Evening journal., 1913-10-23
WATER FRONTAGE A GREAT PUBLIC ASSET.


THE following extracts from preliminary re-
port made to Governor Fielder. Of New Jersey by
the New Jersev Harbor Commission:
Il is plainly of the greatest Importance in the future
interests of the State of New Jersey that the rivers
harbors canals OF State be conserved improved
and cared for In the most earnest and vigorous
Take the long coast line which extends from Sandy
Hook to Cape May and we have not simply sandy
beach but for threequarters of its length, there may
be an inland waterway bounded by natural break
waters with lnets leading into them.
The building Of the proposed ship canal connecting
the Rartan bay with the Delaware river is project
which should have the support OF every Jerseyman.
Apart from its general advantages which think
extensive throughout the eastern coast Of the United
States, there is the specific advantage in that this
canal will add enormously to the deep-waer navga-
ton facilities of the State
It seems to that one who has given a study
to the Of the United States deny that the great
future Of the State of New Jersey is in its harbors
its rivers canals connecting great trans
continental railway systems This means that the
manufacturing advantages of the State superior
because they afford facilities for TRANSPORTATION by
water well by rail- Every one knows that manu-
and prosperity generally Wherever they are located
The growing export trade the United States
factures, which has reached point in excess Of
$,OOO,OOO000 per year, and which is to grow,
at or near the seaboard.
Camden, like much of the Jersey side Of New York
harbor is handicapped by not having proper channels
dredged to It's perhead lines The New Jersey inter-
ests on the Delaware river and the Hudson river
are now realizing the Importance of the development
OF the waterfront and are urging on the United States
government the necessity of providing proper chan
heads which are needed and waiting to be built Water
front facilities useless without proper channels
! TIE United States government will not spend money
r Improving the waterways unless 1t is satisfied that
'he waterfront interests intend to improve their ia
cties in order that the channels be useful for
The contrast between the development Of the New
Jersey section and the New York section of New York
harbor Is even more striking than the comparison be-
tween Camden and Philadelphia. The New Jersey
waterfront where II is developed, is used principally
as district for loading lighters with freight for
to the steamship piers in the New York section of the
harbor for transshipment to railroad and private
piers in the New York section of the harbor from
which freight is carried for consumption in New York.
or to supply New Yorks great industries While New
York has spent great of money in developing its
waterfront in comparison with the policy OF New Jer-
sey, which has been to sell its waterfront to private
interests and to rely on private development and
exploitation, e should be borne in mind that New
York receives into the public purse more than S45OO,
GOO per annum IN rentals for the facilities which she
has provided, and in addition has encouraged COM
merce to come to the port, which has. in passing
of that community.
It is economic principle which is applied in vrtu-
ally every great harbor in the world that the ships
should be brought directly alongside the rails of the
through railroad lines in the harbor in order that di-
rect loading may be done between the ships and
In Philadelphia harbor there are three great trans
continental lines which have their principal Philadel
pha ude-water terminals in the city Of Philadelphia.
and this may be one of the reasons why Philadelphia
has developed its facilities more than Camden
The situation in this respect to New York harbor is
however the reverse from that in Philadelphia Here
the railroad systems to the south west have their
terminals In New Jersey while the great majority of
steamship lines have their terminals in New York
The New Jersey Harbor Commission is fully con
Ninced that II New Jersey shall adopt proper policy
OF development of what is left of its undeveloped front
age, shipping will naturally to its docks by rea-
son Of the greater economy in transshpment facilities
offered by it's railroads
Those broad official statements should be of peculiar
interest to Delaware, whose great asset the many
miles Of waterfront on tho delaware river and bay
has been neglected They should be of particular In
or IN fnof x1,,h h,..
by overwhelming vote that the Delaware river water
front north G the christana river shall be saved from
the Wilmington Terminal Company and associated
speculative interests.