New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-02
SHIP MEN DISHE4RTENED.
Other Cities Trying to Drasc Lines
from This Port.

The steamship men Of this city disheartened
over the refusal Of Secretary Taft TO reopen the
question Of lenGthening the North River piers
They assert that kills all hope OF progress In the
way OF building bigger vessels. so long as the gov
eminent refuses the Improvement OF the docking
facilities.
with Newark trying TO secure deep water
channel which viii allow the entrance OF the big
eest vessels. and with the pier accommodations
which they can give II the channel is secured; with
the free docking facilities offered by Baltimore
Boston and other cities. 1 don't see where New
York will be- said steamship man yesterday
Another said. The German lines already have
most OF the available docks along the Jersey shoIo
OF the North River. and since the Brooklyn DOCKS
are so fer away from Manhattan as TO make the
,ransnortation of the freight by importers and
others slow and expensive Manhattan IS In grave
danger Of losing n lot OF revenue II the steam
ship companies cannot dock their vessels mere anu
their natural expansion is checked. they viii Ger
tainlv 20 elsewhere. New-York has certain great
natural commercial advantages. hut other cities
also offer advantages to the steamship lines which
offset those Of New York. handicapped as they are
by this dead line in the length Of the piers
which the government refuses TO remove.
Emil L. T3oas. who some time ago said that the
Hamburg line might move elsewhere. II II coulu
not get piers at which the biggest vessels might
dock. said yesterday that the decision Oh seere-
tary Taft was discouraglng TO the maritime ii'sl
ests of this port "<tS ,ss -
Is a check TO TIE OeNtAoli4N''N -
this port" he said. and one which may not Oe
rerne5ied in time. The Dock Department mas oeei
making a brave and valiant fight TO secure Oio
frightening of the piers, and Mayor McCleiahe
speech last Saturday at the Lotos CLUB SHOWS no"
much he has the matter at heart. The eXtensiol
NAV be granted time. but II II IS neit 90 ~
long * may be late One stranSe INNS do -,
the question Is that. while the government hds
uersstently refused grant this improvements ~
has never given any reason Tor 50 lOlHs. -. -
The extension OF thu piers would cause no ~
str1lc.ion TO the channel OF the river me Jettt
lnlilt at the mouth of the Mississippi AZ risn.
angles to the banks have proved the fa4acE q '.e
objection To build long mole or Ql-ay aIoiie 'e
river at which the vessels could tie up paIaiIe4 W
~ shore would reduce the docking faclhues pE
fhree-fourths Piers built slantWlse INTO u ~.
strea m would probably occasion great oiIIlCut! "a
5ocIing a big vessel with pier built stialeht
snto the river Is took the Deutschland three houI
with fourteel tugs helping, to get a4ongslde net
Socb because OF the tide. Floating docks nave
Leen suggested but where could they be Hncnoleu
Il know that Newark IS making stroNs tl.oL = =
IN get a deep water channel, in oruer 70 AItItt1
tbe inland bound freight coming 10 TINS poLt.
Several times rarties OF business men IRON boston
haze visited ne here, and made strong aIBunie.
FOR US 10 go Boston, and nave olsc ~, -
matter with them at considerable lenSth o.iltI
cities-Balumore. FOR eXample-haFe also oIeieu Us
strong Inducements. - x-.--,,- 7 loxd
said that while his line not seriously aileSteu,
since 81 locked all big boats In HCboken wIere
IN has piers $50 go feet long the continued re-
frsa1 Of The War Department to allow the lenstl1,
e-inr of the Manhattan piers seriously HeIdVeu
me prosperity Of the city.