New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-13

out into the river or by cutting further
into the land. Basins might be cut from
the North River TO Broadway, and ii
woulu be great, and we would be delight
ed; but it might prove rather expensive
for the city to buy the property which
would have TO be cut into. The cutting
of basins behind the present docks In
Manhattan would mean taking West
street; and while l suppose stranger
things have happened, it seems hard 10
see how that could be done
still the steamship companies are Will
ing TO so anywhere on Manhattan Island
where they can get the proper docking
facilities and can navigate their vessels
without danger"
Hamburg American Line Silent.
At the offices of the Hamburg American
Line the subject was taboo until an OFF,
cial reply TO the company's petition should
be received from Secretary Sumson and
digested. The North German Lloyd and
the Holland America companies not
being directly interested, also maintained
silence
R. A. c. smith, chairman of the New
York State Commission to Investigate
Port Conditions and Pier Extensions In
New York HarbOr, said:
The decision of Secretary Stimson is
quite I'm order with the progress OF the
whole subject The New York state Com
mission has given constant and unceasing
effort TO provide a practical plan that the
city may go ahead with. preliminary
plan covering that portion OF the harbor
requiring immediate Improvement was
presented to Governor Dix and in turn
forwarded 70 the President. Work on
plans for the rest of the harbor has gone
steadily ahead. Much time and study
have been given to a permanent method
Of coordination OF water and rail con-
nections, a permanent means to make an
elastic harbor organization in which mer-
chandise and food products may be hand
led without prohibitive cost.
Personally, / am sorry that Secretary
Stmson could not find it consistent espe-
Ciary in view Of the movement toward
the solution of the whole problem, TO grant
the Hamburg American Line the tempo
rary extension. The Hamburg American
Line is a great unit in the commercial
whole Of New York. II is not a Sood
thing to see the minds that handle these
big commercial units grow FESTIVE and ieel
that the city has got so big that IL does
not need 10 pay much attention TO them
and my hope is that prompt action on the
part Of the city will bring about the much
needed relief"
Irving T. Bush, president Of the Bush
Terminal Company, when asked 10 give
mis- views on Secretary Stimsons decision
said;
81 have not sufficiently studied the
North River question to make my opinion
as to whether II is safe or not 10 ehtehu
the North River piers worth anything l
agree with Secretary Stmson, however
thatsiothing is gained by temporizing with
this proposal. II a permanent extension
Of the piers is not desirable the situation
might Just as well be faced now.
without regard to whether II Is desir-
able 10 extend the piers or not VIII say
that | believe that II will ultimately De
recognized that the waterfront on the west
side Of Manhattan is more important to
the citizens of that borough for other pur-
noses than for the accommodation OF for
y
arriving from Europe uses the pier Tor
about two hours in discharging its pas
senGers and again for about two hours
in embarking them. II usually remains
In mort for a week, and most Of this time
il taken I'D with coalinG and provisioning
and taking on board cargo from chicago
and interior points, work which can ne
performed as well elsewhere In the haroor
'It would. of course. be ideal II we
cnuld concentrate on the west side OF
Manhattan all of the business OF the entire
barbor. This Of course, cannot be done
and the community must face the fact
that some portion Of the commerce which
now uses that part Of our Waterfront
must seek accommodations elsewhere IN
the harbor.
"Compared with the above use OF the
waterfront. that portion which Is occu-
MED by the railroads is used every day
for three hundred and sixty-five days In
the wear in bringing in our food supplies
and the numberless articles which are OF
daily importance TO the comfort and well
fare Of the community.
"If somebody must be Inconvenience
II seems to me that the least harm VIII
he done by compelling the ocean traveller,
ubo seldom goes 10 Europe once year. TO
embark and dsembark upon these rare
occasions somewhere else In the harbor
rather than interfere with the handling
Of the daily necessaries Of life. The Bush
Terminal Company has no selfish interest
in this matter our business is handling
freight. We do not want passenger
steamers. believe that when the change
il once made the steamship lines them
selves will find many economies in dis
charging and loading their vessels at
less expensive waterfront in less con-
Rested part of the harbor'