The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-26

-
.bout double the uttermost carrying
cspacity Of the fourteen ferry lines now
IN operation between tho Manhattan and
ybs New Jersey shores.
General consideration OF the advan-
tsres has suggested the following den-
utts benefits:
4 vast amount OF fuel. food and mer-
eSandiee could be expeditiously trans
norted by truck through the tunnel from
New Jersey freight yards direct 10
wholesale and retail merchants through
out New York city. unhampered by
vea,her conditions. For example. the
az milk into the city every night, and
ths milk wagons would no longer be de-
pendent upon the ferries.
Moreover delivery OF outward bound
freight from New York city could DO
made directly to the New Jersey rail-
road freight receiving yards independ-
entity Of tho present l!ghterage system
service. A great saving in time. hand
ling and expense would be effected. Il
/, argued. as regards both inward and
outward bound freight, and this would
tend to reduce the cost of commodities,
A matter OF the most vital Importance. 1t
would, indeed. tend TO lower the cost of
living throughout the country. and in
this way:
New York is as much the port Of en-
Try for East St. Louis and Denver as II
(, for Poughkeepsie. Albany or Buffalo.
This is not always comprehended, ap-
psrently, by members OF Congress who
insist upon considering New York from
an absolutely local standpoint Ro-
Gently, at the time that the United
States Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce heard the plea OF the tunnel
commissions and then refused to rec
ommeri Federal aid. Senator Kellogg
wanted 10 know why the Government
should refuse financial aid to East St
Louis and give such aid to New York.
why IL Affects All.
Mr.. Bloomlnsdale answered with pa
uence and clarity:
"Whilc this tunnel Is to be located
at New York. 1t Is not Mt all a local
proposition. The country at large is
Just as much interested in facilitating
the transportation of merchandise into
and out of and through the city OF
New York as is the city OF New York
Itself. The conditions in the city of
New York are now such that the de-
livery and receipt of freight at the rail-
road terminals along the riverfront in
yolve delay all the way from several
hours 10 a day and half. There have
been cases in New York that we per-
sonally know OF where "A truck has stood
In line for day and half in order TO
discharge its freight.
The consequence OF that - that a
great many concerns are unable to use
the motor truck because the overhead
cost Of operating it Is such that when
Il has TO stand in line for several hours
Il makes it absolutely impracticable. We
apprehenj that II this tunnel is built the
horse drawn vehicle Will be still more
pushed aside by the motor truck. and
that large part of the traffic which Is
row delivered at the waterfront to be
transported across the river by Lighters
will be sent direct through the tunnel
1T II Is necessary to have a motor
truck. or horse drawn vehicle. for that
matter, stand for several hours on the
waterfront to make Its delivery, there
Isl great deal OF expense involved. Thai
Unnecessary expense becomes an element
in the cost of the merchandise to the
person who finally obtains 1t. and for
that reason the merchant in Oklahoma
or IN Wisconsin and. in fact. all over
the country. who has his goods shipped
to and from New York is ultimately