New-York tribune., 1911-11-09
A HUDSON RIVER WATER GATE
Urgency of It's Construction Shown In
Recent Mobilization Of Warships.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The presence OF the great fleet In our
waters during the last few days has again
emphasized the facts that this metropolitan
city is totally unable TO provide a proper
landing place for the boats officers and
men Of the navy and that our citizens
have no adequate means OF communicating
with the fleet.
Millions OF enthusiastic people have vain
ly attempted to pay visits to the men-of-
war. only to be subject TO the extortion OF
boatmeD and 10 delays Of transportation
which do not exist In any other city of the
globe Endeavoring to reach municipal
piers on the river front, from I'D street
TO 129th street, they have discovered moth
ing but a stretch of dilapidated water front
10 which no practical access could be
found except in one or two instances, the
shore being in most unattractive not to
say dlsgraceful condition.
1t is now ten years since men Interest
ed In marine affairs advocated an addi-
ton to Riverside Drive and showed the ne
cessity of better means OF communication
between the highland and the waters Of
the North River.
bration an official temporary pier was
erected as an object lesson. to show the
necessity OF a permanent water gate, at
which high naval officials Of this and other
countries could be received with dignity
Upon this temporary structure and other
small ones quickly built for the occasion
some $1,000 was spent, which sum repre-
sents more than the interest upon the
money necessary to give permanent land
ings commensurate with the position New
York represents as the greatest seaport OF
America.
Again. It is indeed singular that, consid-
erlng the fact that many individuals, as
socIat!ons and corporations are ready and
anxious to assist in reclaminS the mats
lying between the shore and the bulkhead
line, some three hundred feet out In the
river, and paying the expense therefor, the
city does not give them the helping hand
that II should. Among those interested in
this most laudable object are Columbia
University. the Robert Fulton Association.
the Naval Academy Alumni Association,
the Municipal Art Society, the Naval MI
litia OF the State of New York and the
New York Central Railroad. II the mu-
nicipality and those interested could be
brought I'm closer accord the present park
would be much improved and an easy ap-
proach to the Hudson effected. No land
is taken from the city. but, on the other
hand. at the foot OF the hill would be Gre
ated a new shore extending to the gov
ernment bulkhead line. whereon could be
placed most attractive structures, piers and
canals where access to our noblest stream
would be supplemented by marine pastimes
NJ easy approach to rich and poor alike
the whole locality to be improved under
the Jurisdiction OF a board Of competent
architects, and with little or no expense to
.ba citv budget, as the shoals can be filled
from the refuse which is now being taken
TO sea
The present question is, VIII the authori-
ties OF New York ever wake up, except at
snasmodic intervals and celebrations, to
the necessity of having real park upon
a real riverside, where the government.
the state. the city and the rich and poor
can enjoy the wonderful privileges which
the Hudson affords? No question or civic
improvement at less cost is more pressing
than this. TO accomplish this IT needs only
the co-operatlon Of those who still have
within them the old spirit of the sea, and
the high ambition to make our city not
only the centre of foreign trade, but the
equal in waterfront effect of even second
rate European town. j. w. MlLLbh'
New York, Nov. 3. 1911.