New-York tribune., 1908-08-16
TO BOOST COMMERCE
Organization to Combat Railroad
Diferentials and Port Barriers.

To show that the vast maritime facilities OF New
York being only half used and that the in
terror water traffic is being diverted from this port
several members OF the Conference to promote
the Commerce of the City and State of New York
crcled the waterfront of Manhattan yesterday
afternoon on the chartered tug Senator Rice. The
| conference the purpose of which iss explained IN
its name, was organized ten days ago, and is COM
posed of men representing the business interests
of all five boroughs
The principal contention Of the organization is
that commerce is being driven away from New
York by railroad differentials and port barriers
Exorbitant prices charged, 1t is asserted, both
by the city and private concerns for privileges OF
dockage and wharfage Grain is said to be going
to Montreal now. where it formerly came to New
York for foreign shipment, while the unlimited
opportunities for water transportation offered Dy
the Hudson River not being improved by
comprehensive canal system in this and other
states.
81 have been noticing for some time the absence
OF the energetic commercial activity in these
waters which existed here at time," said Ed
ward F. Linton. of Brooklyn, formerly member
OF the Greater New York Commission, during the
trip up the East River yesterday afternoon. ''You
see ferries and the established steamship lines OF
course but the fourishing canal traffic and rush
ing internal commerce which used to come here
and ought TO ccme here have disappeared.
"Of course it is hard to estimate without careful
calculation, but I should say that less than half
of the available dockage facilities of this port are
being used for their average capacity. This
is not due to so-caled hard times. either. The
country a whole is rapidly reaching its normal
prosperity. The trouble Is that railroads diff
ferentiating against this city and the city govern
ment is allowing prohibitiye rates to be charged
for its docks and wharves.'
Albert E. Henschel, president of the conference
also deplOred the lack of foresight which allowed
Canada to divert, he sad, the trade to her port
which should come through New York. and Cap
tain W. C. Clark pointed out to the members OF the
conference the vital Importance to the city and
state of the upstate canals
The Hghterage business Of New York is at
standstI, with acres of idle craft" said Mr. Hen
sehel. "Of canalboats there IS little to be seen.
AS direct result hundreds Of thousands are out
Of employment. The stagnation affects not only
every interest in this community, but likewise a
large section of the Union. The Canadian port of
Montreal on the other hand. is teeming with busi-
Canada has been laying plans for many years
divert herself the trade tributary to us by a
systematic improvement of her canal, railroad and
terminal facilities. making Montreal chief export
ing and importing certre and practically free
port. New Workers have long been content to rely
for commercial supremacy their past glory and
antiquated ditch, the Erie Canal Our para
mount hope lies in the speedy construction Of the
new barge canal"
Captain Clark who is intimately connected with
the work the conference is setting before itself.
said that he had just returned from upstate and
that everywhere along the Hudson and elsewhere
brickyards and other industrial plants were lying
idle lack of cheap transportation.
What this state needs is TO rush the work on an
adequate canal system extending in all directions
from the Hudson River" he said. The old Della
ware & Hudson canal should be put into condltloh
and extended to Carbondale, Penn Then the Erie
Canal should be made thoroughly up-to-date ana
sufficient for enterprising commerce. ana Ihe Us
wego Canal, running from it at Three River Point
to Oswego completed And. of course, the Cham
plain barge canal running north from Troy is need
ed Immediately.
The next meeting of the conference Will be held
on Tuesday, August IS. at o'clock, in the council
chamber of the City Hall at which a public hearing
will be given on the promotion OF commerce.