New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-10
A GREAT SHORE LINE
Supremacy of New York IN
Natural Harbor Advantages.
MEASURED BY AN EXPERT
Commissioner Lawless Says
It's Value Excels That OF Any
Other Port in the World.

81 inspected last summer while abroad
the pier facilities of some of the princi-
pal seaport towns in Europe, but none
compares favorably with those or Ne"
york" Yesterday said Charles NJ. Law
less. Deputy Tax Commissioner IN charge
of the division of the Tax Department
which computes the value of waterfront
properties.
New York is the greatest natural sea-
port In the world, and though its wharf
age line is just being developed on an ex-
tensive and adequate scale 1t excels IN
length and value that of any other place
on EARTH" added Mr.. Lawless.
Il spent some days on my trip abroad
studying shipping conditions at Rotter-
dam, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Antwerp ana
at many flourishing cities and towns
along the Mediterranean Sea.
Antwerp, the chief port Of Belgium, is
a very lively shipping town, being the
centre Of the railroad and canal systems
which reach most Of the principal ports
of that thriving country.
Most residents Of the metropolis VIII
be surprised TO know that the changes
which have taken place along the pier
line of New York form the model that
Antwerp is striving to duplicate as far
as her harbor situation will permit.
ITO become a greater seaport she IS
spending millions, but her accomplish
nents in this respect will never cast
shadow over the fame of the natural
harbor resources Of New York.
Millions, too, are being spent at Am
D
tant seaports Of the Netherlands. And
the officials of Hamburg have been ousy
for some years adding to the wharfage
assets Of their city.
"A conservative estimate Of the amount
expended for recent harbor improvements
at Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam and
Amsterdam would be about $l0o,Do,OoO,
and yet this stupendous investment for
the betterment of conditions affecting
shipping at those seaports will not have
as beneficial results as II the conditions
on which it was based were perfect or
nearly so. 1t requires large sums OF
money to remove defects where the har-
Dor line is poor before the improvement
has any real value.
1.-The handling of merchandise along
cannot be done so expeditiously as here
owing to the big difference between the
high and low water lines. The difference
in most cases is as much as thirty-fVe
feet. This rise and fall Of the tide makes
IL necessary to construct wharves several
stories In height, and on each story there
are big cranes to hoist or lower all Kinds
of merchandise or freight to the piers or
vessels.
Similar cranes are not used here, as
the difference between low and high
water marks along the shore line OF
New York averages about three feet, and
is probably not noticeable at all to the
landlubbers.
Consequently. vessels of all sizes can
be loaded or unloaded at the great port
of New York at about the same platform
or pier level
The slight changes in the varying
tides are among the principal factors
which make New York supreme as re-
CARDS wealth Of natural harbor facilities
For instance, at most European sea
ports there are few piers OF great length
extending at right or oblique angles with
the natural or physical bulkhead line; the
wharves extend parallel TO the land
Thus FIVE vessels of about SOC feet In
length would extend along the wharves
Cor over $500 feet or about half mile,
as due allowance must be made for proper
space between each boat
Figuring the avenue frontage OF q
street in old New York at about 200 feet,
that line Of five ships would extend for
ten blocks II the port facilities here were
similar to those Of most European cities.
But those FIVE vessels could almost be
snugiy docked at any one Of the great
piers of South Brooklyn.
1T seems that the harbor defects OF
most European seaports will not permit
the building of piers like New York has,
that is, jutting into the waters Of the
upper bay or the North and East rivers
ut perfect right angles with the upland.
The bulkhead line would have to DO far
from the natural wharf line. and to over
come the great difference In the ebb and
flow Of the tides a stupendous amount OF
dredging would have to be done. And the
piers would have to be rr"1y stored
structures to support the heavy cranes for
hosting or lowering freight.
'orhe natural advantages of New York
as q seaport are Just beginning to be cor
rectiy appreciated."