New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-18
Civ Has Fight Maintain Its Supremacy Seaport

south Of tie Brooklyn Bridge for three
and one-haf miles g owned by the New
York Dock Company. Commissioners
Tomkins advocates the acquisition OF this
property as well as the Bush Terminal.
"and the progressive extension Of control
By the city over the marginal railways
OF these concerns" First OF all, control
should be obtained Of the marginal rail-
ways system from the Pennsylvania
Bay Ridge terminal north 20 the navy
yard. II the Bush property cannot be
favorabiy secured by purchase, the Cit
should acquire title by eminent dOmsia.
The revenues from these properties would
maintain the investment in the self-sus-
tanning class Of municipal enterprises. 10
will be cheaper 10 buy this waterfront
now than later. The financial burden vii.
DO iightened By cooperation with ths
state. which needs terminal space for The
Erie Canal. and with the federal govern
ment, which requires waterfront f0r
number Of purposes. An inciscrfmi nate
acquisition OF ell private property along
the proposed line Of Improvement is noe
recommended. nor that the city shouia
directly manage all piers, terminals aed
railways acquired The improvements in
this territory viii hasten the removal 20
South Brooklyn Of Industries and ON
merce which now cucumber the North
River waterfront and the streets Of NM
haitian. The Bush property should os sc-
CURED first. The development OF tbs
South Brooklyn waterfront should Include
provision for recreation structures. either
on the upper decks Of the piers or on the
upland adjacent.
The Erie Canal Improvement, begun in
1906, may be completed within the next
two years. Out Of some s4 so.o 90 contract
work about $50 100 had been completed
by July I. II Is estimated that S.+oo.oro
win be spent on canal terminals In New
York. There are 20 be fourteen terminals
or canal docks at this port, two Of the
largest being located in Gowanus Bay
and In Newtown Creek. In Gowanus Bay.
with thirty-five feet OF water in the slips
there will be two 1.coo-feet piers, and
canal boats will unload direct ts ocean
steamships. There viii be pier sheds,
electric travelling cranes and all up-to-
date cargo handling machinery. When
the canal and its terminals are ready for
business, there will be gu interesting bat
tie between the barges OF New York ana
the steamships OF Montreal 10 capture
the grain trade OF the Northwest. The
barge is cheap, but the steamship scores
on a single loading from Duluth 10 Liver
pool. BY the Erie Canal route there is an
extra loading at Buffalo and another AZ
New York. The Canadians are digging a
ship canal.
An important detail OF the Erie Cana
situation is the need Of Strengthening the
Harlem River at Johnson's ironworks
The federal government is willing TO
amend this crooked waterway IL the city
will pay for the private property which
will be damaged in the process.
Representative Ayres's bill, which asks
Congress TO appropriate $2.52',5o1 for the
improvement OF this port. purposes to
widen the East River from the Battery
to the Sound. and give II q minimum
depth OF thirty-five feet. 70 deepen wharf
room on both sides of the East River, 20
widen and deepen the east channel az
Blackwelrs Island. 10 remove Rhinelander
reef and Port Morris shoal to complete
the channel between North and South
Brother islands, TO complete the channel
south OF South Brother Island, 70 improve
the channel OF Harlem or Bronx Kills
and to improve the channel Of Lttle He'll
Gate.
These improvements would make the
East River. through 20 the Sound. navi-
gable both for large merchant vessels
and warships.