The sun., 1916-08-19
CONGRESSMAN SEE
N. Y. HARBOR NEEDS
Rivers and HarbOrs Commit.
tcemcn Feel Disturbances
Amidships on Boat.
UNUSED TO SEA VOYAGE
Commissioner Smith Urges
Clearing Of Hell Gate and
COrlears Reef.

II was deep sea DAY Tor the visttin9
members OF the Rivers and Harbors
Committee Of the House Of Representa-
tives yesterday afternoon on the police
boat Patrol. For some Of the inland Con-
gressmen, accustomed to the placid rivers
Of the South. Il was something Of q ven-
ture. The Patrol took them through But.
termiik Channel. rast Governors Island.
then around the whole Of staten Island
and out int the lower bay.
1t was one Of h Qu!etest days you
could ask for on he bay. with Mother
Carey's chickens skimming the surface
Of the waters and hardly n ripple Of air
To stir the municipal nag aioft. But the
Patrol. riding high In the water. re-
sponded gently to the ground swell. This
was an insidious movement that drew
anxious looks from the Representatives.
Chairman Stephen NJ. S~parkman Of
Florida sat In the bow IND gazed straight
ahead at jamaica Ray. where the ocean
stays Nat and doesn't make trouble. The
Patrol tilted skittishiy from starboard to
larbcard and the guests felt disturbances
amidships. As soon a. the boat nosed
into the quiet waters Of jamaica Bay
conversation became more animated and
everybody cheered UP.
Notables 20 visit Troy Dam.
After cruising past barren Island the
Patrol went about and took the party
back to Manhattan. where they embarked
later In the day for Albany. The Cham
Der Of Commerce of that city had invited
them TO inspect the Troy dam. And q
boat will be waiting to take them from
Albany TO Troy and back. on their re-
turn to this city the committeeman will
journey back to Washington.
The Representatives are taking with
them a comprehensive idea Of the needs
Of New York harbor. as emphasized by
X. a. c. Smith. Commissioned OF Docks
and Ferries. They also had a look at tire
site TN city picked out for the garbage
disposal plant on Staten Island.
Representatives. the vigilance COM
mlttee which fought against the plan, In
Richmond appealed to the Rivers and
Harbors Committee to prohibit its estab.
lishment there on the ground that nav.-
cation would be held up by scows.
The committeeman. who went up into
Fresh Kills yesterday. found plenty Of
sea room. The site for tbs plant Is on
the salt marshes miles away from resi-.
denccs and with factories on all sides.
Tit trips taken by the Congressman
and their hosts. h Chamber OF Com
merce members. on Thursday and yes
terday showed them the improvements
being made by the city and Federal Gov
eminent and the changes that Commits.
sionsr Smith thinks should be made.
Rock Dangers 10 Liners.
He has pointed out that a rock on
Pier A In the North River Is dangerous
to transatlantic liners. He believes also
that the channel from the Battery TO
Canal street should be widened 20 1000
feet at 40 foot depth. In the East River
the channel between the Battery and
Governors Island In not so deep as re-
auired by the latest type Of battleships.
The Commissioner said that funds have
been provided for this purpose.
The removal Of Coentics reef. under
Joint contracts Of the city and the Fed
eral governments. is going On at present.
Coriears reef. rear Jackson street, lying
outside Piers ~ and IS in the East
River. not only prevents access to these
| piers at times but also endangSrs pass
Ing vessels. Mr.. Smith said this reef
could be removed at an estimated cost OF
3t50, 900. The Commissions also made
this plea to the committee:
mo work r. SO urgent as that OF clear
| ing Hell. Gate OF all distractions and In
creasing the width and depth Of channels
with all possible speed"
The East River. from Lawrence Point
TO College Point. has many Instructions
which should be taken out at once. II
was urged. The improvements favored
by Commissioner Smith would cost many
millions and suggestions from private
citizens would ugmen that total con-
siderably. The Rivers and Harbofs Com
| mittee has given New York 3I,lOO, 900
| for his year. This il about one-fortieth
Of the total appropriated by the commit