The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-18

tHe amount tl1at Is Delnp eN-
pended in this country to meet
the traffic demands developing and
expected to develop as n result Of the
completion of the Panama Canal. In
other words the seaports of the
United States are betting this sum on
their expectations of what the canal
will do for them in the shape of new
business.
Much has been written concerning
what the canal will do for this coun-
try. but less has been said about what
business interests have been doing to
meet the canal half way. This phase
Of the situation is set forth in what
follows. For the country believes in
its great waterway and Is backing up
its belief In a substantial manner.
The steamship lines are doing their
part. They have spent something
like $30,000,000 on new ships and the
American Company, as an
instance, has already placed twenty
Of its vessels in transcanal service
from coast to coast. Several other
lines, such as the Grace. the Lucken-
bach and the Blue Funnel are placing
all available ships in the via canal
traffic.
The ports Of the Pacific coast par
ticularly are banking on what the
Panama Canal will bring to them, and
are competing in arranging a welcome
for the new business that will repre-
sent the height Of efficiency.
One Of the favorite spring and sum-
mer sports Of the less important At
lantic coast ports consists in critics.
ing unfavorably the city Of New York.
that Is as far as It's harbor accommo-
dations and freight rates are con-
cerned. New York. however. can we'll
afford to laugh at its detractors. The
natural advantages its great harbor
affords to shipping and commerce rem
der IT practically immune to compete
ton.
With a foreign trade of not far from
$1,000 900, 900 in the 1914 fiscal year.
1t surpassed London by 1925, 1000, 900,
Hamburg by s2+2 100000 and Liver
pool by $4,000 900, thus making
claim to being the greatest port in
the world The 175.000,000 tons of
freight (of all classes) carried upon
its waters during the same period
were valued at sl2 500 900 900.
over so per cent. of the imports of
the United States enter via New York
and about 40 per cent. Of the exports
pass through the 'harbor. And the
port handles. in good years, close to
1000. 900 oceangoing passengers. These
figures give an idea of what New York
is doing and disinterested authorities
believe its strategic position will make
il the focal point for Panama Canal
- . A
efforts of the other Eastern cities.
New York harbor has channels from
the city line on the North River to the
ocean forty feet deep and includes
that part Of the New Jersey shore
from Perth Amboy to Fort Lee, though
this section IL naturally not under the
sole control of New York. II is gov
erned by sort Of joint commission.
The New Jersey portion embraces
also Newark Bay and part of the
Hackensack River.
Measured around piers and along
the heads of slips the extent of the de-
veloped waterfront is $50 miles.
Recent reports say that the city
owns 235 piers in New York harbor,
with frontage of 65l APO lineal feet
and private interests CIT piers, with
2366270 lineal feet. There are per-
haps fifty more or less "open" piers
on Manhattan Island, but the con-
gestion of shipping is nevertheless
heavy, although this condition is be-
ing remedied wherever possible. At
Forty-siXth street and the North
River work has been commenced on
a city contract covering the oonstruc-
ton Of a pier 1000 feet by $50, with a
half pier at Forty-fourth street about
1000 feet long, the intervening slip
being about $50 feet wide. This work
will cost somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of 81 100000.
In Manhattan borough the city owns