Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-05-29
LOCATING A FREE PORT

Discussing the subject of a free port the New York Evening
Sun, last night, drew a striking example from Spain. 1t says.
"spain is setting an example that may be of value to us
in the establishment and development Of free ports. There
is nothing new in the idea, which has stood the test of ex-
perience in many countries and in different ages. just how
1t may fit in with our own needs remains somewhat prob
lemaic, but the weight Of argument seems in its favor and
there is a considerable movement toward making IN the port
of the greater New York a free zone
elm Spain, Cadiz was made a free port in 1914 and now
Barcelona follows. ConsuLGeneral Hurst calls it an epoch
making innovation in Spanish commerce. The benefits to
Spain are obvious. The importer, also profits. The opera
tions permitted within the free depots cover change Of pack
ing of merchandise, division Of merchandise for retail use,
preparation and roasting of coffee and cocoa, shearing Of
skins preparation of woods, washing of wool and extrac-
ton of oil from eopra and oleaginous seeds. The idea is to
permit anything that may increase values without essentially
changing the character of merchandise.
at needs no argument to show the possible benefits
to a community from such increase and concentration Of
activity. New York may well have to become a free port
if it is to continue to be the greatest port of the world"
In this connection it is interesting to quote from a paper read
by Hjalmar E. skougor, an engineer, before the Society of Terminal
Engineers in New York last March. Mr.. SkOugor, who has made a
careful study of port development, especially the port of New York,
accompanied the paper with a map showing the whole scheme of
Improvement, including Perth Amboy and the south shore of Raritan
bay. This map marked not only the New Jersey ship canal enter
Ing the bay at Morgan, but planned for a proposed free zone in the
port located on the south shore of the bay extending along the canal
ct Morgan for a mile or 81 inland and eastward along the shore as
far as heansburg placing the borough of Keyport wholly within the
proposed zone. Following is what Mr.. Skougor had to say regarding
the free zone as located by him in his proposed plan of harbor de-
Selopment:
GAS a result of the introduction in congress of the shep.
pardSaunder bill, which calls for the establishment. opera.
ton and maintenance of free zones in American ports, the
senate committee on commerce on January 18th, 1919, pub
Eshed a special report from the United States Tariff Com
mission urging the need of immediate action by congress
In favor OF free zones in the ports Of the United States.
This 81 subject which has received but little attention
by New York and New Jersey authorities up to this time.
Principally, l believe, for the reason that the free zone as an
institution and the advantages derived therefrom, are u-
Known to the majority of people in this country.
zone for the port of New York and New Jersey, it would be
well to investigate the requirements of a free zone as far as
water frontage and land is concerned. These, in a general
way, are as follows:
'First: To be located well within the Hghterage limits
of the port of New York and New Jersey.
"Second: Should be isolated to facilitate government
control.
"Thrd: Should be well protected from the ocean.
Fourth: Should possess ample docking space.
Fifth: Should have ample space for storage warehouses.
"Sixth: Large areas should be available for those in
dustries dependent on foreign raw materials for their manu-
"Seventh: Should have direct railroad connection to
the continent.
Eighth: Should be within easy passenger railroad
reach of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and New Jer-
"Ninth: Should be well within territories adapted for
residential section for the workers therein.
the propo ses re- 90 oon my : 'a sbewn II n ota a : = assignee @sn 1th to
south shore of Raritan bay including Keyport) possesses
ing facilities when properly dredged and filed in where re-
CURED. It's location and the territories in back thereof are
troll. It has direct railroad connection to the continent, and
Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island can be reached from
the free zone by existing or proposed passenger railroads
and subways.
"As far as ocean protection is concerned, a breakwater
4 could readily be constructed as indicated, projecting from
Sandy Hook, while the territories in back of the harbor af-
ford plenty of space for storage warehouses, Industrial
1 plants, as well as residential sections.
"The suggested location is furthermore directly in the
path of the new proposed New Jersey ship canal and well
within the path Of all the other canals previously mentioned.
'My recommendation on the subject of a free zone,
therefore, is, firstly, that a free zone be incorporated IN the
plan for a comprehensive port development, and, secondly,
! that this free zone be located within Raritan bay, as indi-
Gated on the accompanying map"
There Is no doubt that sooner or later a free port will be estab-
Hshed somewhere on the Atlantic coast. The logical place for such
b free port is in the vicinity to New York, the nearer the better with
out adding to the present congestion there. But other ports are after
the free zone and the port of New York and New Jersey viii have
to be on the alert if it il. to be brought to this vicinity.
Mr.. Skougor offers a most feasible plan. The availability of
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