New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-14
BIG SHIPS FOR BOSTON
Mellen Says Hub Can Be Leading
Atlantic Port of the Country.

Boston, April 13-Boston's opportunity is
at hand to become the Lending seaport on
the Atlantic and gateway to European
ports. according 70 President Charles s.
Mellen Of the New York. New Haven &
Hartford Railroad. who addressed the
members Of the Boston Chamber or Com
merce at banquet. at which he was the
chief guest this evening. Mr. Mellen urged
that Boston should rise TO the occasion,
deepen her harbor channels. furnish better
docking facilities and build a drydock big
enough to accommodate the present day
ocean liner
The apathy Of others is your oppor-
tuniIy,' said Mr.. Mellen. in urging imne-
date action, and added:
Boston is not only the capital OF Massa-
Gnusetts' y is also The capital OF New
England. What interests Boston, interests
all New England as well. II is the largest
city on this continent nearest 10 Eng land
ana believe Is always 10 remain so--and
no combination OF steamships or railroa DIS
Is going TO be allowed TO overcome by
artificial arrangements OF their schedules
or charges, that natural advantage your
proximity 70 the trade OF the world gives
you the right TO enjoy.
The first requisite Of a great CONNER
cial port Is harbor-tfat you nave When
business was young, you were at the front,
and vessels were at your piers from all
over the world. In the evolution OF bnsi-
ness larger units were constantly called
INTO service, calling for deeper channels
you had these provided, but others were at
work as well, and you only kept pace with
them; you did not forge ahead and keep
there, you did not maintain your primacy,
and while others neglected nothing you
neglected your piers
Now has come about a condition. where
in the evolution Of the steamship business.
he ~Nr
your rivals are being built. and still larger
ones are yet TO come, and II YOU provide
the piers for their accommodation, and
drydock for their repair. you can have a
only rival, New York. and I hope you will
not hesitate until they are provided for
a what may yet be New Yorks back
door. Montauk Point.
II Is my belief a city like Boston should
control its own waterfront, ard own its
own piers. This is all in accordance with
modern thought and practice.
The railroad facilities are such here that
you aan deliver the hrst class steamship
travel in New York. by way Of Boston
quicker than the steamships can deliver it
in'New York direct. From common point
in the Atlantic east Of Boston. where the
courses diverge between New York and
Boston as destinations. a steamship can
dock in Boston and discharge her passen-
gers into a train that will land them in
New York before, under the most favor
bic circumstances, a. similar steamer cOulc
land IT'S passengers AT its pier IN New York
There is no excuse for the building or
port at Montauk 10 expedite the transit
lantic business unless IL be that you are
not awake TO your opportunity and are
again TO allow others 20 profit by your IN
activity Even " Montauk was developed
YOU could do the major portion Of the bust
ness offering FOR your distribution is su-
perior 70 anything possible by that port
Our limited trains can as well. Tor TINS
business. run 10 the docks as 70 the South
Station. an advantage the other city can
not offer. - ,.
The arrangements Of our company are
such that I feel 7 am not at all drawing
upon my imagination when / say We are
practically in an alliance with the Penn
Connecting Railroad. which We are Jointly
building: with the New York Central kali
road through the Grand Central Station
investment and our recent arrangements
regarding the Boston e. Albany and Rut-
Ia1d roads-and 7 feel more than certain
that within no great while Ve shall nave
most intimate arrangements with Canadian
lines in view OF which there Is promise OF
n business such "a we have never oelore
heen able 10 consider in the way OF cargo
for such steamships as shall seek tlls poI !.
Do not think the idea OF oolhs %" ~ n
business through Boston is dream IL Is
g.. from a. You do YOUR part and We VIII
show YOU very quickly that II IS HVlnS
Tbs steamship companies have. them
..i,,.z locked over New London. They are
disrosad 10 encourage Montauk. ana you
-o,lid ~ ready before those places oesun
,eorL aln,ost. and offer ADVANTAGES none Oh
.her, could hope to compete WIN