The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-14

prevent privat. companies obtaining a
monopoly OF them
Yes. sir" replied Mayor Mitchell. with
out the slightest hesitation. Broadly
speaking. II 10 the citys policy TO acquire
its waterfront to own and control IL. and
either operate IL itself or secure its opera
tion under such strict municipal control
az to insure against monopoly or dis
examination in rates or services"
That" INTERCEPTED Chairman Spark
man. is an Important point with this
committee. so as To make sure that when
the Cove, nmcnt develops a harbor private
companies cannot obtain II monopoly in
the matter Of charges"
In answer TO a question Mayor Mitchell
said New York city now owns or con
trolls more than 80 per cent of it's water
front" Representative Small asked him
to state his attitude toward leasing water
front facilities TO private persons
Protecting the CITY.
I'VE are protecting the city at every
point" the Mayor replied. against losing
control of its waterfront facilities. and
we are putting in restrictions that give
the Dock Commissioner and Sinking Fund
Commissioner strict control. All the leases
made within the last four years have con-
tanned clause giving such control. The
old leases made some years ago did not
give such control
To-day the policy s to acquire the
control OF these facilities as rapidly as
possible. Some of these Unrestricted
leases have twenty or thirty years to run 70
Meanwhile" inquired Mr.. Small. you
are without power to take them over"
Except by condemnation of the lease
hold answered the Mayor
rs that contemplated asked Mr.. Small.
in moi .ias al .t,t,.
said the Mayor, because II would involve
capital expenditure that the city Is not
ready To make at this time"
Mr. Mitchell referred to the proposal
to open the Harlem kills to depth Of
eighteen feet, which Is part of the project
of Col. Black.
That" said the Mayor. would give
direct connection between the East River
ana the entire Bronx waterfront and with
the North River by way OF the Harlem
River and the ship canal"
With the opening OF the Erie Canal
there will be an enormous increase in
barge traffic. as q result of which IL will
be absolutely necessary to have that con-
nection from the Hudson to the East
River to provide n safe and short con-
nection.
All these bsrges will have TO go All
the way down the Hudson River and
already tremendously congested with
traffic. or else they will have TO go
down through the Harlem River into the
very vortex of He'll Gate.
THE danger and menace OF that route
Is so great that II IL practically impos-
siblc. and the tugboat or barge captain
would prefer tn 20 around by the Bat
terry II this Improvement IL not made
II is proposed to deepen the Harlem kills
eighteen feet and also to straighten the
channel OF the ship Canal very close to
its mouth at tho Hudson River and thus
provide straight and simple passage
from the Hudson to the East River
That would mean an enormous COM
merCiai saving. That shorter passage
would mean the opening OF the water
front Of The Bronx TO the Erie barge
canal traffic. The city has appropriated
$l.lSO,00o toward that Improvement"
Mayor Mitchell was guest OF President
Wilson AT luncheon AT the White House
II was Mr.. Mitchel's second visit to the
White House since his election he having
attended the fret Cabinet dinner in De-
cember.
1t is understood that the political situa-
ton in New York WAS discussed and that
the outlook for the election OF a Demo
c~at as Governor OF New York was gone
..Ito.