New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18
NEEDS OF NETWORK COMMERCE.
NOT ONLY CANAL. But BETTER PORT
FACILITIES.
= Editor Of The Tribune

t The Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. Il is an acknowledged fact that the COM
rnerce which. + properly cared for. would natu-
rs7f- come % this port Of New York for the
want u proper care is ebbing away for the
ri-7ple reason that II can go elsewhere 10 better
advantage.
II 1873 the writer placed a paper before the
United States Congress wherein il was stated
tnzt Canada by improving her waterways, was
striving 70 take our inland commerce from Us.
2 thing which she has quite effectively done 1t
IS --71e that TIE city Of New York, by its Com
mon Council. Board OF Trade and Chamber OF
Commerce. and the State Of New York, by its
legislative act. were willing act, and did act
By petition Also some Of the Western States
as Illinois. Indiana. Ohio and Michigan, as well
Is IRE States Of Massachusetts and Connecticut,
Joined N petitloning Congress 70 appropriate
money 70 build the Harlem River and Kills
canal. some six miles, from the Hudson to the
deep vate- Of Long Island Sound al Port Nor
rs This would enable commerce 70 pass
through ire port Of New York BY a short cut
through the centre OF the city 10, and on board
Of ne ocean liners without the expense OF
FYch-erfng storing or carriage Grain coulc then
be elevated directly on snipboard- and steamers
could go and come independent o. tidal in1u-
e,cAs This was what De Witt Clinton planned
Immediately after he had built the Erie Canal
and ne formulated legislation thereon ouIlHS
TIE winter Of 1S26. but died in ISIS thus leaving
his well conceived plan for others TO execute
As before stated, the above mentioned con-
s-s-,,arcies peritloned the XLVth Congress,
which promptly appropriated 100000 for the
building OF The said Harlem Canal on condition
that The right OF way should be gwen 10 the
Government free But the land required Tor the
right Of way could not be obtained without
money consideration. Thus the War once de-
elsred 70 The writer. and h was ADVISED % Sc
u-har he could do in the matter he secured the
option on this required land. anc on OcOoDer -
1s7s. rendered il as a free GIT 10 the Govern
,,a+ ,,o,,rIa5 with e proposal 20 build the Har-
len River section from the Hudson River 10
RandalTs Island completing II IN 1850 ana IN
accordance with the tinted states eLlst t-.
survey Cor the sum OF sSlOVoo' the eLe 49,
estimate OF the cost Of this work oeihs
50 535 86s =, GOOD
Although this proposal vas made IN good
fsrr vvfT1 full ability TO execute IL yet u Wds
-. .11o,--es "a be considered The United states
engineers obtained a crooked right OF "aS ~
the channel after nine and hat years . ~ 1o
latton and litigation, al a COST OF SOME 9ooo,-,
AID now after more than t"enty-one yea a.,
since the making Of the first grant tneretor' lrg
Harlem section Is far from being eoinplSte-, -
the Harlem Kills section, 4eo feet II iensI' 10
Ttie - a waterway for which commerce mas
hen clamoring three-fourths Of q century-
Porr Morris with It's deep water ana spacio US
harbor would become commercial cent?, ta go
The continent; and commerce couId pass -. -
--s-Ic1sr Ter or hfudrance. with much economy u
-, charges and acceleration OF movement
Governor Black was wise in appointing an ~
-eilsgsnr Commission 20 inquire into the oecl-iI
q the commerce Of the port; ana me pIe -
C-ozerror was also wise in MS appointment %
f-snaI commissioners 70 see whether the caha.S
coT-IS ri be made 70 do batter than al present
Vye rhCs,Id have such a canal built as comrletce
nav and does require; not simply 70 equai. nn'
70 excel the waterways Of our Canadian ffisloos:
Pr yvFf}e 2 canal tidewater is COCO an
reedful clinton planned TO have the Erie G aIaI
xnd rs outlet 70 the sea- as well through Lons
eAIand Sound as BY the lower Bay. Justly Asso