New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-15
NEU-YORK'S COMMERCIAL DANGER.
THE NECESSITY OF DEEPENING THE CHANNEL.
TO OBVIATE IT

THE NECESSITY OF DEEPENING THE CHANNEL
TO oBvIATE IT.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir Whoever desires the advancement Of New
York ought work for the movement to get the
channel deepened. II every one knew what those
know who have made a thorough study OF expert
ment-tank science that enterprise would have
many supporters. 1t is only a question Of
time and the time will be very soon. when yes
sells Of forty feet draught and over will be com
mon. If the harbors of great cities will let those
vessels in they will there: If not. they will go
TO any harbors which may be found. and cities VII.
grow about those, and the termini of great rail-
roads viii be found there. II 1t shall happen that
no natural harbor Of sufficient depth is to be found
conveniently situated. an artificial one will be made
Heretofore the depth Of channels has regulated
and limited the depth of vessels. The time Is near
at hand when the depth OF vessels will regulate
that of channels This will be the result OF two
facts quite Independent of each other
The insight into the hydrodynamics of ship re-
sistance that the Froude experiments-free In part
from ancient assumptions-have begun TO give us,
and that experiments quite free and clear Of those
viii be giving us s5 efSpeT
for high speed s will grow eq G Sd ne IS se
fractional resistance that consumes the steam
power In raising the speed the element OF resist
show Itself At the highest speeds this element
becomes enormous. and what makes higher speed
lnlDOSSlDIe
crease of wavc-raking resistance becomes then 50
rapid that further increase of power Is a mere
squandering 1t is at the highest speeds that those
displaccments in which depth Is prominent rae
tor show "A marked superiority over those in which
breadth of beam is more prominent; inc deep
draught vessel wastes less power in raising me t
water into waves Besides which, II is only Win
vessels Of very considerable draught. as compared
with breadth OF beam. that the changes or form
which the highest speeds require are really pIac-
tlcab.e or are compatible with large displacement
The second circumstance which VIII produce a
change is this The deepening of harbors ana the
making of artificial harb0rs has hitherto been eA-
pensive Rapid Improvement in mccnhncal appii-
ances new methods for transforming oib'fsy, anu
perhaps more important than either. an acqudlht-
anco with the powers of currents ana a growing
knowledge Of the vast economy ana eIectVeneSs
of ARTIFICIAL currents for the purposes OF excavation
etc-all these are fashioning forth an ART whch
hitherto has been quite unknown, ana the ilINe Is
near when the enterprise OF making haTDor VIII
ha no less simple and no more unusual imam va,
81 huIlding n vessel The materials to De hahu.eu
are Indeed a million times buikier but me heccs-
sary energy is In most cases cohNchrIlliS ia
and can be had al small expense above tha' OF nst
of the plant ., ,,,h,cb casa Of
No mort however prosperous, 70 whlch thse VI
accessrto say nothing OF capablhty OF 5ecesSrts
not considerably in advance Of the dcrnatd Is he
" long TO preserve distance ahead OF az co.pe,
i;orS Persons who acquainted with tnese ina ",
ters are well aware that New lOrn ~ VA = ~
danger. l,, ,,,o.hino,on Ian 10 1899