New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-25
Dock Commissioner Urges Nu-
merous City Railway Terminals.
OLD SYSTEM ANTlQUATED
Tomkins, Speaking at Dinner,
Says Wholesale Markets Could
BE Made Self Supporting.

Calvin Tomkins. Commissioner Of Docks,
gave his version of the present high cost
OF living In q speech last evening at the
Park Avenue Hotel at the fourth port
dinner under the auspices OF the Reform
club and the Civic Forum
The Port OF New York" said Mr. Tom
kins, is naturally one OF the best and
cheapest markets Of the world. Tropical
fruits. vegetables. nuts, meats. fish, oysters
dried, cured and canned provisions are laid
down here wholesale cheaper than else
where, and there Is great variety al all
seasons OF the year In spite OF lts natu-
raj advantages, New York IL one OF the
cities IN which living expenses both for
food and rent, are excessive The principal
local causes OF high priced food are de-
fective arrangements FOR the reception and
distribution Of food products. The terminals
Of the port are badly arranged. and local
transportation IL based upon conditions
which have outlved their usefulness
The Commissioner then said the best
ports 81 the world were so organized that
all sections are made accessible 70 all rail
roads New York IIarbor waters. however.
have prevented such an articulation OF the
railroad systems According 10 the Com
west side Of Manhattan are. in effect.
wholesale provision markets and by far the
largest amount Of freight which the rail
roads bring here consists Of FOOD products
These foodstuns are handled in . primitive
and expensive manner at present. although
New York may be made one of the cheapest
~ cities as regards tho wholesale dlstri-
button 81 It's food supplies.
Commissioner Tomkins pointed out that
the great cities 81 modern times had been
made possible only by improved transpor-
tatlon. permitting fuel. raw materials and
food products 10 be supplied continuously
and regularly 10 concentrated nSsses OF
population. cities a. large as New York
are always within n few days or weeks 81
the starvation point. he said, and commits
sary arrangements we're 80 balanced and
adjusted that temptations not existing here
tofors were now put in the way Of trans
portation and commercial agencies which
controlled the food supply.
The solution OF this problem, the Com
missioner said. lay IN the city's exercising
effective control over sc food supply nv
retaining control over wholesale railroad
and steamship terminal markets. u should
construct terminal markets at the most con
venient places and license under regulation
the wholesale merchants who wish 10 do
business in them The freest possible com
petition should be maintained
Mr.. Tomkins said the city should provide
numerous railway terminals At the most
convenient points around the hsrbor IN
the several boroughs. 30 thst car deliveries
might be made direct and expensive dray-
age avaided II tho city provides such ter
r,insls at the most convenient places ousi-
mass will naturally Eravitate 20 those
places.
The evacuation Of the West Washington
Market. said Mr TomEinS, affords great
opportunity for installing a correct whole
sale terminal market system Tn Manhattan
He believes IT could be made self-support-
ing from the start. with great advantages
90 the railroads. the merchants and 10 the
people OF New York.
The other speakers were Mrs. william
Cumming Story. vice-president New YORK
state Women's River and Harbor Congress
The Work OF Various Women's Clubs ana
ORGANIZATIONS in Connection; Horace w.
I,r,ca expert Investigator New York STATE
Food Commission 1.-THE Commission m
vsstirations and It's Purposes; Or. Mary
= Pennington, chief United states Fooo
Investigating Bureau. cold storage OF
Rood sunol,es." and Mrs. Frederick Ma
ia, president OF the Consumers League
SANITARY Conditions Of the Markets