New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-12

the Scheldt. and Hayrc. on the Seine,
also Saint Nazairc. on the Loire. and
Paulllac. on the Girondc.
Ships reaching All these ports must
cross bars which shoal 20 thirty feet and
less at low water. At the mouth II the
Mcrsey the depth is about that figure.
whereas the Barre des Charpcnticrs' IN
the Loire shows only twenty-five feet
These bars are the cause Of marine and
river currents whose simultaneous ac-
tion H. quickly to accumulate banks ~
nd and mud at the mouths OF the estu-
aries. which constant dredging finds much
difficulty IN clearing
Some OF the heaviest shipping I'm ton
mage has quilted Hamburg for CuNhavcn
on the possible danger Of the sanding mp
lof the Elbe. The North German LLOYD
lcf, Bremen, FOR Br-merhayen Tor the
same grounds concernipg the Weser. II
is calculated that these deposits amount
yearly 10 SOsO cubic metres in the
Mersey and 10 5."I"" before the piers Of
Havre. Further, all vessels unable 10
Cross the bar A. low water In rough
weather must take refuge elsewhere.
These estuaries are Insecure and are eX-
posed 10 various winds.
Again. great steamers Of the latest
model draw more water than the depths
existing al cbb tide AT the harbor mouths
Of the chief commercial ports. More
over. the area ~ no longer able TO
afford space for modern requirements.
Liverpool has now almost reached it,
limit OF expansion. with about l.iop acres
a. 1..aa of
European ports. The other stations FOR
transatlantic service. such as queens
town. Cherbourg and La Pallice, are
merely places Of call. All will be unable
TO meet the growing needs Of commerce
and passenger traffic between the Old and
New worlds.
These harbors are classed a. closed
norris on account Of their locks. or a.
shallow. or Intermittent Ravens. All
these ports engaged in the ocean trade
are more shallow than Liverpool, 10
which. however access is not possible for
the biggest steamers at low water.
These are some OF the arguments used
In France I'm favor OF the port OF Brest
az the future great transatlantic route
between America and Western Europe.
and as the nearest to that continent
Thus A saving in time Of over an hour L.
an entire day would be possible when
COMPARED with the actual time schedules.
TO sum UP the advantages Of Brest In
the eyes of it's French advocates. II may
be said that the Brittany harbor pos
scsses the sole landocked and perfectly
sheltered roadstead in Europe; there Is
no bar and no danger Of sand banks &c
cumulating and choking the entrance. No
Locks are needed and the depth Of water
varies from about eight fathoms to nearly
twenty. The surface Of water could he
increased to offer superfcles Of more
than 30gg acres To the worlds COM
merce.
Its advocates believe thar Brest can he
made at comparatively little cost. the only
truly modern port capable Of meeting the
growth of trade between the TWO heln!-
spheres. and that II is destined To become
the European emporium for interchange
with America. They consider II the sole
port indicated by nature for this growing
traffic. on the grounds Of lis position ease
nf access and depth and the POSSIBILITY
Of charging the water acreage INDEFINITE
Ia They urge the taking H. hand OF the
work i'm the confident belief that the
military seaport Of Finistere IL destined
IN he the centre Of European transatlantic
trade. - "