New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-25
WANT HUDSON KEPT CLEAR
Army Board Permits for Long
Piers Only Temporary.

Washington, Oct 24.-Awaiting Secre-
tary Stimson's return to washington next
week is an application in behalf Of the
North German Lloyd, the Hamburg Amer
lean and the Holland-America steamship
lines for permission to extend temporarily
their pier lines at Hoboken to the length
Of 1000 feet.
With the understanding that the ex-
tensions are TO be merely temporary and
are 10 be moved when permanent plans
Tor the harbor lines are perfected, the
army board Of engineers in New York has
recommended temporary permit,
II the army engineers have their way
not only will the permit to the German
steamship lines to extend their piers in
Hoboken have a very limited life, but
within year the White Star and Cunard
lines, across the Hudson, will be called
on TO remove the crib work which was
built 70 shelter the exposed ends OF the
long ships from the running ice of the
river. The British permit was granted by
the then Secretary Of War, Mr.. Dickin-
son, on March Is, 1911, and it will expire,
according TO the terms Of the agreement,
on June 80 next.
il is expected that the strongest pos
sible pressure will be brought to bear 10
secure an extension Of this permit, but
the army engineers will resist this unless
IL is shown that the steamship companies
are actually engaged in building new
piers at some point in the river or bay
where their length will not interfere with
navigation and need a reasonable time
after the close OF the present fiscal year
10 complete the work
Meanwhile the Interstate Commission,
composed of representatives of the states
Of New York and New Jersey and OF the
city Of New York. which for the last
eighteen months has been working on the
problem Of rearranging the harbor lines,
so as to provide for the extremely long
piers without injuring the facilities of
the port, has reached a partial conclusion.
This has been made known TO the board
Of army engineers, headed by Colonel
Black. 1t is not known here to what ex-
tent the Interstate Commission has met
the great problems involved.
While the Hamburg-American, North
German Lloyd and the Holland America
lines. with piers in Hoboken, had Jointly
appealed TO the Secretary Of War for a
temporary pier extension Of 100 feet,
similar 10 the extension granted TO the
White Star Line for the olympic and
Titanic. IL was said yesterday that the
Hamburg-American line was the leading
factor In the request Neither the North
German Lloyd nor the Holland America
lines will need pier extension for many
years, as neither company is building a
ship that will require an additional 100
feet. Ii is q different matter with the
Hamburg-AmeriCan Line, which will have
in this port In May the Imperator, the
biggest steamship In the world, whose
length over all is 9l9 feet
The extreme length Of the Hamburg
American piers at present is $50 feet,
which is not sufficient TO harbor the I'M
perator The same line also has awarded
a contract for another steamship bigger
IN tonnage than the lmperator. 1t will be
80 feet IN length.
According 10 announcement made last
night by Herr Albert Balm. director gen
eral OF the Hamburg American Line, who
IS now In this city, -four of the company s
finest steamships Will be taken from this
port and given TO Boston for a service
between that port ard Hamburg. The
vessels are the KaiseIin Auguste Vic
tOria, AmerikR, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The service Will not start until May
Of next year: when the new Imperator Is
added to IN New York and Hamburg
trade. The cleveland and the Cincinnati,
= each a l7.Ole-ton steamship will then be
transferred 20 Boston and year later
the Amerika and the Kaiserin Auguste
feet. Will be put into the Boston service