New-York tribune., 1919-02-27
ShOnts Outlines
Scheme to Solve
Port Problems
Belt Line to Connect Rail-
roads on New Jersey
Meadows Is One Feature
Harbor Is Overcrowded
Too Much Freight Passes
Through Manhattan That
Could Be Kept Out, He Says

A plan for the development of the
port facilities of New York, which car
ried with it a recommendation of a
belt line railroad for the transporta-
tion of freight to a distributing point
, and. the building of tunnels for the
same purpose, was outlined yesterday
afternoon by Theodore p. Shonts,
president Of the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company. Mr.. Shonts spoke
at a special meeting of the New York
s Board of Trade and Transportation,
which was called to consider report
which a special committee of that body
had made on the proposed treaty be-
tween New York and New Jersey for
the improvement of port conditions.
In outlining his plan Mr.. Shonts de-
clared that because of the costly port
facilities here traffic which should come
to this port is being diverted to other
ports. With all of its natural advan-
tages, Mr.. Shonts declared, the city
is not taking advantage of its great
opportunities in trade with the world.
"We find that American manufacture
ers who desire to sell goods in foreign
countries in competition with goods
from such ports as Hamburg, Liverpool
or London are faced with expense due
Ito the uneconomies Of handling ship
ments in this port that puts them out
of the race before they start" Mr..
Shonts declared
Trouble Is on Land.
"The difficulties centre not so much
on the water as on the land" Mr.
Shonts continued ut is primarily
railroad and warehousing problem,
question of doing away with lost mo-
ton. If oceangoing vessels are to find
berths, the river must be freed of tugs,
floats and lighters. The number of
tugs and lighters now in this port is
more than the vessels in all the navies
- of the world; and three-quarters Of
them are bringing to and taking away
from Manhattan things that are not
destined for or do not originate in
Manhattan and should be kept out Of
Manhattan"
Mr.. Shonts declared that 70 per cent
of the freight for New York comes over
the six New Jersey railroads, and
therefore they are made the most i'm
portant railroad factors. The plan for
the future of the railroads relative to
New York, he declared. must be made
to fit the plans of the port instead Of
the port plans fitting any particular
railroad.
f1 The railroads must be coordinated
through the establishment of connect
ing roads or belt lines. and of a com
mon yar1 without switching and ware
house facilities to handle, classify and
assemble freight. This is impossible e
on the water front Nature offers a
good; suitable site on the Hackensack
Meadows, where low costs of ground
and of engineering developments with
quick access to salt water and COM
bined. All the New Jersey roads could
be linked up as solid unit.
Belt Line Connecting Road
"a belt line railroad could be built
within radius Of fifteen to twenty
e five miles Of Manhattan, which would
connect al the railroads, offering an
economical method for exchange OF
freight, This should be one common
clearing yard for Manhattan, Brooklyn
Staten Island. The Bronx. Queens and
New England, and also for all ocean
gong cargoes.
"As much freight as possible which
does not have its final destination in
Manhattan, or does not originate in
Manhattan. should be kept out of New
York." said Mr.. Shorts. 1.-TWO methods
have been considered as a means of
avoiding lighterage a bridge across
b.. the Hudson and the use of tunnels.
.' My own belief is that the tunnel is
= better. AS to the original cost, six
tunnels can be constructed for the
price Of one bridge"
Inc cost of 1p6eep, he said, would
be much smaller with tunnels, and an
other advantage is that tunnels could be
built quickly, while bridge would
take years to build Tunnels also pro.
vide hexibility in the handling Of traf-
fc, whereas a bridge does not.
Freight business would be better
done by tunnels. There should be two
parallel freight tunnels along the river
front. A series of unit tunnels con-
Meeting New Jersey and New York
could be built as needs develop"
The report of the special committee
appointed by the Board Of Trade tc
consider the proposed treaty for the
development of the port. New York anc
New Jersey to share the Joint cost and
Joint authority, was voted to be re.
4, ceived, but no action was taken as tc
~ whether to aDOroye or disaDDroye II