New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17
NOW ALL IS CONGESTION.

What is the present sltuationo ON Mauhat-
tan, congestion. congestion, congestion Ac-
cording 10 Tie last annual message Of the
Mayor, So far Manhattan is concerned the
Improvement Of the commercial portion OF tho
North River IS about complete. OF the seven
miles susceptible 20 commercial use. six miles
are now improved and In use. on the East
River the waterfront available for the purposes
OF commerce Is nearly all in service. and OF the
eight miles OF front, six miles are improved ac-
cordlns 10 the new plans. Practically all OF
the waterfront OF Manhattan Island said he
susceptible OF Improvement 10 III il for trans
atlantic and coast trade is now improved and
the only extensive section lacking Improvement
Is along the shore OF the Harlem River the de-
Nelopmeht or which In the future. must be ar
ranged to 1T IL for local needs"
The section from the Battery to Cortlandt
street on the North River side of the island
according to Commissioner Bensel of the De
paftnent or Docks, only be used FOR rail-
ROAD purposes, as the water is not deem enough
landt street 10 the new Chelsea Improvement for
the large transatlantic lines. which begins at
the loot or bloomfield street and extends north
10 West I'D street, one-haif the space is oc,.,I-
pied by piers devoted 10 railroad purposes aud
"i't-haI. To she big ocean passenger lines and
one OF Two freight lines and To coastWfse pas
senger and freight business. In this area are
lne terminals or number OF ferries ali of
WAIch are essential. for millions Of narsn-s
enter and leave Manhattan by their means i'm
tne course OF the year At the foot ~ U-asr
I'D street are the terminals of several Csrry
mes Extending north of these TO Both street
are number OF piers some Of which are ,,4ej
ny ocean steamships. The New York Central
point. - ''' '' '''''
owing to the necessity for short pjera bocor,se
vi Tue comparatively narrow channel ANA th,.
swift tldal current the waterfront of the. F,ast
RIVER is not available for largo ocean Steamers
II seems best adapted 40 serve the coastU,iae
traffic and for open" piers. Below the Pro,l-
Iyh brldge are the piers Of a number af caost-
wise lines and foreign lines such as those ,yhir,
run To Cuba and Mexico The two classes
G,VIde me space almost equally between them
mere are Few piers on this s.dc-used nv mil
loau hhes Tor terminal purposes The frontage
aooTe the Brooklyn Bridge is occupied by local
Hhes, open piers ferry slips. hospitals power
pants anu coal and wood yards.
On the Brooklyn shore the DEVELOPMENT of tbs
Waterfront beSlus at DIST street. South Brook
!NH, and extends northward Nearly an th,
front between this point and the 3.th street
FERRY Is occupied by the Bush terminal which
accommodates several freight steamship limos
from me FERRY To GoWanus Bay the front Is
available FOR improvement. The Red Hook Chan
hel, which Is to be deepened To thirty-hvc feet
ana ultimately 10 forty. passes directly i'm front
OF THIS section. Nearly all OF the unOccupiel
space between Goth street and CioWanus T;9I- is
To be improved by the Dock Department of tbs
city by the construction of dozen or more, piers
of the size of those Of the Bush terminal which
Juts out In the centre of the stretch
In the neighborhood of Cowanus Bav are the
Erie and Brooklyn basins and extending north
ward along the edge OF Buttermilk Channel
TO the Bridge is string of private piers those
In the neighborhood of the Bridge being the
properties Of the New York Dock Company. Be-