New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-16

4 new plan for retaining tho marshes which
extend i'm an almost continuous chain from
Hackensack To Perth Amboy-a distance of
thirty five miles-is discussed az much length
I'm Engineering News" by Henry Clay Weeks.
In common with some other projects that have
been considered I'm the last fifteen or twenty
years. il provides for a system Of small drain
age canals through the area affected. II dis
penses with the elaborate bikes which various
engineers have suggested for the shores 81 the
natural streams already intcrserting the region;
and Il materially reduces n Sc does not make
unnecessary, the costly filling which has been
favorite eXpedicnt with another class Of eX-
perts. The conspicuous feature 81 Mr. Wce'sss
scheme Is the maintenance 81 the level OF the
navicable waters Of that Immediate vicinity
nearly AT the low tide stage a. all times by
preventing the rivers from rising IN consequence
Of a semi -diurnal influx from the sea. Mr. Weeks
thinks that ne would produce the same practical.
effect that would come from dumping four feet
OF dirt over the 10000 or 5000 acres involved
I'm the proposition. To shut out the water he
would construct two dams al strategic points,
one reaching from the extreme southern end OF
Staten Island 10 Perth Amboy. and the other
from the north shore over 20 Bergen Point The
dams would both be pierced with locks 10 adj
NIT shipping.
That which Mr. Weeks regards as the chief
recommendation OF his plan is that when II was
once carried out its benefits would be perma-
nent Owing 10 the shrinkage of the land after
It drained the automatic tide gates which
have been a necessary part OF all dixie systems
might become imperative. Not only would bikes
entail annual expense for maintenance and
pumping. amounting TO something like 100000.
but there would be chance that after few
years large part OF the original investment
would be lost. The opinion IS also expressed
that the plan here outlined would cost less than
the others The suggestion IS not 20 be ignored.
OF course, but the desrabillty OF following Mr..
Weeks's programme must depend mainly upon
its efficiency.
Many Of the objections which might be Of
fered 10 the scheme are reviewed by its advo-
cate, and are met in more or less satisfactory
fashion. One OF the most formidable relates
10 the extent to which commerce would be af-
fected by damming the Kill Won Kull and Arthur
Kill. Vessels that wanted 10 get In or ont
would be obliged TO wait for low tide and there
would be only about four or Ave hours out Of
the twenty four in which the locks could be
kept open When slack water happened 10
come M about noon and midnight. there would
probably be only n single chance IN a day 10
pass. Again, after shipping had once entered
either opening IL could count on 10 material
rise ar level because the flood tide would be eX-
cluded. Whether the consent of the national
authorities, which are usually conservative On
such matters, could be obtained 10 these r.
strictions is an interesting question. ii IS safe
10 say, though that if the War Department APP
proved no one else w0uid complain bitterly
Next I'm importance. perhaps To the interests
Of navigation are the possible effects of these
barriers upon the pollution Of the lower Pas
sale and Newark Bay Mr. Weeks has no mis-
giyues on that score. lie may bee right How
ever, the question needs 10 be carefully con
sidered before the plan ne a whole is approved
IL is 20 De hoped that the State authorities
in Ne'y-Jersey viii take the proper steps 90 So
cure competent opinions concerning the sound
ness OF Mr.. Weelss reasoning. Though the CO.
operation OF New-YOrk State and the national
government must also be sought the initiative
properly belongs to New-Jersey. Since no thor
oughiy practicable way of assessing the expense
upon the municipalities. business corporations
and private individuals 10 be benefited has yet
been found. IL may be wise for the State TO un-
dertake the chief responsibility At any rate.
the least II can do is 10 look into the PROPOSE
ton Sooner or later. those marshes will Be
reclaimed Something Ike six square miles Of
exceedingly valuable property would be added
10 Inc state by the improvement In a few
years II would be nearly covered with factories
ana warehouses. for which exceptional railroad