New-York tribune., 1904-08-08
4 SRALLOF SLIP cEANNEL.

Valuable service 10 the merchant marine has
been performed 10y recent study OF the be-
havior of large steamships when catering and
leaving New York Harhor. The results are en-
bodied in a report by Henry y. Babcock. which
appears in the latest issue Of Engineering
News Speaking of the matter edtorially, that
periodical says that the investigation Just made
IS probably the first careful one ever under
taken.
II has long been known that the draught OF a
vessel is increased by motion. The phenomenon
is especially noticeable with steam yachts,
whose sterns are much depressed when the
boats are running ~ fl'' speed. The SQUAT" Of
big vessels has not attracted much attention.
and might well have been overlooked. Ordi-
narily, where there is plenty Of water, the de
preston is uiling. off Fort Wadswcrth, In the
Narrows, where the channel IS eighty feet deep,
scarcely any If the large transatlantic steam
ships show a squat Of moro than a foot. In
the shallower places in the lower bay, however.
and near Sandy Hook, the change often amounts
to three or four feet, and maximum of four
and one-half feet has been observed. The gov
ernment has provided channel whose depth M
mean low tide is at least thirty-One feet but
there are several vessels now coming 70 New
York regularly which, if fully loaded. would
draw from thirty-two 10 thirty five feet. Their
arrival and departure are timed with special ref
/ erence to the tide so that between thirty-four
and thirty-seve feet Of water is, theoretically
available A squat" Of from two 10 four leet
however materially diminshes the clearance.
and it is not an uncommon experience 10 touch
bottom gently without injury. Now that the
facts are more fully recognized than formerly,
the trouble can be further minmized by slow
ing down in the shallowest parts OF the channel,
since the squat bears 4 definite relation TO
speed. \ resort TO that policy, however. still
further adds to the waste of time.
Still another precaution must be observed in
order TO get in and out of the harbor safely.
Less freight must be taken than some Of these
vessels can carry and their capacity for earn
ing is corrcspondngly reduced. 1t is "A notorious
fact that the Baltic, the latest addition 10 the
White Star Line. is unable TO take full load
for this reason, and is less remunerative to her
owners than they have right TO expect.
\ moderate degree of relief will be afforded
when the new ship channel in the lower bay is
completed. 1t will not only be several miles
shorter than the one now used by the largest
vessels, but it will also give forty feet OF water
at low tide. Amy steamships now afoat should
then be able to come in without hindrance at al
most any hour of the day, hut if they run Mt full
speed there will not be too much water Tn
fortunately the new channel is not likely TO DC
open for two or three years, and the question
arises, What ought to be done in the mean
time: To deepen the old channel NAV seem an
extravagant proceeding. particularly as it will
doubtless he abandoned entirely before long
TO reorganiZe the plan for the other so as 10
provide forty-fve feet, would probably be more
sensible.