New-York tribune., 1911-03-02
AGENTS of Liners Worked Up
Over Adverse Report on Peti-
tion for Lengthening Piers.
LOOK TO SECRETARY OF WAR
Still Hope Extension in Chelsea
District Will Be Granted-Tak
of Using Harbors at New
London and Montauk.

washington yesterday tnat tne ndrpor
line board OF the army engineer corps
had reported adversely on the applica-
tion for pier extension in the Chelsea
district, the various steamship cor.-
panies interested in the project ex-
pressed great disappointment. Whils
the lines have not given up hope OF con-
sideration until their applications have
been refused by tho Secretary Of War. Il
is generally believed that Mr. Dickinson
will act on the recommendations Of tho
board.
The news from Washington fell like a
bombshel i'm the steamship camps. and
the agents of the companies who re
building big steamships Immediately be-
gan talking Of IN ,g away from New
York. Various ports were talked Of for
terminals. among them Boston. New
London, Conn. and MontalIk Point.
Benefit Of Extension Admitted.
The report reviewed carefully the arr
guments OF the steamship lines for an
increase of one hundred feet To the pier
line in the Chelsea district, and while
agreeing with tho companies that the
concession would be Of beneft A. the big
shipping interests, the benefit OF the ex-
tension had been greatly overegtimatcd.
The report lSid stress upon the fact that
the pier encroachment would be highly
detrimental to the general shipping Of
the harbor.
The precedent of inevitable subsequent
pier encroachment should the one hum
dred feet extension be allowed was also
presented to the Secretary for consid-
that pier extension would be likely To in
crease indefinitely until the fairway
would be reduced to such an extent as tn
jeopardize the harbors distinction as
the greatest port in the Western Heml-
sphere.
The gist OF the report suggested that
there was too much at stake for shipping
in general to allow the big companies tn
put extensions Of one hundred feet Oh
their piers.
iN'pi VI TIC w llilt sSidT LIN
declared yesterday that they had re-
ceived no official notification of the un-
favorable recommendation. but as the
Olympic is due at this port in June the
company would try 10 find some place
to dock her. The White Star Line,
which will be the first company to ham
die the big ship problem. hopes for some
consideration from the Secretary OF
War.
Thinks Big Ships Must Go.
The Cunard Line. which also made ap-
plication for pier extension in the hope
Of docking in the Chelsea district its
proposed 800 foot. G0,0OO-ton steamship
Aquitania, was somewhat disturbed over
The recommendation of the Harbor Line
Board Charles Z. Sumner the local
agent OF the line, waXed enthusiastic
over New London as permanent ter
minal for the big express steamships.
and declared that If the Aquitania was
forced to dock in that port the Lush
tania and the Maurctana would have
to go there also. This would leave only
the slower ships for Liverpool and the
Mediterranean boats in the New York
terminals.
There are several ports that would
be glad 10 have u.s." said Mr. Sumner
Yesterday New London is an admra-
| bic place for docking the big ships, and
if we are forced To abandon New York
| il is more than likely that the Cunard
and White Star lines will both move to
the same new terminal. Boston would
welcome us. L am surprised that the
| board has seen fit 10 take such action.
II the War Department decides against
us, and there is no appeal to Congress, IL
simply means that the companies build
ing big steamships too long for the piers
will have to leave the Port OF New
York"
Ralph Peters. president OF the Long
Island Railroad said last night that he
believed that the harbor line board
| made a mistake in not granting the
! steamship companies the concession oil
pier extension. He said he thought that
one hundred feet could be added to tht
Chelsea piers without affecting naviga'
ton in the North River.
"Montauk Point seems to be the logica
place now" said Mr.. Peters. THE Lons
Island Railroad is willing 10 DO all in It's
lower TO facilitate the taking Of the tig
steamships To Montauk Point III tht
White Star Line wants To dock tht
Olympic at the Point, there is no reason
why she could not be accommodates
there. Work could be started now on
the piers and sheds and they wouid 10
ready for the Olympic In June. am
confident she could be safely dockeo
there. even though the breakwaters
were not built"
Bush Docks, in South Brooklyn IL "as
said Yesterday by steamship man. y
the trumu card which the owners oil ois
liners are holding up their sleeves III tne
, event Of their ultimate inability TO gel
the desired pier extension in the Cheises
district.
It is contendcd that II the big lines dc
not wish TO leave the port OF New forS
they can dock their big ships In south
BROOKLYN, where there are piers Ions
enough 10 accommodate the olympic anu
the Titanic until such time as better
place might be found.
Suggest Piers Further Uptown
II has been suggested to the Whue
Star Line that the Olympic and vessels
of her class could be accommodate ano
protected in the North "iver between