New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-20
@S NEW YORK is LOSING MILLIONS FOR LACK OF ROOM nSD
Better Freight Terminals Ur-
gently Demanded by
Business Men.

.sRoouat Room, Room!" every one on Manhat-
tan cries Room" shrieks the Broohlynite or
HarleTnite as ne tries TO force a space for him
self IN the throng crushing fits way into the
bridge car or the elevated train. ''Roomr rings
along the corridor OF the subway the trains
crawl forward at snairs pace. 'Room!" cries
the business man in search Of an Office. and he
finds no satisfaction in the contemplation OF the
goal set for the ambitious youth IN the words,
There IS always room at the top"
Every little while some architect hnds a way
OF adding a hundred feet, more or less, 70 1.-THE
top" but still the Office seeker cries More
rOom.' The fat dweller. the merchant. the
manufacturer. almost their knees. beg for
''room," and. finding no relief. turn their eyes
20 other regions beyond Manhattan. The COM
rnerce OF New York calls loudly. Room Nam
haitian IS suffering from congestion. II has q
congesfive fever. and apparently the only REM
edy is more room.
This congestion is Just great on the water
front the gateway by which all the supplies Tor
the city enter. IL is on land. This may sur
xTfse some VINO recall that New York Is noted
for fts extensive waterfront, but VINO forget
that IN other cities the railroads are not obliged
70 use shore bullIheads for their stations
It IS only necessary 10 walk through west
street, visiting a few OF the piers. to prove
that there IS congestion along the waterfront
II IS an everyday spectacle TO see long lines Of
trucks waiting for an opportunity TO enter a
crowded pier either TO deposit or to take away
sresght They stretch for blocks, and the truck
men often spend three four hours before get
ting on the pier. The congestion has become
NO great that many merchants put one truck IN
the line and load Il from the others which DICK
sIp 90 e and add 20 its burden.
While walking up West street rev Gays ago
n representative OF The Tribune counted forty
laH 20 OF
The south pier Of the Morgan Lane.
sEvhen do you expect to reach the pierf" he
asked one OF the two men Longing on q pile
~ blankets IN q half-hIled truck at the end OF
che line two blocks from the pier
Five or o'clock" the driver replied. Il was
shen a few minutes after o'clock This isn't
half as bad as Il was yesterday" he continued
Yising from the reclining TO sitting position
yesterday the line stretched down four blocks
We stay here all hours Some OF the trucks
thinl. get here at 3 O'clock IN the morning" 1t
ooS+s IN New York minimum Of 81 day 70
maintain a tWo-horse truck and driver The
consumer helps pay the freight
AZ the head OF the line q Datroirnan Was en-
5esvurfne 90 keep Il IN good order ana regulat-
sng the entrance and exit Of trucks On the
sD.sr itself was a great busting One wondered
how the freight handlers kept track Of the
freight. ON either side were mountains Of
boxes OF merchandise Of every size. ranging
from q small wooden box one could grasp IN the
fingers % those that one would think needed
block and tackle and steam windlass 70 move.
In the canyon IN the centre were scores OF
trucks discharg1ng their contents on the piles
wherever opportunity presented itself. Men
with hand trucks were trying 70 force their way
through the tangle Of heavier vehicles and
around the projecting bluffs OF merchandise.
They adroifly lodged a wheel here and a truck
coming there.
do you sort this freight out before you put
81 on the ship3' This query was addressed 20
a Quartermaster at one Of the gangways.
3 at is put on just as II is here" was his re-
sponse. THE sorting. whatever there is. is
done at the other end OF the route where there
IS more room"
At the Erie terminal. at the foot of Duane
street seventy-six trucks were found on one
pier. and at the bulkhead along the marginal
street. three trucks waiting their turn
10 load.