New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-22
BRoNN KILLS HEARING.
NEED OF IMPROVEMENT
Representatives. Of Business Interests
Shoe GrO5cth of Commerce.

Members OF the United States Board Of Engineers
for Rivers and Harbors yesterday held a public
hearinr in the rooms Of the North Side Board Of
Trade. drea-ane-rorty-second-s and Third
ave on the proposed Improvement OF the Bronx
Kills Major Edward Burr presided. HIS coll
leagues were Captain c. H McKinstry Captain
" \. Ju6son. Colonel Alexander. Colonel Amos
suckney. in charge OF the local district OF rivers
end harbors. and Assistant Engineer Alexander H
Weber. Dock Commissioner McDougau Hawkes.
Trade. the Taxpayers Alliance. the Harlem Prop
srty Owners Association. the East Side Citizens
snd Taxpayers Association and the Mount Vernon
Board OF Trade were represented
Congressman Joseph A. Goulden who was the
frst speaker. submitted statistics as 10 the num-
her C openings OF the willis-ave bridge the
structure nearest 10 the Kills, as tending to show
TIE large numbers OF vessels using the adjacent
waterways. From August lsOs when the bridge
was opened, TO December 1901 lz75 vessels passed
through the bridge. In 1902 the bridge was opened
on SIS occasions for SIS vessels and during the
eight months 81 1903 there were S2ls openings TO
permit 1873 vessels TO pass through. Congress
nan Gollden said that adding TO these figures the
number Of barges and tows passing under the
bridge without requiring the opening. the total
would reach 52056 vessels for 1902 and 2&O5s for
1903
Borough President HafIen followed Congressman
Goulden- He said in part:
Whatever can be done to lessen the distance in
fraflc and freight transportation. by shorter
approach from the HUDSON River through the
Harlem River Ship Canal, the Harlem River and
BY the Bronx Kills 10 the deep waters OF the
Sound and the ocean. would result from tIls
Improvement must necessarily appeal 10 the rlEhA
judgment 81 those interested in properly deter
mining This question Even il this Improvement
should cost the sum stated in your letter. TINS
expenditure would result to the advantage OF the
public commercial interests involved, as Wen as 20
she material Interests Of The city OF NeW-4 oIks
which would be affected by this proposed IN
-royerse-- ard would Justify expenditure OF a
very much greater amount
Tax Commissioner James J. Wells reviewed IN
detail the work that had already been done oy the
federal government and the city Of New-Hork IN
f1provsnE the waterways 81 the city. Mr.. Nells
urged. as a necessity for the Improvement OF the
Kills the immense growth OF Harlem aad The
Bronx and submitted interesting figures showing
'he increase IN population and valuation OF real
estate In 1874 when the subject Of improving
The Bronx waterways was first taken up, the
norouph's population was 5000 and its assessed
valuation 50 90 90. To-day Z7oeo persons have
homes in The Bronx and its real estate its valued
81 $40 90 CO Nowhere in the United states, said
NJ Wells had there been such rapid increase IN
population and property values The city. he con-
-frleE had done more than the United states IN
IRE improving OF streams.
In had 10 facilitate the improving Of the Harlem,
given I'D 70 the federal government land without
paw and had loaned its credit purchase the land
se well as giving the United States jurisdiction
over in Since 1874 according 70 Mr.. Wells. the
federal authorities had spent only S1.034.ooo or
about $4,000 year. the Improvement Of New