Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-07

and have accrued from cooperation
and united effort
In all the great ports of Europe the
control of commercial activities is i'm
the hands of the national or NUM-
cipal governments. This is true of
London, Liverpool. Hamburg, Bonn
bay, Calcutta, Toronto and Quebec.
New Orleans, San Francisco, Port
land, Seattle and many others of our
own ports are now realizing the ben
Gifts to be obtained from public con-
troll of commercial activities.
The city Of New York owns much of
its valuable waterfront but has leased
it out for long terms to private inter
ests. 1t draws an annual revenue of
over $4000,O00 from these rentals. l In
New Jersey very nearly all of the
present waterfront development has
been by private interests, leases,
with a commitment to sell having
been granted.
Newark Bay Development.
In developing Newark bay the many
] interests involved, including those of
Newark, Elizabeth. Bayonne and Ier-
sey City; of railroads, steamship lines,
public service corporations, transfer
companies, manufacturers, land own
ers, and the general public can be
compelled to unite for the good of all
only through the interposition of the
State government
1t is evident, therefore. that a State
commission is needed, with power to
lay out plans for the proper develop
ment of great areas ready for that de-
yelopment, and with power to compel
private individuals and public and
private corporations within the given
area to conform to the plans which
may be laid down, when duly adver-
tised, and duly adjudicated as to
grievances. This is the method adopt
ed in Massachusetts for the proper
control of the development OF the
metropolitan area of Boston
The course of procedure of such a
state commission as regards the bay
and meadow problem might be some
whatsas follows:
1t would secure the aid OF the fed
eral government in removing obstruc-
tons TO navigation at the lower end
OF the bay, including Bergen Point
Light, the rocks between 1t and the
new pierhead line and Shooters ISL
and. and in dredging a large basin,
and later In dredging a channel, as
needed, along the newly established
pierhead line on the west side of the
bay. Also it would insist that the
present low bridge of the Jersey Cen
trail be so elevated as to provide at
itubl twenty -lOui ltGl GledIdnct. ms
has been advocated for many years
Meanwhile it would lay out a
scheme of development for the bay
shore on both sides and for the mead
ow area and would compel all deVel-
opment thereafter to conform thereto
BY this method no work would he
done in advance Of needs clearly fore
seen, no time or money would be
wasted and industrial sites and prop
er railroad and water connection
therefor would be offered for use as
rapidly as the demand appeared.
In the development of Newark Bay
the errors of private ownership should
be avoided and advantage taken OF
the opportunity afforded by public
ownership. Short term leases should
be granted No effort should be made
to obtain large profits for the COM
munity, for this would stifle devel-
opment Rather returns should be de-
rived which would carry the invest
ment and provide a sufficient sinking
fund to repay the original investment
and enable new developments to bs
undertaken
The broad facts which should be
emphasized are two:
First That properly developed, the