New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-23
EEEpING SEA GATES OPEN

A considerable sensation was recently causeu
| in London by the announcement that the ell
trance 10 the Thames was filling up. Inc an
noupcement was made on the authority OF the
Admiralty photographers report, than wnich
none could be better Happily. II was fouhu
that IL applied to only one Of the passageways
at the mouth Of the river-that is the so-calleo
Duke of Edinburgh Channel. Since lSS2 IL mas
been reduced I'm width from mile ana hail
to half a mile Its depth has also been re-
duced. though not yet enough to prevent the
massage Of the largest vessels. III may De
added that this is the principal passage 10 ana
from the Thames for large ships. II seems
likely that. unless something radical Il done to
prevent II. the passage will in few more
wears be entirely closed against shipping OF
any considerable size. That would mean the
sending Of all large vessels around by much
more clrcutous route. 1t is also reported that
the Middle SWIM the chief passage between
the Thames and northern British ports, Is
RAPIDLY Swallowing, being now only nineteen
feet deep at low tide
We have no doubt that the Engnsh au'horl-
ties. with their accustomed energy. VIII SET
these matters right They will stop the dump
ing of rubbish into the Thames, when N con-
coded TO have been prime cause or 'his 'rou-
bic. and they will dredge out the channels II
necessary and construct jetties. ana what ho''
for the protection Of the shipping interests or
the greatest port In the world The lesson Is
not however devoid Of interest 10 other ports
than London. Our New.York sea gates have
been filling up for years. largely through the
Same conses az those that have prevailed at
London. We have not manifested much en-
ergy or discretion in remedyng the trouble
At the present time NewYork has not In prac-
teal use single satisfactory sea gaze ior
large vessels That is n deplorable ana dl'-
credltable truth. Int II IL truth. A most COM
mendable effort Is now about TO be made 10
open the Sandy Hook gate TO proper wid'h
and depth We say the effort IL commentaries
II is in design. Whether or not II VIII he IN
execution IL 70 he seen. If il IS done after the
manner of the works on the Harlem River ana
et He'll Gate II will amount 10 nothing but van
ity and vexatlon.
SnppOsIng however. that II Is done well. done
far better than much War Department work
has been done OF late what then? II Will he
wears before II Is finished. And then there VIII
have IN be a constant fight with the Atlantic
Ocean 10 keep It open. Doubtless It should he
done and that fight with the ocean should be
waged But seeing that we have at this very
moment another sea gate amply wide ana deep
already open. and needing 10 struggle TO Keep
II open would il not he the part of wisdom 10
put il to practical use? 1t is entirely con-
ceiyable that some large interests would not
be benefited thereby But that Is not the
question The only thing to he considered Is
whether the commerce OF this city and state
and Nation would he benefited thereby. Ana
that il would. we do not see how any rational
man can deny. II this port had dozen sea
gates instead OF two, It would be desirable to
open them all, and keep every one of them
wide open. ready to receive or to discharge the
commerce OF the world AT any moment.