New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-18
Commissioners TomkinS Explains
Need Of Improved Waterfront.
TO USE SUBURBAN AREAS
submits Report of Chief Engi-
neer, Suggesting Methods OF
Transferring Freight of City.

In connection with q report OF {. w
stamford chief engineer, commissioner
orrkins Of the'Departmcnt of Docks has
lust issued a statement as 10 proposed
Improvements Of the freight handling IA
ciiues OF the city. I'm his statement
which is headed improved Methods for
the Transfer OF Freight Between the
Waterfront. the Railway and the Ware
house" Mr. Tomkins says in part;
THAT the narbors Of the United states
have rot been developed upon SclehliHv
end economic Ines is due 10 The fact thdI
they we're orig inally improved 10y lholNiu-
usl owners to comply with temporary ne
CeSSlties ard weuC afterwa:d cllu'' e.,
laTced or ~ some instances reconstruct u
hy tue municipalities or 10y corporate III
te-eSts 49,
I'm addition 10 reconstructiuE the older
parts or New York Harbor, 10 Will bc nee
sssarv 10 deveiop unused suburban areas
rot only FOR present needs, hut 10 meet
the competition which economic develop,
mcEt or Similfr areas at other cues VII
invariably hlIrS out. Large tracts o.
what is now almost waste land are 10 DC
found adjacent To the 40 miles OF water
front about New York. II is in these areas
thrt the proper combination or All Wafer
{ ou5 accessories may be best planned
FySIIgc Of European as well as AlheI +,
car experience. Ii is to be remembered
that industrial development and factory
- a e
j. 10 tie city than rs its commercial az
Nelopmeut Railroad SidilCS To factory
sites or tie back lands near the water
front are at least as essential 10 success,
~ municipal progress as IS commeicldl
Development at tho waterfront
rho approaching completion OF tho ran
gma Canal the new Erie Canal and sun
Scqueu..- the lntcrcostHl Canal between
C.,saEeJkc Bay and Long Island sound
orc the probability of the termination OF
'1a dincreUtlal freight rate by the rail-
roads against New York city Whlcn now
exists iu favor of other seaport cues ne
ann fa.;orS which will greatly stimulate
tI" Development Of commerce ana lIuua-
Leaving out OF consideration waterfront
lands used hg railroads and tlo>c pun ~
factory or warehouse uses by plEdic con
Germs. 4 ISlicN" that gradually the cnu't
Waterford of fbc City will be muulcipauHe.l
81 r1,I... fI.,t Tho maximum 1~o may Ice OBJ
ftiucd Isuu 10 at IN" Wluludn cost. ] j.
.atc commercial uses involve inc hey'sNl'I
Tor proIts over and above interest," "n
amortization charges. public terminals are
not Subject 10 This additional burden. a. q
CONSEQUENCE. public ownership must Grau"'
allN ~wuiJut private o"n"FShIp dloh@ ''
waterfront. except for Spocldl uses
ar TomEus says that many of the plans
Of ar. stamford are made for jamaica Bay
Development, but this has been done only
FOR the reason that the free field found IN
this section affords untrammcllcd oppor-
p.aitc. for differences I'm planning. Inc
plans arc submitted ass studies and not as
I.nal recommendation. he says
Mr. Stamford says i'm his report that
the general scheme for development Is
based cong the following principles
The establishment of an adequate chan
mel of approach 10 every part Il the pro-
POSED improvement
This channel to follow along a perhead
line established as an exterior limit for all
pier construction, forming the lushorc
boundary OF the channel
The establishment of a bulthead line par
alIcl with the pierhcad line. 80 arranged
as % permit piers of any desired length
available for the particular locality, or the
establishment iu places Of a hulkhedd line
irshorc Of the aforesaid parallel line, IN
order 90 permit the cons tructou Of longer
piers in certain localities.
The establishment of marginal way
extending along the hulkhead line parallel
Herewith with any desired width, intended
o. provide An area within which any par
ti.ular form of development may be con-
structcd. combining warehouses, classlhca-
lion and distribution yards. factory sites
and railroad track connection with pier
and warehouses, and in turn with belt
line for general distribution 70 main rail-
road connections, also transverse, and pos
-ihly p Longitudinal street system for truck
and vehiCUlar trdfnc.