The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-10
THE HARLEM SHIP CANAL.
Work NJ a Standstul. Though Far From
Completed.

t0mpictcu.
Work on the Harlem ship canal is far
from being finished, but il has been for
a long time at a stand-still owing to lack
of funds. OF the 500 900 appropriated
for tho work by the River and Harbor act
OF March 8, 1899, only about 81 900 remains.
This sum is held in reserve 10 he used In
case OF emergency.
The River and Harbor bill Of last year
failed to pass Congress. The engineers
estimate the amount which can he profit
ably expended in the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1902, at $500 900.
In the meantime the work that has been
done is in a measure being undone. The
l2-foot channel made -four years & be-
tween High Bridge and the mouth OF Spny-
ten Duyvil Creek has been reduced 20 ten
feet. The banks on both sides OF this sec
ton are soft and the deposit Of mud is
quite rapid.
II will cost a very considerable sum to
restore the channel TO its former dept h.
At the ordinary rate OF progress the origi-
nal plan, even under favorable conditions.
would hardly be completed in ten years.
The canal was opened June II, 1895. In
that year the actual m for the
Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek
was 1888 ,594 tons, estimated TO be worth
S20s, TOT .s76.
Just how much this has in
creased since that time. and, hence, Of
Just what value the cana has been, there
are no statistics to show. In fact, until
within a few months no effort has been made
10 get any statistics bearing on the subject.
Last summer the army engineers In charge
Of the river and harbor improvements
requested the New York Central Railroad
TO turn In monthly reports OF all vessels
passing the railroad drawbridges across
the Harlem River. together with the char
acter Of their cargoes and their estimated
values. These reports have been regularly
turned in and next summer there probably
will be published figures from which an
estimate may be made Of the actual good
lone by the canal work.
In round numbers IL is estimated hat
on the Harlem has increased
20 per cent. since 1895 and that the dockage
along the river has doubled in tenIyears.
Sc far as can be foreseen work on the
Harlem ship canal seems likely to he in
definitely prolonged. The tendency Is con-
stantly toward greater draught in vessels.
Already the mean depth, OF fifteen feet
provided for in the original plan would be
too shallow for a large number OF vessels.
When such a channel IL provided demands
will probably be made for a greater depth.
Before this work was begun the Harlem
River had n natural fair channel 10 feet
deep at low water from the East River near
Hell Gate 10 Morris Dock, a distance Of
five miles, except at High Bridge, W here
The day,h was REDUCED 10 six feet by the
debris OF stone carried into the river dur
! inc tho construction OF the bridge.
For a mile further TO Fordham Landing,
|, had a crooked channel seven feet deep.
Above Fordham landing. to Kings bridge,
q distance ~ about a mile. the channel
was TOO narrow and crooked 20 be used
! bv any but the smallest boats.
From Kings bridge To the Hudson River,
n distance Of one and t~hree-quarter miles.
Snuyten DIyyil Creek had a natural avail
H. dsnth - about, 4 feet at low water.
A, Kings bridge the channel between the
two inlets was narrow and nearly cut on