Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-04-18
FAvORs RUSHING
IMPROVEMENTS
Mayor Hanssling Asks COmpre-
hensiye Dock and Ship
Canal Plans.

Asserting thai he is in favor OF a
more comprehensive dock n snip
canal project, Mayor Haussling sent a
communication to the Board of Works
today in which he congratulated tnal
body for opening the matter for entlre
reconsideration, and urged tha'
meadow reclamation and harbor I'M
provement be taken up together. Inc
mayors communication follows:
In view of the adoption by your
honorable body of a resolution when
l have signed, reciting that II IS the
sense of your board that the moneys
available for the dock and ship canal
nroiact be used for the acquisition
of land. and that no portion OF tne
funds now in hand be used Tor the con.
struction of the canal, and that the
method of the development shal pc
further considered with a view TO
more fully utilizing the bay front be-
undertaken" 1 feel 1T proper to lay
some suggestions before you;
The action taken by your honorable
body has the effect, of course, OF
throwing the whole project of meadow
Exclamation and the construction of
docks. piers and other faculties Tor
commerce by water open aqF en aia6
of a disposition to treat the whole
problem on much broader lines than
originally contemplated. II is Tor TINS
IdIIeI CllGullASNdACCf
l approve the resolution.
Ever since this matter was seriously
preached l nave been in favor OF a more
comprehensive scheme than we nave yer
been able to secure. In both special and
annual messages l have taken occasion
to urge the d~esirability OF Improving tne
whole tract of meadow lana ana a. lHe
bav frontage which 1t was possible 10
/ have always regarded the project
as primarily one for meadow r~eedanlarlon
although 1 nave not been at all unap-
preclative of the advantages Of harpor
DEVELOPMENT, and it has seemed 10 me
that any plan would be unsatisfactory
which would leave a large area OF tue
meadow land unreclaimed.
With respect to the matter OF the
proposed ship canal, which is now 70
be left in allegiance. I have been LED 70
believe tina the cutting of such a chanhel
would in itself furnish the speediest and
most economical means of retaining
land wholly or partially submerged.
have meen engaged in the preparation or
ANALYSIS of plans has coinetded in this re-
spect. and their view has been eohnrHed
hy a number of others with whom nave
taken occasion to consult unofhcially. II
these experts are all wrong, If. the, snip
canal would not, firstly, afford the cheap
est and best means OF retaining portlol!S
of our meadow land, end, secondly, would
not be a desirable addition to our faclli-
ties for oN water, then these
facts ought to he eonelustvely demon
strated.
Having thrown open the whole subject
again, as I lave stated, it seems TO me
that your honorable body should immedl-
ately take steps for the preparation OF
new plans upon the broader scale which
is suggested by the resolution. We nave
already been engaged for some years on
tnis proposition, and 1t benooVeS Us ~
agree upon our project and push II 70
completion, without more delay than Is
necessary.
The completion of the n a canal.
the great barge canal and other p~rolects
will certainly add greatly to the demand
upon the harbor facilities Of our Atlantlc
seaboard cities. We cannot afford to let
our own work of harhor Improvement laS
in view of these circumstances
Another reason for making due haSIe
is the fact that we shall undoubtedly
have to secure new legislation. The
acutal work will probably be done III ac-
cordance with a system OF units. anu d
very carefully considered financial pan
should he ready, with other features OF
the general scheme. for presentation to
the next Legislature. 1t viii be touno
necessary also to provide BY law TOT tue
resale as well as lease of such ands as
the city may find 1t advantageous 10
take.
WOULD respectfully but strongly urge
npon your honorable body that the. pub
lie be taken into the fullest confidence.
believe that the people of Newark are
heartily in favor of meadow reclamation
and harbor Improvement. I feel sure that
they are willing TO vote generous sums
of money for this purpose, put they are
watch the formulation of plans step by
stem. am certain that much of the op-
position which has been shown to the
project in general has been based upon
a. misunderstanding which would not per-
haps have existed If the public had been
fully apprised of the reason Tor each
detail of the enterprise.