New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-09
, egislature Asked to Rush
Bill Ceding Land at
Rockaway Point
,s.JNCH GUNS WILL
BAR HOSTILE FLEET
Civ Gives Share in Site to
Goyernment in Exchange
for Plum Island

..;fcation Of New York City on
..,r. 10 resist possible attack by a
s..,ie feet was begun yesterday
.srouca harricd cooperative move on
=. mart Of the city, state and Federal
officials.
p.,nouding to a telegraphic request
,,om United States Senator Wads-
.ortb at Washington that the United
s,.tss government be ceded immedi-
,tslv land upon which to erect
modern fort at Rockawsy Point, off,
rails in New York and Albany pre-
,sred TO hurry the necessary legisla-
ton through the Legislature.
Meantime excavation for actually
erecting the fort was begun. Two
iupdred laborers. working under regu-
lar army engineers and officers. began
digging Automobile trucks, fences to
keep Jf strangers, houses to shelter
the workmen and dredges suddenly
made their appearance on the usually
jesolate shore at Rockaway Point.
The fort, when is TO cost about ST.
100000 and which will be rushed TO
completion, will guard the entrance
70 New York harbor IL will be equip
oei with l6-lnch guns. Fort Hancock
On Sandy Hook IS Just II miles distant
from the site OF the new fort. They
will form q gateway. which army en-
gineers believe will effectually pro-
tsct the city. The site of the pro-
iscted Rockaway Point fort is Just
short distance from a point in the
ocean from which it has been said a
hostile feet might approach within
hring distance of the city. and IN
hampered, throw shells inland as far
as Fourteenth street.
Officials Act Quickly.
While the Federal Government ba.
eng contemplated the erection of a
lsrge fort at Rockaway Point, the fact
hat the need Of 10 was imperative did
not develop until yesterday. As the
land desired BY the government, com
prising about 312 acres, partly under
water. Is owned in part by New York
City and in part by the Rockaway Pa
e.he Company, q subsidiary of the
Southern Pacific Railroad. il was nee
essary 70 obtain action by both New
York City officials and the Legislature.
A Dill containing an enabling act so
mat the Government could obtain i'm
mediate possession of the land was
Drawn up in the Corporation Counsel's
0tee late last night and taken to Al
ezny. The decision TO rush the meas
IRE had been reached at a conference
attended by Mayor Mitchell, r. A. C.
smith. Dock Commissioner, and Col
onel 2 '. Abbott, who represented the
Board or Army Engineers. The
cabling act was drawn up by Louis
II. hshlo. Acting Corporation Counsel,
and last night was placed in the hands
Of Edward J. McGoldrick. Assistant
Corporation Counsel at Albany. Col
onel Abbott also went to Albany TO
carry out Instructions from the War
Departmet in connection with the act
In telegram TO Speaker Sweet OF
me Assembly urging the expeditions
passage Of the enabling act, Senator
Wadsworth said:
"The War Department regards this
measure as Of the utmost importance
and hopes that the Legislature can
act Immediately. Batteries must be
erected al once. Please expedite"
Mayor Mitchell long ago, acting with
me advice Of the Corporation Coun-
sei's Office, had agreed 10 cede the
elty's share Of the property desired by
the government, but yesterday the city
agreed 70 lend every assistance to the
iortiiication work.
Location of New Fort
OF the 312 acres on which the fort
WI rest, about ll2 acres are owned
BY the city. The other 200 acres are
me property Of the Rockaway Pacific
Cenpany. The city's land is largely
useer water. and will have 10 be filed
IN. The rest Of the land, owned by the
pirate corporation, is mostly above
water. The plot 10 located about two
ana q half miles from Rockaway Park
bathing beach, about half mile from
ne Coz guard station and about the
,ape distance from the nearest resi-
oence. The Tort will have a frontage
Of $500 feet on the ocean. and will
extend back 1000 feet to Jamaica Bay.
Mayor Mitchell, after the conference,
lssred statement, in which he said:
We have been in communication with
me government for some time. OF the
property desired the Southern Pacific
OWES the upland and the city the land
under water We have made a deal
whereby he city gets control of Plum
Island, now an army fort, for termi-
nal purposes, and the government will
get the property it needs. | think
inc city has made a good deal"
Sizteen-inch guns which arc 70 be in
stalled AZ the fort already have beer
completed and are ready for mounting,
according 20 a dispatch from Washing
ION, which added that the fort at Rock