New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-06
FAV0RS PIER EXTENSION.
NEEDED BY SHIPPING.
Mr.. Whinery's Report on Chelsea
Section I'm proUement Made Public.


The report made some time ago to Dock Com
missioner Hawkes.. by Samuel Winery. on the
necessity and practicabihty OF advancing the pier
line in what is known as the Chelsea section about
two hundred feet or to such extent as will per-
nit the building OF piers LOG feet long. was made
public yesterday. The report indicates that the
proposed extension is needful for the shipping in
terests of the city. that would not in any serious
way interfere with the navigation of the North
River that IT answers the objections offered to the
proposition on the ground that the same results
could be accomplished by advancing the bulkhead
line 200 feet into the city and that will be neces-
sary to grant similar extension OF the pier line
on the New-Jersey side If it Is granted on this.
It is also proposed in the report that in case ii
seems to the Secretary of War that the narrowing
Of the channel will be real hindrance to naviga-
ton. the extension be granted and the channel
kept at its present width by shortening the pier line
on the New-Jersey shore without serious damage
TO any existing interests.
The line, desired by the Department OF
Docks. and applied for last May, is situated along
the western shore OF Manhattan Island. beginning
at the established pierhead lire at West Thrtieth
St. and running thence southwark, diverging ives
terly from the present picrhead line until II inter-
sects the proIongation Of West Twenty thirdst, at
which point it would be 200 feet outside (wesD OF
the existing line; thence running southwark parallel
to and 200 feet of the existing line 10 point
on the prolongation Of Gansevoort-st.. from which
point II approaches the existing pierhead line which
1t intersects at a point on the prolongaton OF
Canal-st.
Mr.. Winery considered the subject not wholly
an engineering one and that IT should be treated
view Of the many interests affected. From this
broad point of view he reaches the conclusions
already given.
AS to the necessity OF L0OO-foot piers, Mr..
Winery calls attention to the constantly increas-
ing length OF the ocean going steamers, and says
hot he v.Lv- heir Siza
continue to increase for some time If it should
continue at the rate which has prevailed for the
last few years, he says by 1928 the length OF the
steamers viii have become great be
commcdated in docks 1000 feet Ions. In view of
the length Of time needed to construct docks prop
erIy. he believes that the city should at be-
gin preparations for this increase. and ne notes
that number OF corporations and companies are
already building piers Of far greater length than
planned. He also points out that for several
reasons the Chelsea dock improvements which
are now in progress. offer the only opportunity
once available for making provision for the great
ships which may be expected.
AS to the possibility Of increasing the length OF
the piers by extending the buIkhead line further
inland he finds this open to 50 many objections as
to seem 10 him Impossible. The obvious is
the extra expense. which he believes would make a
total OF not less than ten million dollars. But he
feels that weightier is the fact that this
heavy cost would at last come back on the steam
ship companies, which already complain that New
York is the most expensive harbor they enter and
some of which have threatened TO find other ports
in there should be any increase in the charges
here. Another serious objection to that plan would
be that the lower end Of Manhattan is already ter
riby congested and cannot afford 70 spare the
100000 square feet which would be taken. The dis
arranging of lines OF distribution of freight, and
the passenger transportation service especially the
obstacle which the moving in Of the bulkhead line
would place in the way OF the building of a four
elevated he
is considered by many the ultimate solution Of the
problem Of the transportation Of the freight landed
at the lower end of the city, is considered by Nj
Winery the serious objections 70 the plan.
Mr.. Winery next takes up the proposition made
by the Riparian Commission OF New-Jersey and
the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company,
that If the pier line is extended two hundred feet
on the New-York side of the river similar
tension should be granted the other. In regard
dividing the river equally between the Two States,
features Of the situation. He says that the gov
eminent should take those measures which VIII
parts and that. Judged by this standard. there
seems to be no reason why there should be any
extension along the Jersey shore as he shipping
interests which docks there centre in New
York, and would doubtless dock in this city, II
other things We're equal.
Mr.. Winery finds other reasons against me de-
mand for extension on the New-Jersey side IN
the fact that Castle Point winch Tenders thS s4
opposite West Fourteenth-st, and that above Castle
river to permit the building Of piers much beyond
900 feet in length while below 1t the shore is low
and fat and can be excavated 10 extend the docks
inland far more easily and cheaply and with less
Inconvenience than would be possible on Manhattan
shore, opposite -, -, 800,
The other question considered is that Of the posi-
Bile detriment TO navigation Of extended pier line
Mr. WINERY shows that the increase would amount
10 reduction OF only per cent in the width OF the
channel at its narrowest point and that this
would not be enough form any serious obstacle
except in a case where the port was already
crowded which is not COntended IN TINS case ne
admits that there will slight restriction OF the
channel but holds that the benefits 10 be derived
far out vvegh any damage that would De caused oE
The restriction also calls attention TO the fact
that nv means Of the twin screws II IS possible TO
was needed when they relied on the rudder alone
Mr. WINERY also brings out many other facts
which be believes show that the proposed extern
SION can be made without danger. Inc absence
~ current In the river. the nature OF the sllPplB
and rhe fact that the ferry boats almost without
axcenfiop have their landings on both sides above
or below the proposed extension, all seem 10 MN
Uroofs Of the possibility Of the change He also
ppaiT+s ont that the East River is far more
rrrov,ded than the North River, notwitt nding
that the pier line the New YORK slde, OF me
former was extended about 80 feet IN IS5o' WINE
n vas later pushed out from the Brooklyn sloe-
In ending Mr.. Winery suggests that II the sec
retsrv of War shall think that II IS uTWise 10 re-
duce the present width of the channel t1e e1.tI-
CO. can stiii be made by making a compensating
~S.S1ctinn on the New-Jersey side without preJu-
Dice to any existing interests
THE PRINT CLOTH MARKET.