New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-18
ATLANTIC LEVIATHANS

The Celtic the Deutschland and some other
monsters of the deep are bigger and have
larger carrying capacity than the ark which
finally rested upon Ararat The Book Of Genesis
does not record the tonnage OF the huge vessel
which NOAH the earliest OF marine designers
and builders on a great scale, planned, con-
structed and commanded on the most wonder
full voyage ever described in the annals Of man
kind But the dimensions of that Oldtime ar
mada concentrated upon single keel. as the
figures appear in the Old Testament indicate
that the largest of steamships now crossing the
Atlantic are even bulkier than the immense
craft which outrode the flood
But the ambitious heads of ocean transpOrta-
ton and the rulers of the shpyards of to-day
are not content with having already surpassed
the miraculous achievements Of the patriarch
whose leviathan of the waves was made of
gopher wood Transatlantic vessels OF steel
eight hundred nine hundred and even a thou
sand feet in length and of proportionate width
and depth are talked of sobery and seriously
by practical designers and constructors as pos
sibilities and even probabilities Of n later gen
Grafton, even If the first quarter of this century
should not see the completion OF titantic hulk
a great deal larger than the biggest of those
which now make their regular trips between
the Old World and the New.
Thirty years ago none of the most enterpris-
ing and ambitious masters of oversee traffic be-
lieved that steamships stretching a furlong
from stem to stern could be proftably used in
schedule ferry service from Europe to America
and back again. But in this era of wonders
New-YOrk HarbOr welcomes on carefully ar
ranged time tables OF trips several giants of the
ocean which measure more than two hundred and
twenty yards from one end to the other; and
this port is in duty bound to make preparations
for the putting together Of piers of such size that
stupendous bulls far exceeding in length an
eighth of mile shall have abundant room on
the waterfront. The Mayor, the Dock Depart
ment and the Corporation Counsel in the pres
ent municipal administration realize the impor
lance Of building longer and broader piers and
Of utilizing the shores Of the North and East
rivers TO the fullest extent possible for the
steadily increasing commerce Of New-York
Many boards of condemnation and appraiSaI
are now at work in so arranging matters
that the Dock Department can proceed rapidly
in expanding the traffic facilities in this harbor
The spirit shown in these matters is Of zeal and
devotion 20 the highest interest OF this com
mercial centre, and such excellent progress is
making that in a comparatively short period
the docks the east and west front of Man
haitian Island may not greatly suffer by com
parison with those OF Liverpool The channels
of the port have been widened and improved
but great deal remains TO he done Neyerthe-
less. the prospects are now reasonably encourag-
ing that when the first steamship a thousand
feet long passes Sandy Hook the gateway of
the Americas will have wide entrances and n
system Of docks and piers ready to afford space
and verge enough for her accommodation.