Evening journal., 1912-03-02
TOMKINS TALKS
OF WATERWAYS
Says New Chesapeake Canal
Would BOOSt Cities Along
Route
NEED PUBLIC OPINION
TO HELP In IMPROVEMENT

the local water front situation Cal
vim Tomkins. Commissioner of Docks
and Ferries Of New York city in de-
liyering an illustrated lecture before
the Board OF Trade last evening said
that what was necessary for this city
as TO a water front was 80 foot chan
mel in the river This would accom-
modate freight trade, although larg-
er vessels require a 40 foot channel,
/ he said. The commissioner said Will
mington has a great industrial pos
sibility which would be reached with
proper organization and development
of railroads as we'll as water facili-
ties.
Josiah Marvel. who presided said
that the improvements referred to
I by the speaker should start a pro-
nounced movement to take the city
to the Delaware river. He predicted
the time when there would be a 35
foot channel and ocean steamers would
dock here. Mr. Tomkins was enter
tanned while here by Mr.. Marvel and
today he was shown the points OF
interest about the city.
In opening his remarks Mr. Tom
kins asked those present to hear him
in an informal lecture and not to hesi-
tate about asking questions Following
the address, lantern slides were
shown OF the port of New York, which
were described by the speaker.
"The port riyalries of the Atlantic
seaboard cities involve not merely
municipal interests, but the establish
ment of a national commercial policy
which shall best serve the interests of
the whole country" he said THE
Atlantic seaports are administered in
trust by the cities for the nation.-
Boston being the single exception, the
administration of that port having re-
Gently been taken over by the Com
monwealth of Massachusetts. Direct
! Intervention by the state is In some
respects advantageous. since II separ-
ates matters of local concern, which
always appeal most strongly to a city,
| from those pertaining to the adminis-
tration of the port, which are of gem
eral rather than local significance. No
competition in the world is as sharp
as that which exists between rival sea-
ports.
This has gone so far at many ports
that the waterfronts have been expro-
priated and administered publicly, in
order that private profit connected
with terminal handling may be elimi-
mated In line with this policy, New
York City has municipalized large
part of its waterfront, but has made
the mistake of typing up and relln-
gushing control under long leases
after It has made expensive improve
ments"
Following the remarks on The pori
of New York, Mr. Tomkins dwelt or
the subject Of canals, saying:
The construction Of the proposed
intra-coastal canal joining the waters
Of the Chesapeake, Delaware and
Hudson, will exercise great in
fuence upon all the ports fronting on
these waterways. II this canal when
constructed, shall be properly equip
ped with railroads, terminals and
harbors, and If the lands adjacent 70
II shall be planned and reserved for
their most effective industrial de-
velopment. / believe that the indus
trial and commercial activities Of
the cities at its terminals, and
through which it passes will be
/
advantage of this waterway leading
to the port of New York so far out
weighs any possible diversion Of in
dustries from New York as to make
this consideration negligible
Every seaboard city will be help
ed by providing the best railway and
waterway approaches between II and
the International steamship termin-
ais at New York. No such oppor-
tunities for shipment to all parts of
the world can be found anywhere as
at New York And these advantages
should be made as accessible as pos
sible to all industrial communities.
The tendency is for all lines OF
transportation to focus at this great
port to take advantage of the regular
ocean ferry service. Conversely. New
York is benefited by the increase of
wealth, population and the industries
at all communities in physical con-
nection with It.
Cheap lands, and cheap taxes for
industrial governments on these
lands are factors which will largely
contribute to industrial growth at
any city. If capital invested in in
dustrial buildings and machinery is
heavily taxed, the tendency will be
for 1t to be DETECTED elsewhere where
il is not so burdened. The CONNER
cial conveniences Of a city count for
much in determining factory loca-
tion. Accessibility to railroad and
steamship terminals and cheap rents
and living for. factory population
are also considerations Of the utmost
importance. No modern factory turn
ing out bulky or heavy commodities
should be without a railroad switch
over which IL can receive its raw
materials and ship its finished prod
ucts by any railroad or steamship
lines without expensive transfer
charges to other railroads. Drayage.
lighterage and expensive transfers
between railroads and steamships
are inimical to successful industrial
competition.
only through the fundamentally
Of an educated and intelligent public
opinion can a city hope to secure the
initiative needed for the adoption of
a plan and policy of development
which shall have continuity of pur-
pose throughout successive admins
trations."
A communication was read at the
meeting from the National Citizens
League. The league is interested in
the reforming of The present currency
or monetary plan. At the December
meeting of the Board. Thomas F. Bay