New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-21
gARBOR IMPROVEMENT.

Tho ,rolcome news comes from Washington
that the River and Harbor bill, which IS 10 oe
renorted To the House within few days, VIII
contain provision for the substantial improve
ment OF New-York Harbor md carry an appro-
priation somewhat exceeding $l.OOOooU III
accordance with the views OF the delegation
from various commercial bodies or this city
that visited Washington month ago, the East
Channel running north of the Romer Shoal ana
about midway between Sandy Hook and Coney
Island has been selected for the purpose. ana
the work, which is expected to cost nearly
So 1000, is to be done by the Government
and not under contract. The importance OF
this undertaking could not easily be overestl-
mated and nobody can fairly dispute the JUS
tice Of New-York's claim to such consideration
An utterly unreasonable jealousy of the netrop-
oils has often defeated schemes for it's benefit
which were almost or quite as much In the In
terest Of the whole country, while the revenues
which II so largely produces have been freely
drawn on TO supply comparatively trivial wants
Of a local nature. II Is extremely gratifying to
find evidences that n more liberal spirit now
prevails at the capital.
The Main Ship Channel, by which alone YES
sells OF large size are able to enter and leave
safe at high water, while at other states Of the
tide IL cannot be traversed by ships OF the
deepest drnught. Merely TO show the existence
of such conditions here is TO prove the necessity
OF remedying them 1t is ntolerable that this
vast emporium should be subject to such pres
ent disadvantages and confronted with the
prospect of a progressive decline. Improve
ment of the Main Ship Channel in preference to
any other has been strongly advocated at times,
one argument being that 1t passes directly I'M
der the guns Of Sandy Hook, and could there
fore be most easily closed to an enemy. But 1t
is not necessary TO admit that the security OF
the port rests on 80 narrow basis, while from
every other point of view the East Channel has
superior potential merits being several miles
shorter and virtually a straight course 10 the
sea.
In only one respect, as II seems 70 us, is the
present plan open TO unfavorable criticism. The
commercial representatives OF New-York origi-
nally urged the necessity of making the East
Channel forty feet deep. to meet the probable
requirements Of the near future. They said TO
the River and Harbor Committee that lnas-
much as ships designed TO draw thirty-three
feet were now In actual process OF construction,
and that maximum might be considerably ex-
ceeded hereafter, forty feet of water would not
afford too generous margin. The additional
FIVE feet would increase the cost by several
millions, and might possibly double it, but we
cannot regard that as n conclusive or even a
very weighty argument. The largest sum which
could be honestly spent by competent engineers
would be small, indeed. in comparison with
the benefits which would follow. But we are
much less inclined TO complain than to rejoice
In the reasonable assurance that. after long
and injurious neglect, the harbor Of New-York
is TO be improved In u systematic manner and
on large scale. The work which Congress Is
expected TO authorize will not Of Itself alone
correct all the evils and supply all the defcien-
cies 10 which the relative decay OF the COM
merce Of this port bears melancholy witness
and which n State commission Is now investi-
eating. but II Is in indispensable condition Of
such prosperity as New-York ought TO enjoy.