New-York tribune., 1908-03-22
FEW USE SHIP CANAL,
Rep0rts Shoe Decrease an Number
of Boats in Harlem Short Cut.

--a=7c through the Harlem Ship Canal dug
-, the --svernment thirteen years ago. at = cost
cs rn.-rs than s3asaeso has been decreasing
steadily for the last three years. according to
-epo-ts made TO the Department Of Bridges. Ia
1sea7 these reports show that the canal was used
ge@s even than in 1875 only three years after
II FIRST shortened the distance between the two
large Waterways on each side of Manhattan
Tsgboat men doing business the Harlem
River corrohorate the accounts Of this shrinkase
IN business going through the canal
A record is kept on all the city dra ~ bridges
of each time they are opened and the number
Of vessels which pass through There Is only
one draN bridge over the ship canal proper the
large one at Briadyaw. used by the subway. Ac-
.rordng 10 Martin Gay. the engineer in charge
q. rne Harlem River bridges. the city was
ca lied upon 70 open the draw Of this bridge only
about half the number OF times last year that ii
vas in 1895. This does not include barges
loaded with building material grain. hay etc. in
torv of tugs whose pilot houses and smokestacks
are low enough TO pass under the bridge Thai
the decrease in the number OF this kind Of
craft using the canal has been just as marked
* vouched for by the boatnlen themselves.
Al the tine the canal was being planned much
vas said OF the benefits which would acrue from
II not only to the city but even TO this and ad-
Joining states Il was q large undertaking.
-l-eeea tons Of rock and I62ooo cubic yards Of
ea~th had been removed. 1.oaAoeo cubic yards
ef earth and mud dredged- 5000 cubic yards Of
retaining walls huiit. and 100000 pounds Of
Cvuau7iUe exploded. according to speaker at
-7e formal celebration OF the opening of the
canal IL June. 1925 It Was predicted by some
ardent enthusiasts that the canal would soon
make Port Morris the centre OF all transat
Isntic commerce
he h7-le
of many Of its most enthusiastic advocates had
becun TO wane- At that time-August. 1856
TIE Tribune said IN an editorial: Even when
a. further improvements are completed the
-,-sre-rav viii be Z ship canal only in name
TIE TACT Is. II never was intended 10 he a ship
canal Il would be folly 70 make IL such No
ore wants u send Atlantic liners up the Hud-
so- and al this canal ever vas intended TO do
vzs ~ afford an outlet for Hudson River COM
mere 10 deep water At Port Morris. instead Of
IN New York Bay"
Three Years later the average number Of YES
sels passing through the canal which were large
enough 70 require -he opening Of the drawbridge
zas 10 5ay. a. given in the report Of John L
Srea. Commissioner Of Bridges Il that time
TIE following year the average rose to > 10
Then for tv-o years il dropped In 1900 II was
s--10 and in 1891 only 3 9-1o. Then il rose
steadily during 1902 and 1903. The following
drop vas nor appreciate. The next year the
traffic broke al records. the number Of vessels
RAISING through rea ching al average Of almost
sev=r day
Then the decline began. L has gone
s-ea5-.v. and quarterly reports show that il Is
SAL l1u-inuinz- IN 1906 only $40 vessels a
day M an average footed for the draw at Broad
ua- During the twelve months OF last year
or-y % Go passed through
II mas thought by many that the canal would
cause many new docks 10 spring up on the
banks - the Harlem River near the canal
Several men VINO have kept Up with the growth
r. -ra city THAI end Of the island said the
gher 6aT that this had not been the result
Little extra Gocksge has been provided Along
z5= Cr the canal and the Harlem River. sJIst
before they Join. the tracks Of the New York
Central occupy the entire shore on the other
N.dr eu= large power house has been the means
nT bringing boats laden with building material
through r1e canal. but the number Of other new
oree 5~ small and many persons say they see
u s.E~ 0r znE more in the near future.