The evening world., 1911-04-27
DOCKS FOR LINERS,
"L"F0RR RAILROAD,
. PLAN OF TOMK|NS
Commissioner Protests Against
Transfer of N. Y. G. Freight
at Sixtieth Street.
CURTAIL CAR FLOATS.
North River Waterfront Should
Be Saved for Ocean Com
merce, He Says.
CURTAIL CAR FLOATS.

Dock Commissioners Calvin Tomkins
sent TO the Mayor to-day a lengthy
protest against the plan to compel the
New York Central to discontinue the
use or Its tracks below Sixtieth street
on the west side and transfer its freight
cars from Sixtieth street to dock ter
minals along the lower river front by
floats.
His objections are that the company
has not room enough on the water front
for freight terminals, that the addi-
tional room required will still further
congest the already overcrowded docks.
that the adoption of the plan will be a
blow to business interests depending
upon prompt shipments OF freight and
receipt OF same and that a movement
to cut the terminal OF 1000 miles of
railroad will undoubtedly result In an
appeal TO the courts and indefinite
delay.
Hold North River for Liners.
The Dock Commissioner emphasizes
the difficulty the city Is experiencing in
providing docking facilities for the new
transatlant', steamships. lie advo-
~ loluiiiE Alt sNoltl river wafer
front for ocean liners as far as pos
sible and cutting down the railroad
docks and terminals by the construc-
,ion of the elevated railroad planned
for the Marginal Way from Sixtieth
street south.
The gist of the Commissioner recon-
mendations is contained In the follow
Ing excerpt from his communication to
the Mayor:
I'm my Judgment the quickest way to
terminate the surface track nuisance Is
to promptly substitute the elevated
tracks. The city should endeavor to
make the edevated road below Sixtieth
street a public highway. available for
all OF the roads seeking entrance to
Manhattan as well as for the Central.
IL the New Jersey roads cannot or will
not use It. then It will be time to con-
slider permitting the Central TO build tho
road with its own capital under such
conditions as the city may impose.
The present attitude of the New Jer-
sey roads apparently is in opposition to
the elevated structure. The present
method OF loading and unloading from
New Jersey cars on noats at the water
front IS the cheapest and simplest pos
sible. n in 'fsvoring unit terminals
these roads apparently nave In mind an
expansion of such terminals as already
eSist-that is, more room for car floats
at the docks.
THE difficulty IL that there is no more
room to permit of this use of the doch
front to the exclusion o. marine com-
merce seeking entrance to lower Man
haitian.
Must Provide for Commerce.
1T Il OF the last importance that tho
CRY Slall provide bette opportunities
for its marine IN N lower Man
haitian. and this can only be done by
gradually curtuiling railroad car noat
privileges, or course. the continuation
OF the New FORK centrsl's tracks over
an elevated railroad into lover Manhat.
tar will he OF greater advantage 20 that
company than To the ether and
will tend to Increase the disparity OF
terminal opportunities hetwcen them
This consideration, aithutigh moi ex'
pressed. no doubt has weight with the
New Jersey roads.
TO compel the New York CcntIal u
cut It's tracks. fosf It's ears to lower
Manhattan and by so doing place upor
IL disabilities .hc other roads now en-
counter VIII not help the Of
the city OF New York.
"The polL'y of the city should be Z,
anord every terminal opportunity t.
the Contra in order to secure the hes
competitive service from all roads, a
the same time arordlng these road
every possible opportunity of access Il
Manhattan which shall not Nnduly ia
,srfcre with the location OF steamship
terminals