New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-12
BOOMING BREST
Move TO Make 1t the Great Port
of Western Europe.
NATURE FAVORS HARBOR
Position Fits 1t To Be Com
manding Transatlantic Haven,
Say It's Advocates.

Paris. Jan. 3-For some time past the
question Of attracting the European trans
atlantic passenger traffic and maritime
trade 10 Rrest has been urged in certain
French journals and discussed In various
quarters. The direct object Of the scheme
PROF osed is 10 take such steps as may
be necessary TO enable the famous mill
tary port and land-locked roadstcad Of
Brest To become the great harbor Of
transit between Western Europe ana
America.
Naturally the success OF this plan would
be detrimental 10 the chief ports Of Great
Britain and the other French and Cont
mental harbors Germany. Holland and
other counties interested In the ocean
trade and intercourse would be losers
thereby. but France, as a whole. would
gain although some ports. especially
Havre. would suffer by such a trans
formation
This project is not quite new. but 1t has
been taken up with more persistence late
~ by the press and the public. The idea
is nattering to French patriotic sent!-
ment, and also TO shipping and business
interests like the old plan of making
Paris seaport, but there are important
economic reasons which will render the
/ scheme acceptable to the state, and also
secure the support Of capital.
The port and roads Of Brest are claimed
TO he the finest I'm Europe and TO be the
nearest port to the American coast. But
the principal advantage claimed over all
others is that the Brittany haven is the
only place on all the coast lines Of Europe
where thoroughly up-to-date harbor can
be built which Will likewise become che
port Of the future on account Of its com
manding position.
The argument used is that. taking into
consideration present and future needs
OF ocean intercourse, including plant. ma
chinery and harboT constructions, now
supposed 10 meet requirements. and com
pairing these to the possibilities OF Brest.
ii will be seen that the great Ravens
now i'm full exploitation are not modern
ports. but have merely been modernized.
Not one OF these was originally destined
10 fulfil the service required by the trdmc
OF to-day and not one has been so trahs-
formed as TO be able 10 respond 10 the
calls resulting from the vast changes ~
commercial conditions. naval construc-
ton. and the remarkable extension of
passenger traffic. Not one Of these WEI
be able To Withstand the strain of coil-
mercial development depending upon lts
adequacy.
IL is further urged that the most hottd
commercial ports in Europe no" III iuiI
activity were established at time when
artificial means Of communication Win
the interior were Both rare and made
ouate. and therefore. harbors situated on
he estuaries OF large rivers enjoyed
decided advantage. These had to depend
ON a system of locks. not having the
means at their disposal for carrying out
suitable dredging operations. On the
other hand, ships in the past did not
draw the same depth of water as the
huge floating palaces now in vogue. or
the big ocean cargo boats
The other ports are declared To sure
from, the same disadvantages. more or
Iass which interfere with navigation on
tho Pbine and on the Seine such AZ the
hors IN cross. the risks Of sitting up with
sord insecure rosdsteads and docks and
,ocLs NJ insufficient depth as well as OF
ton limited space. All the present great
norts are held to he in the same boat
amonr those quoted arc Liverpool on
tho Nersey: Cuxhaven. on me EIDE
pror,orbaven. ON the Wesel; Antwerp on