New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27
FOR COMPLETION
OF HARLEM CANAL
North Side Board of Trade
Seeks Federal Govern
ment'S Aid,
BELIEVES 1T WOULD
LESSEN LIVING COST
Fight On by Body to Have Sem
ator 0'Gorman'S Bills on
Project Passed.

"One Of the surest ways 10 reduce
the high cost OF living in the Borough
Of The Bronx, Harlem and Washing
.On Heights is by forcing the national
government to pass the bill that was
presented in the United States Senate
ty Senator O'Gormsn which provides
foy the transferenee by the federal
government to New York State Of the
land acquired many years ago by the
United States and now the channel Of
the Harlem River. so that the Harlem
Barge Canal can be completed by the
government. Il would thus provide
through waterway TO the Hudson River
BY way Of Spuyten DuyviL" This
rather startling statement was made
by one Of the largest shippers and
receivers Of freight in The Bronx at
q recent meeting of the North Side
Board OF Trade for consideration of
action on the matter.
The North Side Board Of Trade has
realized this fact for some time and is
preparing 20 make a fight for the re-
introduction of the bills in Congress
BIZ Senator O'Gorman in the Senate
and Representative Joseph A. Goulden
IN the lower house. This action is
due 20 the fact that these bills were
not reached during the last session of
Congress, and will necessarily have 20
be reintroduced IN the present session.
"The consensus of opinion among
the largest shippers and receivers of
freight in the borough" continued the
sneaker, sis that, with the completion
Of this project, which has been in con-
siderstion for several years, a saving
OF time and money will be made TO
the wholesale dealers on the Harlem
River waterfront that will enable them
70 lower the prices of the commodities
dealt in by them TO the consumers in
Harlem and The Bronx. This espe-
Cally applies TO the grain and coal
dealers selling direct TO the con-
SumeTs."
In making the fight for the compile
ton Of this waterway they are doing
a work that Will be a lasting benefit
20 those who most need 1.-THE poorer
classes IN the borough.
James Mcdowell, Of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford, says that "on
all products from upstate a substan-
tsl saving can be made; that in nu-
merous cases shipments have to be
made clear around the Battery which
should be shipped from the Hudson
River through Spuyten Duyvil at a
saving of one-third of the time taken
BY the present route. This fight OF
the Board of Trade should receive the
heartiest support Of every resident Of
the Borough of The Bronx and Har-
len, whether they are members Of the
Board OF Trade or not"
James L. Wells, State Treasurer
elect and one Of the former presidents
Of the board. who on numerous Occa-
SONS has represented the interests of
Tie Bronx before the Rivers and Har-
bors Committee in the National House
o. Representatives, says that "inas-
rueh as the New York State govern
nent has already passed the law au-
thOrizing the transfer Of certain land
at Marble Hill and the gooseneck' to
the federal government when the chan
mel is completed by the United States
engineers, and on transfer 70 the State
Of New York Of the present channel Of
the Harlem River, that il is nigh time
some favorable action is taken by
Congress"
The old project Of the United States
government dates back 10 1886 and
provides for a continuous channel, 400
feet wide, fifteen feet deep at mean
low water. extending from the East
River 10 the Hudson River.
The government has in this session
Of Congress incorporated in the Rivers
and Harbors bill an item of 100000
sor the continuation Of the work in
the Harlem River. This was included
il the bill largely by the efforts OF
he Commerce and Waterways Com
hittse Of the North Side Board Of
Trade, which delegation was headed