The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-13
SLOW WORK ON SHIP CANAL.
AT PRESENT RATE 1T WILL BE
FINISHED IN 1920.

1t Was Authorized Twenty Years Ago-Col.
Lyermore's Report Shows the Extent
and tho Waste OF Delays-Commerce
Col. W. r. Livermore, the United States
army engineer In charge Of New York's
harbor improvement work, has just for
warded to Washington his report on the
progress Of the Harlem River ship canal.
1t shows that the canal Ia still only 90 per
cent. completed, although the original
project for the canal was adopted In 1874,
and the project under which work Ia now
going on was adopted in 1878 and modified
October 7. 1885. At the present rate Of
progress, therefore, 1t will be about 1920
before the canal Is finished.
The North Side Board Of Trade, the oom-
mercial body in The Bronx which has been
active In pushing this project, Ii aroused
over the lack Of progress. The ~organiza-
ton La now ~devoting its energies to push
ing the movement headed by the National
Rivers and Harbors Congress for an annual
river and harbor bill Of $50 ,OOO, 1000 in the
hope that the Harlem ship canal will stand
a better chance Of getting IN adequate
amount Of the public money.
Col. Livermore reports that the least
width Of the channel jun 80 was $50 feet,
except in places where shoaling had mar
rowed it. From McComb's Dam bridge
70 the East River the width now varies
from $50 TO 400 feet. The project calls for
a continuous width OF 100 feet from the
East River to the Hudson, except just north
Of High Bridge, where the width Is to be
s75 feet, and through Dyokman's meadow,
where $50 feet are called for. The maxi
mum draught that cou Id be carried through
Is feet, as 1t was last year, The project
calls for a depth OF Is feet except at Dyck-
mans Meadow, where it is to be IS feet.
The report says that during the fiscal
year ended June 80, s12, SOL ;9i were expended
on the Improvement, bringing the total
amount spent IN the present project up to
81, 1872, ISL 81. The amount estimated as
required for the completion Of the project
is 81 1905 900. An idea OF the commercial
importance, Of this work may be gained
from the fact that the of the
river, e~ecording, to the report, was 9,99s. OIL
tons is 1905, valued at S270, 210, 200.
JAMES L.. Wells Of 141 Broadway, who
for many years as a member and as presi-
dent Of the North Side Board OF Trade has
devoted himself to furthering the cause Of
the improvement, maintains that as the
city OF New York was put to great expense
in raising bridges across the Harlem to
comply with stipulations Of the national
Government 1t is entitled to expect from
the national Government appropriations
sufficiently ample to complete this work
at an early date.
-Skimpy rivers and harbors bills said
Mr.. Wells, ARE to blame for the neglect
Of this necessary improvement. The en-
gineers do all they can with the money put
at their disposal. The result, however, Is
that a large proportion Of all the money
that Ia appropriated Is wasted. Some
dredging is done, then because Of the in
sufloiency Of the appropriation the money
gums out and the channel Is allowed to lie
undredged. By the time another appro-
priation Is made much OF the work has to
be done over again, We must have larger
river and harbor bills and have them an
nually. We in The Bronx are going to do
all we can to further the endeavors OF the
National Rivers and Harbors Congress, of
which our Board Of Trade is a member,
% secure annual rivers and harbors bills
at at least $50, 900 900. II this movement
succeeds then perhaps w may hope fer
money enough for the Harlem River ts
have It properly improved at an early date
The Harlem River Ship Canal and the
proposed Bronx Kills ana will receive
special attention from Congressman Joseph
A. Goulden at the next session Of Congress.
Rivers and harbors bills have heretofore
Oeen passed only at irregular intervals.
The average amount appropriated during
the last ten years has been only SIC SOC, 900
L wear.