New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-23
THEATRE ROOF CAVES IN CAPTAINS DISCUSS PIERS
One Urges Diagonal Type and
Other Opposes Idea.

Captain Louis $. Van Duzer, captain Of
the navy yard in Brooklyn. has given
some attention to the pier problem in this
port and to the construction Of great
steamships Captain Luckhurst. port cap
tain Of the International Mercantile Ma
rine Company, also has wrestled with the
problem of berthing big steamships I'm
the docks Of the North River, but he
could not agree with the naval expert
yesterday when both met upon the floor
Of the Maritime Exchange in a friendly
discussion of the subject
Captain Van Duzer was invited by tie
exchange to give an address on pier for
nation I'm the North River and many per-
sons interested i'm the subject We're in
vited. among them Captain Luckhurst.
Captain Van Duzcr spoke earnestly for
diagonal piers. He said he had handled
many big ships Al the navy yard during
the last two years and realized what a
vast amount Of money the merchant ser
vice had to eXpend in tug hire in warp
ing ships i'm docks at right angles TO the
river currents
He said such piers encroachng on the
faiTway OF the rivers would affect the
tides adversely. and asserted his idea
would be to construct substantial piers
40 feet long and loD feet wide at inter
walls OF $50 feet.
When captain Van Duzer sat down
Captain Luckhurst took the floor and de-
clared that IT would be utter folly to try
TO back the Olympic out into the North
River from diagonal pier
with an ebb tide and northwest
wind. who would dare take the Olympic
out Of II diagonal pier he asked.
II would. came the voice of Captain
Van Duzer from the middle Of the floor
You would" echoed captain Luck
hurst.
Yes, I would replied the navy cap
tain
Il hardly think so returned Luck
hurst Before she could be- turned in the
river she would be fast upon the lee
shore. Even II she dropped anchor her
quarter would be damned into the pier
below her. II she dropped both anchors
IT would take the length OF herself in
tugs TO turn her. No. the diagonal pier
is not the pier for the big ships in the
rivers OF this port. The diagonal piers
will bring disaster"
Captain Luckhurst said that while the
tide was stronger at the Chelsea piers
than II vas when the company : ships
were Derthrd below. at Pier a. the pres
ent accommodations had cost much less
money in the docking OF ships
A L..
eminent, had decided that the limit Of
the size OF merchantmen had been
reached In the l0vJ-foOt steamship. or
the locks of the Panama Canal would
have been made longer than YVJ feet In
reply To this question, presented los MIR
Smith. Captain Van Duzer said he did not
wish to comment on the action OF the
construction.
Captain Van Duzor sad in ro.t.
II the sizes Of shius con,iru, to I'M
crease IN the future a. th"y l3N. in The
ppSt We VIII nave tu .rgsidcr docking
liners l.i'U Zee, Ions. I mn satisfied thai
30 degrees - tho riaii position .ut piers
Ia be- placed. ~ Al that lnsic a WIN be
easy 20 warn a snip Ia and u great uy.h
OF space viii ice added. \ sh,p coming
up he river would have to throw h,r
helm over ONLY 3" degrees To- enter 'he
dock. and This could be done with tlr AID
OF nr' small tug.
! would leave 800 feet between piers.
because as the ships ot the future In
crease In length 80 will they hr made
broader
~ stevens Point. on the Ier,e, shore
near ilObOlS"n. the tide T. strongest. which
means that IN" Hamburg American and
the North German IioVd lines have ulrl,d
ont the most expensive docking place IN
the river. feel sure that As "" narrow
TIE channel by building docks further out
H. m" river the strength Of the tiie win
increase. Between 1870 tri 1871. the tide
has Varied rom 80 per cent 60 ~ per cent
In increase in force.