New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-15
"STRA|GHTEN PIER LINES
AND BUILD LONG PIERS"
These Recommendations EStI-
mate Boards Reply to SeCre-
tary StimSon's Report.
PUBLIC HEARING DEC. 5
Discussion Follows in Dock
Commissioners Office = Big
Ships Cant Dock in Brook
lyn, P. A. S. Franklin Says.

lyn, P. A. S. Franklin Says.
The modification or strengthening OF the
pierhead line between West Goth street
and Battery Place.
The construction OF long piers between
West 18th street and West 18th street.
These were the recommendations made
to the Board OF Estimate yesterday hy
its special committee on terminal facili-
ties as a solution OF the problem as TO
how New York City may provide Tor the
big express steamers OF the future.
Spurred by the recent action OF Secre-
tary S;imson OF the War Department In
which he denied an application OF the
Hamburg American Line for temporary
extension OF its Hoboken piers and indi
Gated his opposition 10 the extension OF
the permit under which the White Star
Line now has an extension OF its tenn
porary piers, the committee had been
working overtime on its report
Secretary Stimson was quoted as saying
there should be no further narrowing OF
the fsreway of the Hudson River and
that the City Of Sew York must dc
iberately set itself TO the adoption Of
a system Of harbor terminals which will
be sufficient for the future"
The report OF the committee OF the
Board OF Estimate yesterday was reply
TO the Secretary OF War. 1t said:
II is recommended that a copy OF this
report be transmitted to the Secretary Of
by the City OF New York for the adjust
ment of lite long pier problems along tie
Hudson River waterfront.
In view OF the Importance OF his pro-
posed decision, II seems 10 your COM
mittee that a public hearing should be
held 10 enable commercial and civic
bodies and other persons interested TO OK
press their Views as TO the wisdom OF the
plan.
The committee, which is composed OF
President Mitchell Of the Board OF Alder
men, the Controller, Borough President
McAneny and Nelson p. Lewis, chief en-
gineer OF the Board OF Estimate. recon-
mended that public hearing be held at
the next meeting of the Board OF EstI-
mate.
rearing on Decemper D.
It was finally decided that Commits.
sloner Tomkns should submit his plans
for a marginal railway In connection with
the Brooklyn waterfront on December .,
and that preliminary hearing be given
on the entire scheme at that time.
Referring to the statement in the re-
port Of Secretary Stimson, Mayor Gaynor
remarked:
Il must decline to believe that the Sec
rotary Of War said this as | see no sig
nature attached to the statement. Mr..
crimson knows or should know that New
York has a dock plan. which has been
under consideration for the last two
years"
The report OF the committee OF the
Board OF Estimate was to a great extent
a discussion and modification OF the re-
port made to Governor Dix on July q
by the New York State Commission to
Investigate Port Conditions and Pier En-
tensions in New York Harbor, which
consists OF r. A. c. Smith, John A. Ben
sci and Calvin Tomkins.
There is no point In the Borough Of
Manhattan" comments the Board OF
Estimate committee (which furnishes 4
more convenient landing place for express
steamers, so far az the needs Of pas
sengers and shippers are concerned, than
the section between West 18th and JGth
streets. 1t is adjacent to the most highly
developed hotel and restaurant section i'm
the city and convenient to the great rail-
road terminals"
1t occurs to me-" remarked the Mayor
after the report had been read, that by
the time We get 1000 foot piers finished
the ships, the largest OF which are now
] 900 feet long. will be 1000 feet long.
believe We should look TO the future"
Discussion at Dock DEPARTING Vt.
Soon after the terminal facilities com
mittee had reported yesterday to the
Board OF Estimate on the construction Of
piers men interested in the problem
hocked TO the Office of Calvin Tomkins.
the Dock Commissioner. There was
general discussion OF the subject OF har-
Dor improvements, Commissioner Tom
kins starting the ball rolling by strong
plea for Bush docks
Irving r. Bush founder and director Of
the Bush Terminal Company, who Is aLx-
ious to dispose of his properties to the city
was an attentive listener, and later told
OF the unusual advantages offered by
South Brooklyn as terminal for ships
In general. and especially vessels of great
length ard tonnage like the White Star
liner Olyrapic and the Hamburg
Lines new Imperator.
While the Dock Commissioners and Mr..
Bush were boosting Brooklyn" +. \. ;.
Franklin, vice-president and general man
ager OF the International Mercantile
Marine Company. listened patiently.
r A. c. Smith. of the New York State
Iarbor Commission, VINO accompanied
Mr.. Franklin took issue with Mr.. Bush
ON .hc depth of the waters at and APP
preaching South Brooklyn docks. con-