, although not pres
ent, sent word th1 ough Representative
Ward of the committee that he was called
10 New York, and wanted to record his
hearty approval of the proposed improve
MT Mo. lal- -;,-.N
that the full capacity Of the large COM
mittee room was taxed to its utmost
Representative Cummings briefly urged
the need of government attention to this
great artery of commerce.
Need of n Channel.
Ex-Mayor Schieren introduced the sew
eral delegations to the committee and the
main hearing began with a statement from
Mr. Ambrose of the Merchants Association.
On a large chart he pointed out the tor
tuous and dangerous channel now in use.
and showed the need Of a forty-foot chan
mel from the ocean to the narrows, to be
2.G3o feet wide! and Of channel along the
Brooklyn shore to ~fse - feet deep and
1,2oO feet wide. He said these improve
ments were not merely local, but We're of
Importance to the whole country.
The great canal system of New York, he
pointed out, had cost New York state many
millions almost as much as all the river
and harb0r improvements made by the gen
eral government. These canals were free
to the shipping Of other states, and were
of special value to the west in securing
the cheaper freghts. 3lln 100 years, he de-
clared, out Of the s28,ori,00D spent by the
government on waterways, New York har-
Dor had received only about S4,oDoo)9
During this time. he said. of the entire
customs collections, by which the govern
ment was supported 60 cents out of every
dollar was co8eoted iat New York; yet
during this time out OF every 81 spent by
the government on waterways New 1orR
harbcr received ] La cents. while 9S 2-3
cents went to rivers and Earbors of the rest
of the country. ~ From This Mr.. Ambrose
urged the justice of present attention 10
this project, and in detail he showed the
stimulating effect it would have on the
commerce, shipping and navigation of the
whole country, as well as that of New
York.
Other Statements.
Other statements were from the cham
Der of commerce, presentation of case by
A. Foster Hggings; from steamship lines,
Gustav H. Schwab, who called In order
steamship representatives in turn; from
produce exchange Thomas A. Mcintyre:
from marine underwriters, Clifford A.
Hand; from New York state commerce
commission, A. r. Smith from Merchants
Association, Alvah Trowbridge, William
T. King.
These presented the Improvement from
the several standpoints of shipping. COM
merce etc. Mr.. Higgings of the chamber
of commerce spoke of the strategic value
of the Improvement, at it would permit
of strong defenses. and fortitication, thus
giving more adequate protection to the
vast interests Of New York from the dam
ger of an attack by sea.
Mr.. Higgins, as head of the board of pl-
lots related a recent occurrence in which,
he said a collision between two large ocean
liners and a serious loss of life was mar
iCwly averted. This occurrence was due to
tOTtuOiiS channel and the OBJ
structions lying in it.
Advantage to Liners.
Mr. Schwab showed the advantages ac-
cruing in the deepening of channels in in
creasing the draught of vessels and lower
ing freight rates. Vessels drawing thirty
three feet were now being built; safety
required three feet of water under a ves-
sells hull; herce Mr.. Schwab urged, forty
feet of depth in New York harbor was re-
quisite to future needs. He spoke of the
great advantage in the proposed channel
in allowing ocean liners to enter the har-
Dor at night instead of lying outside Sandy
Hook.
Mr.. Brown of the Cunard line spoke of
the inconvenience to the public as well as
to the ocean liners in having such shall
low channel as to require shipping to wait
until high tide in order to make safe exit
or entrance.
A letter was read from ex-Mayor Strong
of New York strongly supporting the pro-
posed Improvement.
Mr.. King of the Merchants Exchange
| pointed out that evefy government aid
should be extended toward securing for
| the United States the markets of the
world.
Mr. Cutting referred to the good omen
shown in the action of the river and harbor
committee in remaining here during the re-
| cess to hear New Yorks plea.
In Behalf of the Committee.
| purt6,, In babalf of ~ aor,
mittee. said he could assure the New YORK
| delegation that the committee was most
| friendly to the plans submitted. He point
| ed out, however. that Tthe committee was
limited somewhat by having to adjust ap-
preparations among many important pro-
jects and with reference to the total sum
/ to be spent. ..
| There was hearty round of applause
| when Mr.. Burtons added: "Notwithstand-
| ing these objections. Itcan assure you 1t
will give us the greatest pleasure to assist
in establishing the position of New York
| city the great commercial metropolis of