New-York tribune., 1911-03-07
sscretary Of War Will Permit
enuthening Of international
Company Docks.
roH BIG WHITE STAR SHIPS
,;,.rse Will Stipulate That the
Company Must Remove the
piling at It's Own Expense
When Ordered to Do SO.
,r-or The Tribune Bureau.l

.,ond the tltiSV" f'N'
e.h,ro accommodations for the huee
80 star liners which are soon 10
""'' ,b,ir maiden voyages was granted
n''H secretary Of War to-day after
hearing given the representatives
- ~. steamship company and CONNER
u o.cenizations Of New York City and
.,e, @.,ols Of the state Of New York.
0",,', ~,n extensions. which will be between
.,.-Ave and one hundred feet in
,sur,b are TO be Of temporary char-
80 and will consist merely OF piiins
-.o,oct the steamers from passing
ubile in the slip. The license stlp-
-. ,bat the Secretary of War may at
,ir,e direct their removal without
-, protest from the company.
:, &c understood. however, that the
-.ose,t arrangement will be permitted
',.n, the larger question of providing
s.nI,uss for the docking of the big
,rsnsatlartic liners now building or
..,,cb will be built in the future has been
.o,ysd bv the commissions Of New YORK
and New Jersey appointed for that pur-
pose.
Those present at the hearing, which
nes held in the Office Of the Secretary OF
Var were: General William H. Bixby,
chief Of engineers, L. S. A.; p. a. 5.
r,sntljn. president of the international
Mercantile Marine Company. and coun-
eel. " $. Montgomery. counsel for the
International Mercantile Marine Com
rsnv. : c. Neal. International Mercan-
tile Marine Company; Calvin Tomkins.
commissioner Of Docks of the city Of
New York: Welding Ring, of the New
York Produce Exchange: J. A. Bensel.
State Engineer Of New York; r. a. {.
Smith. representing the New York
Cbarber Of Commerce and Merchants
Association: Fred 3. Dalzell, represent
iur the New York Board of Trade and
transportation. and also the National
Board Of Steam Vessels.
To Provide for Great New Ships.
This solution of the perplexing prob
lem presented by the report of the Har-
Dor Board. which vas averse to any eX-
tension Of the piers OF the ground that
il would interfere with traffic in the
North River was gratifying both TO the
officials OF the War Department and the
representatives Of the steamship COM
pany and the New York commercial or
gsnlzations.
The meeting was brought about by the
suggestion Of Vice President Sherman,
according 90 Secretary Dickinson, who
laid the matter before the Secretary at
the instance Of certain New York in
terests 7. a. :. Franklin, president of
the International Mercantile Marine
COMPANY, made the request. setting forth
the plight in which the steamship COM
Isny found itself.
we are erievously disappointed with
the report Of the New York Harbor Line
Board he said. we also feel that if
adhered to il will be seriously detri-
mental 10 the development Of the trade
and commerce Of New York. and of the
port being able to maintain its present
commercial supremacy in the world of
commerce We are here to suggest that
you give careful consideration to the Sc
rious position in which we are
We have great new ships coming 10
New York, the first one in June We
have no place at which to safely and
properly dock her. We are anxious to
Do everything i'm our power to properly
meet this situation. With that in view,
and considering that the State of New
York and the state Of New Jersey are
appointing commission to investigate
this whole matter and look into it thor
oushly and into the commercial interests
Of the port Of New York generally. if you
VIII kindly agree 10 ALLOW MS, at our own
cost 20 temporarily extend our present
piers 50 that these steamers can he
safely ana properly protected during the
Tine OF this Investigation we will agree
with you. AZ any time YOU see lit. if you
tnd that these extensions are detrimen
tai to the navigation and commerce of
ht river or any other commercial inter
's's Ne will agree with you now in
some way so that it will be binding upon
Us TO remove them at any time you may
Zee ft."
Will Not Check Ebb and Flow of Tide.
In response to questions by General
bIxby. chief of engineers Of the army.
he extensions were described as consist
ing only OF piling, set at intervals,
through which the water may ebb and
How freely They will not be rooted.
ana are only designed 10 prevent pass
ing vessels from colliding with the ends
Vhtne big shiTs. which would extend out
INTO the open water il berthed in the
present slips only one slip will be eX-
tended. but this. according to Mr.. Frank
Hh' Will be sufficient TO meet the needs
0i the situation until permanent facili-
ues are provided.
commissioner TOmkins expressed him
eh as being well satisfied with conces-
mons from the War Department.
The board Of engineers was right,
nc said after the conference. 1t would
" mistake to encToach upon the chan
mel II the bulk of the foreign commerce
" 'he country is 10 pass through New
Aofk HarbOr we shall need all the room
We nave. We have been remiss in not
.ehng up before this d general plan for
"''oor improvement. They have done
al Hamburg. Bremerhayen and other
European ports. and even at Boston and
aontreal. II is the great task we have
before US"
t. I. N. Fitzgerald, owner Of large
- Ol land at Fort Pond Bay. Mon
uh fOlnl. which has heen Suggested as