The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-15
CITY LACKS PIERS
FOR PEACE TRADE.
Unable to4Accommodate Food
Fleets of Great Britain
w. II and L. S.
CONGRESS MAY NOT HELP
Hubert Pushing Plan for Re.
lief to Keep Commercial
Supremacy Here.

Al the moment when the United
States and British Governments are just
beginning the tremendous task OF re-
victuaiins Europe and look to New York
A. the port from which great fleets Of
food ships must sail, Dock Commissioner
Murray Hubert has been forced to in
form both Governments that New York
can do nothing for them because its pier
facilities are inadequate for the ordinary
demands Of commerce and are wholly
unable to meet the demands which peace
has brought
The British Ministry Of Shipping APP
piled yesterday to the Dock Commits
sioner for two moro piers 70 be used for
loading steamships to- carry much
needed supplies to England. S.multan-
ecusly, the United States Navy Depart
ment asked the Commissioner for four
more piers to be used for carrying
needed supplies to France. Notwith-
standing the Importance OF these re-
quests, Commissioner Hubert was
obliged to refuse than because there are
no piers available Therefore both Gov
Iernments will have to turn TO some other
Atlantic port for relief. as they have
done In the past, thus diverting to
another port commerce that would have
been profitable to New York.
Lack % Foresight.
TIE big fact Of this special situation,
- Commissioner Hubert sees II, 10 that
New York has utterly failed to make
any provision for the demands that were
obvious months ago. No attention what
ever has been paid to Commissioner
Hulbert's urgent appeal to the Board OF
Estimate and the Sinking Fund Commits
1t. g.
permitted him to intensity the use OF
the city's pier facilities. to build few
new wharves and to cooperate with the
United States Railroad Administration
I'm tho matter % releasing to general
commerce number of piers not now
necessary to the railroads. Although
Commissioner Hubert. a recognized
authority on port needs. and who has
made special study OF port problems
since he became head OF the Dock De-
,partment on January 1. 1913. has APP
peaIed almost daily to the city admins
ltration to take up pier necessities. his
plan and appeals have been ignored.
The refusal he was forced to make
yesterday to the British and United
States Government was. he felt, black
- for. New York's prestige. II could
lot fail. he; felt, to confirm an impress
ston long existing In Washington that
New York. was 10 neglectful and I'M
interested In her own port development
that she did not deserve the appropria-
lions asked from Congress. Therefore
the Federal Government and individual
shippers have turned more and more
other Atlantic ports until New York
Ands In real peril OF losing her COM
1srcial supremacy 50
! warning From smith.
commissioner Hubert called attention
ybsterday to a letter written by A. r.
Smith. q close student OF the port situa-
ton. In the course OF this letter Mr.
Smith wrote:
The Federal Government IL divertinR
tho foreign commerce naturally tribu-
tary to the port of New York beoa use II
can get away with It. New York as a
city Is unaware Of what the Federal
Government Is doing. and II II were
aware It wouldn't care. Murray Hui
bert says II Is untrue that congestion In
the port of New York Justifies the diver
a1on Of it's commerce to other portA
~. :. The outcome OF this condition
may be that the Legislature will take
away from New York the control OF It's
waterfront The city Of New York since
1870 has had an organised Dock De-
partment and has shamefully neglected
to do it's duty by New York's commerce
during practically all OF that period.
Tho city of New York has seemed salts
ned to tax commerce and shipping all
that Il would bear and let 1t 60 at that
g. The diversion OF our CON-
merce to other ports means: /. Reduced
real estate values: 2. Diminished manu-
featuring; 3. Less employment; 4. Re
duced wages s. Diminished population.
Then our city debt will become unbear-
abis and the city will 20 bankrupt but