New-York tribune., 1915-07-04
Vigorous Growth of The
Bronx Depends on
Definite System.
RAILROAD HEAD
DESCRIBES SITUATION
Concerted Action Is Necessary
to Reach Goal Sought,
He Says.
BY President L. S. Miller, of the New
York, Westchester & Boston Railway.

York, Westchester & Boston Railway.
The Bronx has approximately fifty
four miles Of mainland waterfront,
Manhattan has thirty-seven. Practical
ly all Of the available waterfront of
Manhattan is in use and there is de-
mand for much more. You may add
ten miles more TO The Bronx quota for
the islands in that borough.
The waterfront of the Eastern Bronx
is about thirty-six miles in length. Lit
lie Of this has been developed; the sur
face hardly scratched, not so much on
account Of lack Of demand for its use,
but because of lack of any definite plans
for its development.
A large class of industries is most
benefited by the combination of rail
and water facilities, taking the raw
material in by water and shipping the
manufactured product out by rail. or
vice versa The land upon which they
locate should be relatively low priced.
There should be a supply Of labor
within close proximity, and opportun-
ity for the building investor TO con
struct houses for the wage earners in
the industries at prices within the in
comes OF the factory workers. The
Eastern Bronx has these undeveloped
factors, but il needs planning, CO
operation and money TO convert them
into paving factors to the seeker Tor
industrial locations, property owners
and the community at large.
You can't with reason expect these
'undcveloped factors to grow without
announcement. That encouragement
must come from the property owners
and municipal authorities. The gov
eminent and private interests nave un-
dertaken TO dredge part OF TINS wa
ferfront that we have been talking
about. Marginal railroads or indus
trial tracks can be built upon the eS-
tabGshed grades of the marginal
streets. To 20 above or below the
streets becomes prOhibitory on account
Of the high cost, and their operation
in connection with the factories they
are TO serve impracticable. Inc plan
ming and building of these lines IS
municipal undertaking, to be operated
when built by lessee.
=
railroads on any extensive scale at
this time is out of the question, foI
the cost involved is so large that
neither the city nor private interests
would be justified in undertaking IL
in it's entirety; but now is the time
IN plan and determine upon such a
development and build in part from
time TO time as the demand may re-
ouire in conformity with plans
worked out and settled for the ~,
|ture. Otherwise the opportunity VIII
be- lost. The other boroughs are
grasping the opportunity to supple
ment the waterfront of Manhattan.
The large section Of undeveloped
area living along the waterfront or
the eastern Bronx affords an extra
ordinary opportunity for the buildihg
up of a large industrial community,
a community of factories, docKlhg
facilities, warehouses, shipping houses
and the homes for the INDUSTRIAL
workers. If,
The Bronx has shown wonderful
growth in the last ten years, out us
growth can be materially lnereaseG
By the building up Of an industrial
centre with proper and adequate
facilities. :. 49,
The demand is coming, but II the
facilities are not Offering the seeker
for industrial locations will be forced
10 turn to other sections OF the CITY
or country which have planned ahead
and have the facilities, which ne re-
quires, to offer. l..
Filth in The Bronx is all right, but
the borough win not grow the way II
should on faith alone. DEFINITE piah-
ming, concerted action, fostered by inc
various associations having the wei
fare of the borough at heart, IN CO.
operation with the municipal author-
tiles is essential TO deVelop the Po,
tential possibilities OF The bronx, anu
nut il in the foremost rank OF tne
boIouehs of the greater city as an IN
dustrial centre.