New-York tribune., 1901-03-19
SHIPYARD FOR NEW-YORK.
PROJECTED BY THE CRAGIN SYNDICATE
ON THE JERSEY FLATS NEAR
ELLIS ISLAND
GBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BrxE.I

Washington. March 1S.-Assistant Secretary
Horace \. Taylor. of the Treasury Department
sent instructions this afternoon to Albert
Brookes Frye. chief engineer and superintendent
Of repairs Of the government buildings in New
York City. directing him to appear in behalf OF
the Treasury Department before a meeting OF
the Board OF Harbor Line Commissioners to be
held next Thursday. when a final hearing will
be given to the Cragin syndicate concerning it's
project of erecting one Of the largest drydocks
and shipvards in the world or the New-Jersey
flats short distance of the immigration
station on Ellis Island. Attorneys for this syn
dictate applied to the War Department some
time ago for the necessary permits to construct
the proposed drydock, asserting that all land
rights had been obtained from the New-Jersey
state authorities. They were informed that no
permission could he granted To use the harbOr
FOR such object until plans had first been
submitted TO the Treasury Department. and
were referred to the Board of Harbor Line Com
missioners consisting of officers Of the Army
Engineer Corps. which would riGidly examine
the specifications and send detailed report TO
the Secretary Of War.
At first Treasury officials were reluctant TO
approve Of the scheme. fearing that il would
interfere with navigation to and from Ellis
Island. but to-day the War Department. re-
ceived Informal notice that no objection would
~ lhStt on TINS score provided no StTuCt-
ure placed within 5O0 feet of the west line
of Ellis Island. and that Chief Engineer Frye
would present this decision 10 the Harbor Line
Board The erection Of a drydock and creation
Of a shipyard this distance from the irnrnigra-
tion station was thought. would not conflict
with the plans OF immigration officials to build
another island loo feet wide west of the Ellis
Island and separated from ii by waterway
forty seet wide. ana yet leave A channel SOo feet
wide between the new island and the docks Of
the CraEin syndicate.
II is understood here that this syndicate CON
sists of NeW-York capitalists, who contemplate
building a drydoCk which will accommodate
the largest ocean liners. When 10 is completed
according to present plans. any ship entering the
port ~ \ew-N0rk could run into the docks for
repairs OverhduliuE. For many years the
necessity for such a shpyard has been appar
cnt. hut the high price al " hiCh the most desr
able land has been held, together with the diff
Guilty Of securing government cooperation. has
discouraged private corporations which have
considered undertaking the erection and opera
tiou of such large repair establishment.
Heretofore the War u partmcnt has not been
inclined to CountenanCe such a scheme because
Of the contention that 10 might OhStruCt navi-
cation I'm the harh0r. l. Is not thought. how
ever that this fear is entertained by Secretary
Root. and IL is the impression that If the Harbor
Line BOARD renders n favora bic report interesting
developments are 10 he expected in the near
future toward the establishment Of a first class
shipyard the Jersey shore. equal 10 that at
Newport News