New-York tribune., 1918-02-19
First Report Of Harbor
Commission Received by
the Legislature
Big Effort Needed
Must Coordinate Waterfront
Facilities at Once, Says
Governor
Staff Correspondence

ALBANY, Feb. 1S.-The preliminary
report of the New York and New Jersey
Fort and Harhor Development Commits
sion, created to study conditions in
New York Harbor to meet the increased
traffic expected after the war, was
transmitted to the Legislature tonight
by Governor Whitman. who urged the
immediate appropriation of an addi-
tional $4,000 to continue its work.
The Governor in a special message
Informed the Legislature that Governor
Edge of New Jersey had informed the
commission that New Jersey was pre-
Jared to contribute similar amount
this year and that another 100000
would be necessary in 1919.
In his message the Governor said:
"Thc recent decision of the Inter
state Commerce Commission in the
New YORK EIarbor case has brought
10 the attention of the people of the
two states. as never before, the i'm
portant fact that the Port of New York
is historically, geographically and com
mercially one port, and that any con
gcstion In the port at any point affects
the whole port.
while this port is undoubtedly the
greatest port in the world. and is at
this very time performing war SER
vice of incalculable value. its facili-
ties have not been properly coordinat-
ed. Its size and compleXity have led
TO serious and grave situations. The
time has come 20 look forward and to
plan in advance for the future demands
that will be made upon the port.
"Haphazard. piecemeal attempts to
solve the terminal problem at the port
Will hinder not hasten, the desired
solution. 1t is the universal opinion of
all those who have studied the matter
that there must be careful, scientific
study of all of the conditions at the
port and weighing and comparison of
the cost and value of all suggested I'M
provements.
"This cannot be done by any commits
sion representing either state alone.
The task must be a Joint task. The
New York-New Jersey Port and liarbor
Development Commission has already
begun this work, With the aid of Cen
cral George w. Goethals as consulting
engineer it has laid the foundation of
:; really constructive plan"
In its report the commission says
that 1t is considering proposal for
q complete all-rail belt line system.
with tunnels and bridges for the har-
Dor and rivers, for delivery of freight
cars throughout the metropolitan dis
trict. This belt line is to connect
with all railroads operating within the
port and embracing as integral parts
the Brooklyn Marginal Railroad, the
West Side Terminal improvements and
the proposed inner and outer belt lines
in New Jersey.
Motor trucks for transshipment of
freight from outlying railroad yards
by ferries, tunnels under the river or
bridges spanning them, and combina-
ton Of this system with present water
and rail facilities, are also part of the
plan now under consideration for de
veloping the port so as to meet the
needs of commerce after the war.
The plan further provides for a
rearrangement of harbor facilities and
freight movements so as to scgregate
commodity freight and bring into
closer contact ships and freight cars
and larger use of modern scientific
methods of mechanical handling of
freight